Female empowerment – which firms are best at championing women?

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Female empowerment – which firms are best at championing women?

In recent years the Legal 500 has made a concerted push to boost female representation across our rankings, dedicating much effort to identifying the best women at all levels of seniority, from rising stars to Hall of Famers.

But as UK editor Georgina Stanley said five years ago, we were always going to need the help of law firms to do this, given the central role that law firm submissions and peer recommendations play in our research. Thankfully, that help has been more than forthcoming from many firms, enabling us to consistently increase the proportion of women in our UK rankings, which are now 42% female. Continue reading “Female empowerment – which firms are best at championing women?”

‘Doubling down’: CC’s London PE head sets out strategy as buyout partners predict uptick

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‘Doubling down’: CC’s London PE head sets out strategy as buyout partners predict uptick

Spencer Baylin, Clifford Chance’s recently-appointed London private equity head, discussed his ambitions for the practice with LB as we garnered views from peers on how the market is faring.

In December, CC lifer Baylin stepped up to the role soon after the high-profile loss of Christopher Sullivan to Paul Weiss’ M&A practice amid the US elite firm’s aggressive drive to build a top-tier corporate practice. Continue reading “‘Doubling down’: CC’s London PE head sets out strategy as buyout partners predict uptick”

Life During Law: Richard Lever

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Life During Law: Richard Lever

The Godfather is a great film. Tom Hagen was a bit of an inspiration. There’s that scene where he turns up at the hospital where the Godfather is staying with all these private detectives, and he deals with the police. Then there’s another part where he says: ‘I have a special practice. I handle one client. Now you have my number. I’ll wait for your call.’ That kind of power, that kind of control was inspiring.

I quit studying law after a year. I switched to history and politics because there were a lot of hours in the classroom doing law. After university, I travelled and taught English abroad. My girlfriend at the time wanted to come back to the UK as she had a job lined up as an accountant, so I came back with her. I would have been happy staying a teacher. One of the things I applied for was law school and I ended up doing the conversion course. The rest is history. Continue reading “Life During Law: Richard Lever”

‘Not just merger control’: Freshfields eyes opportunities in rising tide of antitrust regulation

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‘Not just merger control’: Freshfields eyes opportunities in rising tide of antitrust regulation

Off the back of Freshfields’ recent recruitment of former FTC commissioner Christine Wilson into its US antitrust practice as a senior adviser, LB looks at the growing importance of competition law, and what it means for the firm’s global strategy

Freshfields has in recent years arguably made greater strides than most peers in investing in its US business. Insiders stress that this is part of a worldwide push for ‘global elite’ status – a strategy that sees the firm aim to be, in the words of global antitrust, competition, and trade group head Alastair Chapman, ‘a US firm for US clients, a European firm for European clients, an Asian firm for Asian clients, and a global firm for all our clients’. Continue reading “‘Not just merger control’: Freshfields eyes opportunities in rising tide of antitrust regulation”

Strategies for safeguarding client confidentiality and compliance

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Strategies for safeguarding client confidentiality and compliance

Everyone is aware that data breaches and cyber attacks are on the rise globally. It affects organisations across various industries and for legal firms especially it is imperative that security is a top priority. Lawyers need to ensure their documentation is secure to uphold the principles of client confidentiality and attorney-client privilege, this is fundamental to the legal profession. By securing documentation, legal professionals protect against unauthorised access, data breaches, and potential disclosure of confidential information to third parties. Compliance with legal and industry-specific regulations is crucial,and secure documentation ensures adherence to these standards, mitigating the risk of legal and ethical consequences. Additionally, securing documentation reflects the professional responsibility of legal practitioners to safeguard the interests of their clients and maintain the highest ethical standards in the practice of law.

Law firms can enhance their security measures by using cloud-based digital dictation solutions as well as implementing a combination of technical safeguards, best practices, and employee training. Here are key steps law firms can take to protect themselves when utilising cloud-based digital dictation.
Continue reading “Strategies for safeguarding client confidentiality and compliance”

Paul Weiss continues London expansion as Magic Circle responds in US

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Paul Weiss continues London expansion as Magic Circle responds in US

The lateral hiring market for December and January was once again dominated by Paul Weiss’ impressive recruitment efforts in the City, resulting in the Magic Circle stepping it up in the US. Meanwhile, White & Case has been on a hiring spree of late, bringing in several partners in key practice areas in numerous locations. Continue reading “Paul Weiss continues London expansion as Magic Circle responds in US”

‘Bolder, pragmatic, more proactive’: Regulators bare teeth, but will they bite?

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‘Bolder, pragmatic, more proactive’: Regulators bare teeth, but will they bite?

2024 started with uncharacteristically decisive action from the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT), when in January it issued its joint highest-ever fine against Clyde & Co, following a slew of anti-money laundering breaches. It was a bold move from the regulator, which in recent months has drawn criticism over its perceived lack of action during the collapse of Axiom Ince.

As the fallout from Axiom Ince continues, both the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Legal Service Board (LSB) have announced reviews into the handling of Axiom Ince in the run up to the SRA’s intervention. Both regulators have highlighted the need to centre consumer protection in their regulatory approach, as the scandal threatens to derail confidence in the profession. Continue reading “‘Bolder, pragmatic, more proactive’: Regulators bare teeth, but will they bite?”

‘The human cost’: Post Office Horizon fiasco throws scrutiny on litigators and shines light on litigation funding

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‘The human cost’: Post Office Horizon fiasco throws scrutiny on litigators and shines light on litigation funding

The Post Office Horizon scandal saw over 700 subpostmasters convicted of fraud, theft, or false accounting. The victims were prosecuted for accounting shortfalls that were in fact the result of errors made by the Post Office’s Horizon accounting software.

At time of publication, fewer than 100 of those convictions have been overturned. Continue reading “‘The human cost’: Post Office Horizon fiasco throws scrutiny on litigators and shines light on litigation funding”