Following DAC Beachcroft‘s decision to establish a four-firm international network earlier this year, Weightmans is collaborating with firms from the UK, Spain, Canada and the USA to provide a global insurance service to clients. Continue reading “‘The way forward’: Weightmans latest LB100 firm to establish global insurance alliance”
As general counsel continue to face pressure over costs, Pinsent Masons has acquired a 20% stake in New Law outsourcing business Yuzu, which was founded in January by former Colt group general counsel Robin Saphra. Continue reading “‘You don’t need to do this in-house’: Pinsents takes 20% stake in New Law outsourcing start-up”
In a margin-conscious environment it is tough for advisers to catch a client’s eye, but according to flagship research into GC attitudes, a group of quality City law firms are standing out from the crowd through cutting-edge service delivery.
Macfarlanes’ Charles Martin reviews Heidi Gardner’s much-discussed new book on collaboration in professional services
Collaboration within a law firm is as self-evidently a good thing as motherhood and apple pie. But then you might think the case for global warming is pretty clear too. So, despite the wave of professional recognition Harvard Law School professor Heidi Gardner (pictured) has received for her work on teamworking, her new book, Smart Collaboration, has the considerable challenge of getting lawyers past the outskirts of platitudinal praise and towards the town centre of actual working habits. Continue reading “A buzzword, sure, but one with edge”
Collaboration has become the new innovation – the quality clients are supposed to want and progressive law firms strive to deliver. Does the reality match the hype?
‘Why are so many restaurants now featuring windows that let you peek into their kitchens, or seating you as close as possible to the chefs? Because customers have decided they want to be “in the kitchen”. They want to see how the sausage is made.’
Heidi Gardner, Harvard Law School
Continue reading “The new black – the spin and substance behind collaboration”
Mishcon de Reya has become the latest firm to embrace innovation in legal tech, today (16 January) launching an incubator programme for tech start-ups in the legal industry.
Continue reading “‘Innovation is happening’: Mishcon launches legal tech start-up scheme”
Personal assistants at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in London have been offered voluntary redundancy or the chance to apply for a more client-focused role in a move that affects around 180 staff.
Continue reading “Efficiency drive: Freshfields shakes up London secretarial staff roles”
Linklaters has set up a partner-led global innovation team to oversee the firm’s use of technology, including plans to teach its lawyers to code. Continue reading “‘Not just blue sky thinking’: Linklaters launches innovation group and pilots coding training”
Slaughter and May and Addleshaw Goddard are targeting the fintech market, following in Simmons & Simmons’ footsteps to develop funds that back free legal advice to fintech clients.
In May Simmons launched a £100,000 fund to cover free advice for up to four fintech start-ups. In November Slaughters upped the ante, putting £300,000 forward for its initiative. Meanwhile, Addleshaws has also announced it will provide up to £500,000 worth of legal mentorship and advisory programmes for up to 16 selected start-ups over the next 12 months.
Continue reading “Slaughters and Addleshaws follow Simmons in developing fintech funds”
NRF chief executive Peter Martyr defied expectations to reinvent Norton Rose as a progressive global player over more than a decade. Three years on from its ambitious US tie-up, where is the firm going next?
‘You will have to talk to Peter, we are not authorised to speak,’ says one Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) partner. It’s a familiar refrain in a firm that – despite its reputation as a friendly place to work – defers to central management. A lot.
Continue reading “On the bus – Inside the Norton Rose Fulbright masterplan”
