Cautionary tales: The downfall of Ince – a lesson in how not to run your law firm
‘In the event of a recession, the lawyers will be fine. They always are. Unless you work at Ince.’ Reflecting…
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The Last Word: London manifesto
‘We already have a strong European offering and our current expansion plans are centred on partner-level and team hires that…
Shearman and Hogan Lovells – better the devil you don’t
This comment piece has been updated to reflect an announcement late on Thursday (2 March) that merger talks between Shearman…
Stopping the bleeding at Travers will require hard-won loyalty and a pay overhaul
Looking at the recent wave of departures from Travers Smith brings to mind fears expressed by peers when we last…
The Last Word: Next level
‘Profitable organic development is still possible for us, but this isn’t the case for firms in some foreign markets –…
The Last Word: Matchday forecasts
‘The profitability of firms operating in the US is very high. If that continues to grow not least because the…
Much snootiness still remains, but the Vereins are actually fine
While Legal Business is not the type of publication to force a tenuous link in order to make a feature…
A bonanza year for the Global 100 – is the table about to turn?
It is a treacherous business, making market predictions for the year ahead. Too conservative and the pundit is guilty of…
(Almost) Everything you always wanted to know about TMT*
Often the most daunting thing about venturing into the unknown is also what makes it the most exciting – you…
Still vulgar to talk about money? Three decades have made the industry less coy
‘I don’t think you will get any of the City firms to talk about this sort of thing… You have?…
The Last Word: Market comment
‘A client said to me during the first Covid wave: “I stand in awe of the superior business model of…
Work in progress – Big Law’s existential office conundrum still needs fixing
The news that Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has directed partners, associates and trainees in London and Manchester to come into the…
A sneak preview of the LB100 – the lawyers are always fine, aren’t they?
‘In the event of a recession, the lawyers will be fine. They always are. Unless you work at Ince.’ So…
The Last Word: Notes on a scandal
‘No firm should ever take anything for granted. Dewey & LeBoeuf was a top-end, white-shoe firm and it over-guaranteed and…
The Last Word: Best foot forward
‘As custodians of the rule of law, we have to question whether we are undermining it in anyway? It’s in…
The profession must not let yesterday’s ESG news turn into today’s chip paper
As we publish Legal Business’ second ESG report, the words years ago of a male partner at a Magic Circle…
Target on your back – the rise and fall of the ESG lawyer?
A lot can happen in a year, and never more so it appears than in the constantly evolving world of…
ESG – What is it good for?
When Legal Business rounded off our inaugural ESG report last summer, we concluded that the coronavirus pandemic had given law…
Time for a reality check on salaries
That one of the chief concerns among law firm leaders in Legal Business’ annual Global London report is the retention…
The Last Word: Broad stripes and bright stars
‘When it comes to English law, I don’t think clients are as focused on where a firm is headquartered, and…