Euro Elite 2023: Italy – Toughening up

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Euro Elite 2023: Italy – Toughening up

While the three years following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic were marked by instability and uncertainty – exacerbated by Russia’s war against Ukraine resulting in gas supply issues and inflation – law firms have been presented with opportunities for expansion and growth within a significantly reshaped legal market. With Italy among the European countries that suffered the most from both the pandemic and the energy crisis, its legal community has been concerned as to their fate in 2022.

Both large international and independent law firms faced an arduous business environment, characterised by tightened competition, shifting client needs, technological advancement and strict regulatory developments. Despite these challenges, many of Italy’s best independent law firms were able to achieve strong results in 2022 and have unanimously reported their busiest and most successful years, with an average increase in revenue of up to 10%. Continue reading “Euro Elite 2023: Italy – Toughening up”

Euro Elite 2023: Nordics – New challenges

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Euro Elite 2023: Nordics – New challenges

In an increasingly tumultuous market, the Nordic region has thus far remained resilient to pressures; as the Covid-19 pandemic begins to abate, new stressors, such as the war in Ukraine and global economic downturn are starting to affect investment and deal flow across Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. With the countries’ proximity to Russia, and Finland and Sweden in the process of joining Nato, the political and economic situation doesn’t look like settling down anytime soon.

In Norway, Thommessen’s Sverre Tyrhaug states that despite the vicissitudes of global market forces and a drop in capital markets work, 2022 ‘turned out surprisingly well, we were busy and up in terms of turnover’. With regards to sectors, as with most countries in Europe, Norway is looking to increase energy security and Thommessen has seen an increase in renewables, as well as oil and gas, and hydrogen projects. As for 2023, Tyrhaug remains optimistic: ‘Lots of clients will put cost-cutting high on the agenda, especially due to increasing inflation. However, it will not necessarily be a bad year for lawyers; we expect consolidation in the tech, energy and renewables sector and a lot of M&A and distressed M&A work.’ Norway remains a stable legal market with indigenous, independent firms taking up the bulk of high-profile work. Continue reading “Euro Elite 2023: Nordics – New challenges”

Euro Elite 2023: Southern Europe – Hanging on

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Euro Elite 2023: Southern Europe – Hanging on

Euro Elite’s Southern Europe contingent comprises firms from the highly competitive Israeli and Greek markets, all of which have been required to weather a substantial storm after several years of heightened activity.

Israel has long been known for its enterprising market of tech and life science start-ups, and recent years have seen the industry riding high with premium valuations and US public listings. That has changed in the last 12 months, as inert public markets and global economic conditions saw the well of capital begin to run dry. Continue reading “Euro Elite 2023: Southern Europe – Hanging on”

Euro Elite 2023: Switzerland – Strength in depth

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Euro Elite 2023: Switzerland – Strength in depth

2022 brought fresh challenges for the Swiss market, given the widespread instability in the global economy. Despite strong consumer spending and the removal of the last of the pandemic restrictions ensuring that economic growth has remained steady, the lingering aftershocks of the pandemic, war in Ukraine and the ensuing energy crisis, mean official predictions for growth were cut to 2% by the end of 2022. Inflation stood at just under 3% last year and the Swiss National Bank opted to raise interest rates to 1% in December 2022, having only increased them to 0.5% a few months earlier.

‘The SNB is concerned by current inflation rates,’ says Juerg Bloch, investigations and enforcement partner at Niederer Kraft Frey (NKF), says. ‘The aim is to keep inflation within the range of price stability over the medium term.’ Continue reading “Euro Elite 2023: Switzerland – Strength in depth”

Europe’s elite continues robust performance as multi-site firms prosper

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Europe’s elite continues robust performance as multi-site firms prosper

The mood among most managing partners at independent law firms from Lisbon to Moscow is certainly upbeat. And for good reason. Our third Euro Elite survey shows overall revenues of continental Europe’s 25 top independents had a strong year, reaching €4.04bn.

The number is only marginally up on last year’s €4.03bn, but with smaller outfits from Russia and the Baltics joining the elite club it still speaks of a robust performance among continental European players. The total number of lawyers in the group is marginally down to 10,753 from 10,867, while partner numbers have risen to 2,355 from 2,338. Continue reading “Europe’s elite continues robust performance as multi-site firms prosper”

The Euro Elite Overview: Ode to Joy

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The Euro Elite Overview: Ode to Joy

The good times are back in Europe – at least for now – making growth the word on every managing partner’s lips. According to the International Monetary Fund, last year’s European recovery was an ‘engine of global trade and economic growth’. Across the EU27, annual GDP grew between 1.5% and 5% – the biggest figures being recorded among the smallest member states that experienced a severe post-crisis downturn, including Ireland and some CEE countries.

The corollary? Bullish stock markets and buoyant initial public offerings with Mergermarket data showing that European M&A hit a post-crisis high of $929.3bn across 7,235 deals in 2017 – Europe’s resurgence has unleashed a wealth of corporate dealmaking ambition. Continue reading “The Euro Elite Overview: Ode to Joy”