London will fall to US firms, ABS is no big deal, Vereins have had it and the modern obsession with process is a waste of time. Discuss In a time of unprecedented uncertainty in the legal market, most people with skin in the game are interested in where things are heading. We industry observers are […]
Why classical lawyering – and its clients – have everything to gain from the efficiency drive sparked by alternative providers Moral conceit is the cancer of our profession. In our discourse, certitude is displacing reason as the medium of choice. Carefully nuanced distinctions are often bludgeoned by those without the subtlety to draw them. We […]
Why is lawyers’ pay so high? Not because it benefits the business, say the stats Ah, summer. A time to kick back, to look at law firms’ numbers coming in ahead of The Lawyer’s annual UK 200 analysis and wonder what I would do if I earned £400,000, £500,000 or £600,000 – or even £1.4m […]
With the economy improving, partners’ minds are turning to growing the business, but a serious dose of pragmatism must balance their ambitions As the legal market recovers from a bruising period, many firms are considering either opening new offices in the UK or internationally or developing their practice areas. Having been through a period of […]
Prosperity is all around, but that will only lay bare fundamental problems in a sector accelerating towards its judgment day The wave of positive economic data that ushered in the new year has become positively tidal as momentum and growth, now driven by increased business investment levels as well as consumption, has buoyed markets and […]
My determination to do battle with all attempts to devalue the art of lawyering was forged under the influence of some inspiring thinkers on English law When The Lawyer invited me to be a guest columnist I paused before responding. Don’t the Brits have stricter libel laws than we do in the US, I thought? […]
Once the microphones are turned off, what are the big questions UK and US lawyers are asking the Chinese? Here they are – and the answers too Not long ago I attended a gathering of senior lawyers from the region to talk about the state of the Asian legal market and key trends and developments […]
Don’t worry, I’m not suggesting big-game hunting here – the gorillas I’m referring to are the selfish stars inhabiting many law firms The legal gorilla usually claims to have a good practice, is one of the highest billers in the firm and likes everyone to know it, and treat him with respect and deference. He […]
If shale gas can cut the UK’s energy dependence, we must jump hurdles to do it Hydraulic fracturing (commonly known as fracking) is back in the headlines – an infrastructure bill will be included in the Queen’s speech that will allow energy companies to frack for shale gas under private land. Domestic energy production is […]
The partnership model is under attack as firms look for ways to enshrine fairness in a post-crunch world where commitment means less Partnership. The word explodes in a supernova – champagne for some – of possibilities. It can be a great thing for clients and lawyers, but challenges loom that go to the heart of […]