Meet the lawyer that launched Mayer Brown into Space (law) October 1, 2025 Fifteen years ago, Rachael O’Grady, an arbitration lawyer, had a blown-up satellite operator case land on her desk, a case that would pique her interest and ultimately lead to the creation of a space practice at Mayer Brown. “Given my international law background, I started thinking about space and how that might interact with international [...]
Cold Palmer: What footballer’s wine row tells us about trade mark protection September 28, 2025 The recent “Cold Palmer” trade mark case, which saw Chelsea and England footballer Cole Palmer’s application challenged by a vineyard, is a reminder that, whatever walk of business you are in, trade mark registrations are an essential part of business planning. Being a sports personality does not grant you extra rights in your name, likeness [...]
This legal battle could reshape anti-doping disclosure in sport September 26, 2025 A pivotal legal dispute has emerged that could redefine how sports authorities handle the publication of athletes’ personal data. At the heart of the matter is the practice by Austria’s National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA Austria) and the Austrian Anti-Doping Legal Committee of publishing the names and details of athletes sanctioned for doping violations on publicly [...]
Big name, big pay, even bigger hours: Welcome to City law firms September 25, 2025 The salaries of junior lawyers is a topic that sparks headlines, adding even bigger sparks to debates over 20-something-year-olds pocketing hefty wage packages. However, considering the hours they work and what is expected of them, the money is earned. US firms, many of which now dominate London, not only compete over lawyer rates but also [...]
Ministry of Justice sacks 849 staff over misconduct in three years September 24, 2025 The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has dismissed 849 staff members over the last three years for alleged misconduct. A Freedom of Information Request, shared with City AM, revealed there has been an increase in the number of individuals receiving a penalty as a result of the conduct and discipline process at the MoJ, with a [...]
Junior lawyers earn £44 an hour for 13-hour days September 23, 2025 Junior lawyers at leading City law firms are regularly working well beyond standard hours, with many firms reporting their youngest staff routinely putting in over 12-hour days. According to research by Legal Cheek on over 2,000 trainees and junior lawyers, the London offices of top US law firms are leading the table, which is consistent [...]
Class action boom hampers Britain’s economic expansion September 18, 2025 The surge in cases could cost the UK economy up to £18bn, diverting resources away from innovation and undermining growth, according to a new Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) report. A report, authored by lawyer Stephen Dnes, warns that the UK’s competition class action system has seen an explosion of speculative lawsuits, with around one [...]
The great big merger: Chasing elite status in the legal world September 18, 2025 The ever-evolving legal market continues to expand, particularly when it comes to law firm names, which have become longer as a result of a flurry of recent mergers. The ambition to join the ‘Global Elite’ continues to drive change, as two major firms have recently followed A&O Shearman’s lead by merging with New York law [...]
City of London unveils £600m Justice Hub at Salisbury Square September 18, 2025 The City of London Corporation is topping out the new flagship building, dubbed London’s new ‘Justice Quarter’, which features 18 courtrooms at Salisbury Square. The City’s £600m investment, which will serve as the new headquarters for the City of London Police, aims to enhance capacity in the criminal justice system, resulting in faster outcomes for [...]
Knives are out in Whitehall after Chinese espionage case collapsed September 17, 2025 Whitehall is seething with anger following the Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) decision to drop its espionage case against two men accused of spying for China. Christopher Cash (30), a former parliamentary researcher and director of the China Research Group, and Christopher Berry (33), a former English teacher in China, were charged last year with providing [...]