UK Supreme Court dismisses Huawei appeal in mobile patent clash August 26, 2020 The UK Supreme Court today unanimously dismissed appeals by China’s Huawei and ZTE in patent disputes over mobile data technology with Unwired Planet International and Conversant Wireless. The first appeal concerned an action brought by Unwired against Huawei for the infringement of five UK patents, which Unwired had acquired from Ericsson and were said to [...]
PwC grows global revenue to $43bn despite coronavirus pandemic hit August 25, 2020 Big Four firm PwC said its global revenue grew three per cent to $43bn (£32.7bn) in 2019-20, despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. PwC said during the nine months to the end of March revenue grew seven per cent, but said the coronavirus pandemic had a major impact on the remaining quarter to 30 [...]
Four in five recruitment firms expect financial hit this year from Covid-19 August 25, 2020 Four in five recruitment firms said they expect a drop in full-year income in 2020-2021 as a result of the Covid pandemic. The majority of recruitment firms forecast a 15-30 per cent drop in income compared to the previous year, the survey by HSBC’s professional services team found. HSBC UK’s head of professional services Chloe [...]
Linklaters tells lawyers they can spend half their time at home permanently August 25, 2020 Magic circle law firm Linklaters today said its lawyers could spend up to half their time out of the office on a permanent basis. The London-headquartered firm, which has more than 2,000 lawyers worldwide, said the new policy was based on its experience during the coronavirus pandemic. The majority of Linklaters lawyers are still working [...]
Top 25 law firm DAC Beachcroft seals £65m deal with HSBC and Lloyds to provide ‘firepower’ during covid downturn August 21, 2020 UK top 25 law firm DAC Beachcroft has sealed a £65m financing deal with Lloyds and HSBC to help give it the “firepower” to push through the covid-downturn. The London-headquartered law firm, which has 19 offices and more than 2,600 people around the world, said it boosted its finance facility to ensure its plans for [...]
PwC delays results over coronavirus partner pay uncertainty August 21, 2020 Big Four accountancy firm PwC UK said it is delaying its annual results by four months because the coronavirus slowdown means it is unsure of what to pay partners and what to distribute in staff bonuses. PwC normally announces its results in September but is now planning on releasing its results for the year to [...]
How PwC is welcoming staff back into the office safely August 18, 2020 The office still has an important role to play in society, the chairman of Big Four auditor PwC believes, as his staff seek to return to their desks after months spent at their kitchen tables. Kevin Ellis, chairman of PwC tells City A.M. that while the firm has adjusted to remote working the office still [...]
PwC boss Kevin Ellis: returning to work like ‘crossing the Rubicon for some people…you have got to make them feel safe’ August 12, 2020 The chair and senior partner of PwC UK Kevin Ellis said the Big Four firm had found it needed to overcome fear among some of its workers to help them return to the office. Speaking on City A.M.’s The City View podcast, Ellis said: “It is about crossing the Rubicon for some people…you have got [...]
German regulator examines EY over Wirecard audits August 3, 2020 The German auditing regulator is reportedly examining EY in connection with its involvement with the disgraced payment services firm Wirecard. A document from the Economic Ministry, seen by German newspaper Handelsblatt, states that regulator Apas is examining all of EY’s audits of Wirecard from 2015. The Big Four firm has been Wirecard’s auditor for over [...]
Ince Group sees revenue jump 87 per cent but just misses £100m target August 3, 2020 Legal and financial services firm Ince Group continued its rapid growth this year, with revenue increasing 87 per cent despite disruption from the coronavirus pandemic. Although the firm narrowly missed its target of £100m in revenue, the firm said its underlying business had proved “resilient” in the face of the pandemic. Shares in the firm [...]