Why top law firms are betting big on virtual reality training | What’s the Context? March 4, 2025 City AM's legal reporter Maria Ward-Brennan visits the law firm Herbert Smith Freehills to try out the virtual reality tools they are testing to train their lawyers.
Freshfields: Revenue passes £2bn at Magic Circle law firm but profit cut February 3, 2025 Profit at Magic Circle law firm Freshfields was cut during its latest financial year despite its revenue passing £2bn for the first time. Freshfields has reported a pre-tax profit of £668.9m for the 12 months to 30 April, 2024, according to newly-filed accounts with Companies House. Profit before partners’ annuities increased from £497.8m to £675m. [...]
London law firm ‘acted appropriately’ for Putin’s warlord Prigozhin January 28, 2025 The legal regulator is reported to “have decided to take no further action” against law firm Discreet Law which acted for the former leader of leader of Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin. As revealed by Democracy for Sale, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) decided that London-based Discreet Law “acted appropriately” when representing the sanctioned Wagner leader. [...]
How predatory litigation is damaging UK plc’s reputation January 25, 2025 The rise of predatory class action law suits and a lack of transparency around litigation funding are putting off investors, says Seema Kennedy Last week the courts rejected a £500m class action brought on behalf of 36m British consumers against Apple and Amazon. The case – which hinged on whether the two companies were illegally [...]
Hiring frenzy at London law firms as ‘apex predator’ disrupts market December 30, 2024 Partners at London law firms are switching companies at record pace as a surge of investment by American rivals ramps up competition for talent. According to data provided by legal recruiter, Edwards Gibson, there were 546 partner moves recorded over 2024. This figure is up seven from 510 moves in 2023, and up 14 per [...]
What to expect from sports law in 2025: Man City, Saudi and the ‘unlikely MVP’ December 21, 2024 What will the big talking points be in sports law in 2025? We asked the experts at one of the industry’s top firms. This year will be remembered as one in which key sporting decisions were made in the courtroom rather than the boardroom. With the Football Governance Bill, ongoing financial regulatory disputes, and the [...]
City lawyers gear up for US firms’ bonus season amid pay war December 10, 2024 Lawyers at US law firms across the City are poised to receive their bonus payouts following another year of fierce competition in the industry. In a year that saw US law firms Quinn Emanuel and Gibson Dunn and Paul raise their pay for newly qualified lawyers to £180,000, the salary battle shows no signs of [...]
Microsoft facing £1bn overcharging claim from UK firms December 3, 2024 Microsoft is facing a £1bn legal action over claims the US giant overcharged firms for access to products. Filed to the Competition Appeal Tribunal, the claim alleges customers using rival cloud computing platforms to Microsoft’s own Azure were charged higher licensing fees to access its Windows Server. It also alleges that UK companies and organisations [...]
What does the Al-Fayed case mean for employers? November 17, 2024 The allegations against Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed are particularly egregious, but they could have lasting ramifications for employment law, explains Dan Parker The maelstrom of recent allegations of sexual harassment emerging from Mohamed Al-Fayed‘s ownership of Harrods is deeply concerning. On one hand, the task of reckoning with these allegations is likely to be enormous [...]
Football Governance Bill: What do lawyers think about changes? October 25, 2024 On Thursday the government reintroduced the Football Governance Bill, in what they describe as a “strengthening” of the previous attempt. Among the changes was a drop of the requirement to take note of UK foreign policy, and a development to include fans in plans to hike ticket prices and relocate stadiums. But what do top [...]