By: Maria Ward-Brennan

Professional Services Editor Maria Ward-Brennan is the Professional Services Editor at City AM, focused on law, Big Four, and other management and accounting consulting firms. She edits the Beyond The Billable newsletter and column. She was previously a litigation reporter at The Lawyer. Contact her via email at maria.ward-brennan@cityam.com or on X @MariaW_B.

All 1719 Articles

Biden: “I’m well-meaning, elderly, and I know what the hell I am doing”

February 9, 2024

US president Joe Biden hit back at questions about his age and his memory last night following a report by a top lawyer that called him an “elderly man with a poor memory”. “That is your judgement” he shouted back at a journalist who questioned the president on people expressing concerns about his age. She [...]
London Metal Exchange faces legal action over trading in ‘dirty metals’

February 8, 2024

The London Metal Exchange (LME) is set to defend itself after legal action was filed in the English High Court by eco groups over it “trading in dirty metals”. Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), along with the London Mining Network, are arguing that by enabling the global sale of ‘dirty metals’, LME is breaching UK [...]
Competition watchdogs kicks off inquiry into Aviva acquisition of AIG Life

February 8, 2024

The Competition and Market Authority (CMA) has launched a merger inquiry into the acquisition of AIG Life by Aviva. It was announced last September that Aviva was acquiring the US giant protection business from its subsidiary Corebridge Financial for a quoted price of £460m. The business Aviva is buying provides has 1.3m individual protection customers [...]
Baker Tilly International breaks through the $5bn barrier

February 8, 2024

Consultancy giant Baker Tilly International reported double-digit growth in revenue over 2023, with advisory being the fastest growing line. The firm saw its global turnover jump 11 per cent to $5.2bn for the financial year ending 31 December 2023 with double-digit growth across all service lines. Out of its major service lines, advisory was the fastest at [...]
Major insurers attempt to push billion pound litigation to a Russian court

February 7, 2024

Major insurance companies are at court today seeking to have a multi-billion pound aviation legal action moved from England to a Russian court
Taylor Swift threatens legal action against student who tracks private jets: ‘Her team thinks they can control the world’

February 7, 2024

Music icon Taylor Swift has threatened legal action against a US student over his social media accounts that track flights of celebrities’ private jets, including hers. Jack Sweeney, who is a student at the University of Central Florida, runs social media accounts that focus on takeoffs and landings of private planes owned by wealthy and [...]
Still “jeopardy” over CBI future, but new prez Rupert Soames says firms are re-engaging

February 7, 2024

The new boss of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) revealed that there is still some doubt as to whether the business lobby group can survive the scandal. Speaking to the BBC, the CBI’s new president Rupert Soames admitted that the organisation has to refinance its bank debt in autumn of this year. He explained [...]
Over-hiring blamed as UK consultancy job vacancies nosedived last year

February 7, 2024

The number of job vacancies at UK consultancies dropped by more than 80 per cent last year, as experts park the blame on firms over-hiring coupled with the drop in demand. According to data from a labour market analytics firm Vacancysoft shared with Bloomberg, McKinsey and Co., Bain & Co., Boston Consulting Group and Accenture [...]
Media tycoon Richard Desmond’s lottery firm files claim against Gambling Commission

February 6, 2024

According to the High Court filing system, the parties have instructed UK-US law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) to bring the case to the Technology and Construction Court (TCC).
Talent crisis: Insurers are struggling to attract new staff. Could painting and TikToks be the answer?

February 6, 2024

Insurance firms are in need of new blood. But the industry - innovative and exciting once you're in it - is struggling to cut through to the next generation.

‘Expect to be spied on’: MI5 chief warns UK tech startups over foreign threats

Football regulator warns Burnham: I’ll quit if ministers meddle in Manchester City

Artificial is a terrifying look at AI – and the year’s most important film

By: Maria Ward-Brennan

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