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.

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Bitcoin on trial in London: ‘Inventor’ offers settlement weeks before court battle

January 25, 2024

The self-proclaimed inventor of Bitcoin has issued a settlement offer to all parties ahead of an upcoming London High Court case that will decide on the creator of the first ever cryptocurrency. Australian computer scientist Dr Craig Wright has long claimed to be behind the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, the name used by the person who [...]
Post Office told the government it would oppose appeals of Horizon scandal victims

January 25, 2024

The Post Office told the Government it would oppose appeals of half of the convicted sub-postmasters, days before PM announced a new law to exonerate victims. It was revealed by the Financial Times that ministers were privately told by the Post Office that they believed that in 333 cases, non-Horizon evidence supported the convictions. The [...]
No cloudy business: Aldi did not infringe Thatchers’ trademark over lemon cider

January 24, 2024

Aldi did not infringe on Thatchers’ trademark with its cider lemon drink, a judge ruled today, bringing a sigh of relief to the low-cost supermarket’s busy legal team. The English cider brand launched legal action against Aldi back in September 2022 over its cloudy lemon cider. Thatchers called on South West law firm Stephens Scown [...]
In-house lawyers expecting a surge in legal disputes amid wage and union pressures

January 24, 2024

Businesses are anticipating a rise in legal disputes, however, they need to also be prepared for the rising costs of litigation. A report by law Firm Shoosmiths stated that 82 per cent of in-house senior lawyers expect an increase in spending on dispute resolution over the next three years. Those surveyed say they will consider [...]
Amazon is shutting down its UK insurance store after just a year

January 24, 2024

Amazon started rolling out to select customers in October 2022 and available to all UK customers at the end of 2022.
UK has insured £102bn worth of Russian oil despite sanctions

January 24, 2024

A former Cabinet minister has called on the insurance industry to think on its obligations after it was revealed that UK firms have insured over €120bn worth of Russian oil.
It’s gin time: Aldi faces off with Marks and Spencer in court over light up bottle

January 23, 2024

Aldi and Marks and Spencer are back in court today for round two of their fight over a light up gin bottle with gold flakes. Marks and Spencer launched an intellectual property legal action against discount supermarket rival Aldi back in 2021 over a gin. Marks and Spencer introduced a new line of gin based [...]
Exclusive: Slow property market is affecting lawyers as transactions drop

January 22, 2024

Exclusive data shared with City A.M. shows that property lawyers are now handling 25 per cent fewer cases on average, following a 21 per cent fall in monthly property transactions year-on-year.
Osborne Clarke drops signature from legal climate charter

January 22, 2024

City headquartered law firm Osborne Clarke has dropped its signature from a legal initiative designed to support law firms with transition to Net Zero. Legal Charter 1.5 was an initiative developed collaboratively by a group of large City law firms ahead of London Climate Action Week last June. At the time, eight law firms were [...]
Grant Thornton UK elects 20-year veteran as new chief executive

January 22, 2024

Grant Thornton UK has appointed its new CEO after Dave Dunckley stood down in a surprise early departure. The firm’s partners elected Malcolm Gomersall as the new CEO, subject to regulatory approval. He was already running the firm while the selection process took place. Gomersall was the firm’s chief operating officer, having taken on that [...]

FTSE 100 Live: Stocks to gain; under-pressure Whitbread faces markets

A Rugby League World Cup starts this week and you didn’t know. That’s a huge problem

AI film Artificial is the talking point of 2026. Here’s why

By: Maria Ward-Brennan

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