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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The City’s new Sirs and Dames named in the New Year honours 2024

December 30, 2023

Several of the City’s most prominent figures have been awarded peerages in the New Year honours list. Founder of a private taxi and hire company Addison Lee, John Griffin was appointed as Knight bachelor for his services to business and to charity. Stephen Hester, the chair of Easyjet and chair of Nordea was also appointed [...]
See you in court: keep an eye out for the most interesting cases in 2024

December 28, 2023

Coming soon: Alleged confidential leaks, missing aircraft in Russia and alleged negligence by a Big Four accountancy firm
What lies ahead for the insurance industry in 2024?

December 24, 2023

The insurance industry, like others, had a challenging 2023. But what could 2024 hold for the sector?
UK must promote English law brand as more contracts drawn up in Europe, City lawyers warn

December 22, 2023

More must be done to promote the “brand of English law”, City Lawyers have warned, following concerns that major corporate contracts are being written up under laws in other European nations.
UK fraud office faces hefty bill after court finds wrongdoing led to ENRC bribery probe

December 21, 2023

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) faces a hefty multi-million pound bill after the High Court ruled today that the agency would not have opened an investigation into a Kazakh mining firm but for the wrongdoing of its officers.
Government profits from surging insurance costs as tax on policies soars

December 21, 2023

HMRC tax receipts for the first two-thirds of the 2023-24 financial year showed that £6bn was collected in IPT. This was an 11 per cent jump on the £5.5bn raised over the same period last year.
The multibillion pound court battle keeping the City’s law firms busy

December 21, 2023

Aircraft leasing companies immediately turned to their insurers after their planes were stranded in Russia. But their refusal to cough up has set up a multi-billion pound court showdown.
Frasers Group: I Saw It First faces court battle with Turkish supplier after £1 deal

December 18, 2023

I Saw It First, the British fast-fashion company backed by Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group, is being dragged to court over a legal battle with a Turkish textile firm. Fabulous Textiles has instructed small UK law firm Blackstone Solicitors to file a claim against the online retailer which shot to stardom thanks to collaborations with Love [...]
Magic circle law firm reducing working week (and pay) in new flexibility scheme

December 18, 2023

A magic circle firm is incorporating a scheme to give lawyers the option to work shorter hours for less money. Slaughter and May confirmed confirmed its job design scheme which enables eligible associates to reduce to either a 0.9 or 0.8 full-time equivalent, with pay and holiday entitlement pro-rated accordingly. The magic circle firm was [...]
Exclusive data: 2024 sees rise of ESG, group actions and insolvency disputes

December 18, 2023

London litigation lawyers predict environmental-related cases, group actions and insolvency disputes to increase next year. In exclusive data shared with City A.M. from the London Solicitors Litigation Association (LSLA), the majority of litigants surveyed (65 per cent) envisaged an increase in environmental/environmental, social, and governance (ESG) claims. John McElroy, a committee member of the LSLA [...]

Rampant inflation could land Healey with £35bn bill, IFS warns

Manchester City owners must get messaging right or risk own fans turning against them

Where to eat Greek food in central London

By: Maria Ward-Brennan

All 1716 Articles

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