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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Deloitte refunds Australian government after AI ‘made up citations’ in report

October 6, 2025

Big Four firm Deloitte is set to issue a partial refund to the Australian federal government after a report it issued contained several errors caused by the use of AI. Deloitte was commissioned by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) to review a targeted compliance framework and its IT system in December 2024. [...]
China spying case collapse leads to ‘interference’ accusations

October 6, 2025

Senior officials have pointed fingers at the Labour government over the decision by the Crown Prosecution Service to drop the espionage case against two men accused of spying for China. Senior UK government figures told the Financial Times that the government fatally undermined the Chinese spying case in order to protect the UK’s commercial and [...]
London’s Hippodrome Casino VAT recovery hopes dashed by Tribunal

October 6, 2025

London’s Hippodrome Casino has failed to overturn a ruling on the method used to calculate the tax recovery for residual input tax. The 24-hour casino, located in the heart of Leicester Square, also features restaurants, bars, and a theatre, where Magic Mike Live has been performing since 2018. While most people attend the Hippodrome for [...]
Ladbrokes and Coral owner files copyright claim against matched betting rival firms

October 3, 2025

Entain, the owner of Ladbrokes and Coral, has filed an intellectual property lawsuit against two of the largest matched betting companies, OddsMonkey and Outplayed. The claim, filed with the English High Court by law firm Wiggin, alleges unauthorised use of its brand logos and copyrighted materials, with Entain describing the matched betting business model as [...]
Global uncertainty: Political and digital risks reshape corporate priorities

October 1, 2025

A surge in political risk and tensions has resulted in geopolitical volatility entering Aon’s top ten global business concerns for the first time. Aon’s ‘Global Risk Management Survey’, based on nearly 3,000 risk managers, C-suite leaders, and executives, revealed the most pressing risks for business decision-makers. The top ten list of risks facing businesses in [...]
Meet the lawyer that launched Mayer Brown into Space (law)

October 1, 2025

Fifteen years ago, Rachael O’Grady, an arbitration lawyer, had a blown-up satellite operator case land on her desk, a case that would pique her interest and ultimately lead to the creation of a space practice at Mayer Brown. “Given my international law background, I started thinking about space and how that might interact with international [...]
Most businesses use ChatGPT before consulting their accountant

October 1, 2025

Almost two-thirds (64 per cent) of businesses are now using public AI chatbots for advice before consulting their accountant, according to new research exclusively shared with City AM. A survey of 500 senior decision-makers within UK accountancy firms, conducted by Ravical for its ‘Accounting in the Age of AI‘ report, found clients are no longer [...]
EY hires Treasury director to bolster financial services team

September 30, 2025

Big Four giant EY has recruited HM Treasury’s director of financial services to add to its financial services risk practice. As exclusively shared with City AM, John Owen has joined EY as a UK consulting partner after over two decades in government. Owen started off in the Ministry of Justice in 2005, before moving to [...]
Deloitte: Profit up despite revenue slip amid ‘tougher market’

September 30, 2025

Profit at the UK arm of Big Four giant Deloitte rose during its latest financial year despite its revenue falling as it made “changes” to its structure. For the year to 31 May, 2025, Deloitte posted a revenue of £5.68bn, down from the £5.75bn it raked in during the prior 12 months. However, despite the [...]
From McGregor to the final three: The battle for Ireland’s highest office

September 29, 2025

In less than a month, voters across Ireland will head to the polls to choose their next President, as the current officeholder, Michael D. Higgins, completes his final term. Unlike in France or the United States, Ireland’s presidency is largely ceremonial. The President serves as the head of state, while the Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) [...]

Trade sanctions on Israeli settlements attacked as ‘performative’

RFU left waiting on Twickenham gig planning meeting after NIMBY opposition

Open House Festival: The best guided walks in the Square Mile

By: Maria Ward-Brennan

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