The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s colour evolution October 16, 2025 Whisky Business: City AM’s monthly look at the world of whisky. Over the past couple of decades, single malts have become synonymous with the Scotch whisky category. While blended Scotch, which uses a blend of different whiskies from various distilleries, still accounts for around 90 per cent of industry volume, single malt whisky, matured and distilled [...]
Ousted CEO and mounting debts: the lawyers behind £36bn BHP lawsuit October 16, 2025 The law firm behind the most significant litigation to ever hit the English High Court has been lighting up headlines recently due to allegations around internal issues at the group. Back in 2018, in Liverpool, barrister Tom Goodhead and US lawyer Harris Pogust founded a law firm using an alternative business structure that focused on large-scale group [...]
Close Brothers takes swing at FCA after near-doubling motor finance provisions October 14, 2025 Close Brothers’ frustration at the City watchdog has stepped up a gear after the firm was forced to almost double its provisions for the motor finance scandal. The FTSE 250 lender, which had previously set aside £165m, hiked its provisions by a further £135m following the Financial Conduct Authority outlining details of its industry-wide redress [...]
Business Leaders, Policymakers and Innovators Unite to Shape London’s Future October 11, 2025 London, 11 October 2025 – Hundreds of senior business leaders, policymakers, and innovators gathered last night at The Emmanuel Centre, Westminster, for “London – Opportunities and Obstacles for Growth,” a major public forum hosted by Central London Alliance CIC. Timed strategically to take place before the party conference season, but postponed because of the industrial action which [...]
Who’s really running a court case? The legal ruling that’s raising eyebrows October 9, 2025 Each year, courts hand down hundreds of thousands of judgments. While many are significant only to the parties involved, occasionally a decision sends ripples much further afield. A prime example happened last October, when the Court of Appeal issued a straightforward ruling that upended the lending sector and created significant headaches for the Financial Conduct [...]
‘Unforgivable big companies don’t pay their fair share of tax’ October 6, 2025 The chief executive of Clearscore has said it is “unforgivable” that some big international companies don’t pay their fair share of UK tax. Speaking on an up-coming episode of City AM’s Boardroom Uncovered show, Justin Basini said, if he was Prime Minister for the day, he would pass a law that every big business would [...]
End backward, outdated Sunday trading laws! October 3, 2025 Restrictions on large stores trading hours on Sundays are a relic of a bygone era which strangle high streets and hold back growth, says Mark Allatt In an era where the rhythm of daily life has accelerated beyond recognition, the UK’s archaic Sunday trading laws stand as a stubborn relic, stifling economic vitality and curtailing [...]
Big name, big pay, even bigger hours: Welcome to City law firms September 25, 2025 The salaries of junior lawyers is a topic that sparks headlines, adding even bigger sparks to debates over 20-something-year-olds pocketing hefty wage packages. However, considering the hours they work and what is expected of them, the money is earned. US firms, many of which now dominate London, not only compete over lawyer rates but also [...]
The great big merger: Chasing elite status in the legal world September 18, 2025 The ever-evolving legal market continues to expand, particularly when it comes to law firm names, which have become longer as a result of a flurry of recent mergers. The ambition to join the ‘Global Elite’ continues to drive change, as two major firms have recently followed A&O Shearman’s lead by merging with New York law [...]
The Debate: This house has confidence in the president-elect of the Oxford Union September 16, 2025 Following the horrifying death of Charlie Kirk, the president-elect of the Oxford Union, George Abaraonye, posted comments online appearing to celebrate his murder. Since then, many have called for him to be removed from the post. The whole affair has raised questions about the necessity and limits of free speech in a democracy – and [...]