Magic circle Freshfields ousts equity partners amid US push July 13, 2026 Senior staff are bracing for a shake-up at magic circle law firm Freshfields, as partners have been forced out to boost growth and fund its US expansion. The City-based firm has ousted several equity partners in recent weeks across several European offices, including London, according to the Financial Times, as it focuses on growth. Speaking [...]
Making free trade a reality: The UK-GCC strategic dialogue July 13, 2026 The UK-GCC Free Trade Agreement (FTA), agreed upon in May 2026, promises greater resilience to unprecedented rifts in international relations that would, until recently, have been unimaginable. In our previous analysis of this dynamic, prior to the signing of the FTA, we observed that the UK-GCC FTA was a response to troubling seismic shifts among the world’s [...]
London-listed firm cheers surge in demand for ‘dog wash machines’ July 13, 2026 Europe’s biggest photobooth operator has expanded into user-operated dog washing machines in a bid to recover from an Iran war hit to profit. ME Group, which operates laundry machines and photo booths across the UK and Europe, said it is rolling out hundreds of dog wash machines in a bid to drive growth. The FTSE [...]
As it happened: Choppy day for FTSE 100 after Iran closes Strait of Hormuz as strikes ramp up July 13, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Markets are returning from the weekend to face another geopolitical shock after Iran confirmed it had closed the Strait of Hormuz once more. The narrow waterway that connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea had slowly seen a pick up in traffic [...]
City policy chair: Blocking skyscrapers is deeply disappointing July 13, 2026 Ministers’ decision to delay the City Plan over proposed skyscrapers near Tower Bridge is a blow to growth, says Chris Hayward Britain says it wants growth. Yet one of the country’s most important local plans has been sent back for further examination after already undergoing years of consultation, scrutiny and independent review. This delay, issued via a ministerial [...]
Businesses slam brakes on hiring over Burnham uncertainty July 13, 2026 The UK’s lofty tax bill and concerns surrounding the direction of an Andy Burnham premiership have led to a subdued jobs market, new research suggests, as employers pause hiring whilst they wait for further clarity on the likely incoming Prime Minister’s tax policies. Available jobs in London slumped five per cent in the second quarter [...]
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader looks to tap transatlantic dealmaking boom following merger July 13, 2026 Global law firm Hogan Lovells Cadwalader is looking to grab more of the private capital market from rivals and tap into a boom in transatlantic dealmaking following the City firm’s merger with the oldest legal practice on Wall Street. UK managing partner Penny Angell told City AM the merger creates “a stronger bench” for the combined companies [...]
Associated British Foods rises to bread battle with Warburtons July 12, 2026 Associated British Foods is taking on bread giant Warburtons with its Hovis merger. Could this be the biggest thing since sliced bread for the FTSE 100 giant? One of the London Stock Exchange’s biggest stalwarts is ditching the wardrobe and betting on the bread bin. Associated British Foods (ABF), which has been listed on the [...]
Sadiq Khan lobbies Burnham to appoint Miliband as Chancellor July 11, 2026 London mayor Sadiq Khan has weighed into the debate over who should be the next chancellor, lobbying Andy Burnham to select Ed Miliband for the job. In a private discussion with Burnham, Khan argued that Miliband had both the political skills and economic expertise to deliver Burnham’s agenda, including devolving powers to city regions, people [...]
I was on the Goodyear blimp above London – here’s what it was like July 10, 2026 Unless you’ve fully committed to hiding from the heatwave, you’ve probably noticed the return of the iconic Goodyear blimp, which has been cruising above the London skyline for the first time since 2022. With a capacity of just 14, getting a seat beneath its 75 metre balloon has been like finding a golden ticket to [...]