Pulse UK

  • July 12, 2024

    Labour Gov't Spells Trouble For Return-To-Office Mandates

    The week-old Labour government could disrupt efforts by law firms to implement return-to-office mandates because expected worker-friendly reforms could drive a demand for a range of flexible options.

  • July 19, 2024

    HSF Hires Eversheds Partner Pair For Paris Office

    Herbert Smith Freehills LLP has recruited two high-ranking lawyers from Eversheds Sutherland in France to boost its capabilities advising clients on intellectual property, information technology and data privacy.

  • July 12, 2024

    Dentons To Face SRA Appeal On AML Misconduct Ruling

    The Solicitors Regulation Authority has appealed against a London tribunal's decision that inadvertent anti-money laundering failures at the U.K. arm of Dentons over a politically exposed client did not amount to professional misconduct.

  • July 12, 2024

    Judicial Diversity Data Finds Small Gains For Ethnic Minorities

    More work needs to be done to accelerate improvements in judicial diversity, lawyers groups have said, as industry statistics reveal that little has changed in representation of ethnic minorities and that solicitors still trail behind barristers in recruitment.

  • July 12, 2024

    Axiom Owes Ex-Staff £37K In Redundancy, Notice Payments

    A tribunal has ruled that Axiom Ince must pay two more former staff a total of at least £36,700 ($47,500) in redundancy and notice payments, with one of the ex-employees also winning compensation for breaches of trade union rules when the firm collapsed.

  • July 11, 2024

    Law Firm Must Pay £4K For Racial Abuse Claim Costs

    A defunct London law firm that represented a forklift driver in his "fictional" racial abuse claim against a printing business must pay £4,000 ($5,166) to repay the legal costs the company racked up fighting the claim.

  • July 11, 2024

    Ex-BP Legal Head Joins HF Sinclair As General Counsel

    HF Sinclair Corp. this week named the former head of legal at BP PLC its new general counsel, about four months after the energy company's most recent top law department leader resigned to pursue another opportunity.

  • July 11, 2024

    NCA Can Seize Money Linked To £55M Tax Scam

    A 13-year money laundering investigation involving a lottery winner, a bomb hoax and a £55 million ($71 million) tax fraud neared its end at a London court on Thursday as a judge ordered funds from three defunct companies to be forfeited to the National Crime Agency.

  • July 11, 2024

    Ashurst Latest Firm To Boost NQ Pay To £125K

    Ashurst LLP said on Thursday that it has increased starting salaries for newly qualified solicitors in London to £125,000 ($161,400) as U.S. firms continue to lead the way in driving lucrative pay rises in the English capital.

  • July 11, 2024

    DWF Names Litigation Pro As Managing Partner In Manchester

    DWF LLP said on Thursday that its U.K. and Ireland disputes chief will become its new managing partner in Manchester after nearly two decades helping to build its litigation practice in the northwest.

  • July 11, 2024

    BHS Liquidators Sue Former Owner For Role In £133M Loss

    Liquidators for BHS have sued its former owner in their latest effort to recover money after the high street chain's £133 million ($171 million) collapse, telling a London court that the law firm partner had wrongly pocketed millions of pounds of the company's cash.

  • July 11, 2024

    Ex-Clifford Chance Veteran Accused Of Pocketing Client Funds

    The Solicitors Regulation Authority is taking the former managing partner of Clifford Chance's Brussels office to a tribunal in London after he allegedly attempted to misappropriate approximately $1 million in client funds and then tried to shield his misconduct from the firm.

  • July 11, 2024

    Profits Soar At A&O Amid Modest Growth Before Merger

    Profits for Allen & Overy LLP jumped by more than 17% in the financial year that culminated with the firm's mega-merger with Shearman & Sterling in May, A&O Shearman said Thursday.

  • July 10, 2024

    Simpson Thacher Adds $50M In London In First Half Of 2024

    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP said Wednesday that its London office had bolstered its revenues by approximately $50 million in the first half of 2024, maintaining the firm's robust performance amid a strong results season for the U.K. legal industry.

  • July 10, 2024

    Faegre Drinker Confirms Operational, Administrative Layoffs

    A spokesperson for Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP confirmed to Law360 Pulse on Wednesday that the firm laid off "less than 5%" of its total operations and administrative staff earlier this year.

  • July 10, 2024

    Ex-Clifford Chance Lawyer Limited Over Alleged Misconduct

    The Solicitors Regulation Authority has blocked a former Clifford Chance LLP associate from working at any regulated firm without preapproval, on the grounds that he alleged made inappropriate sexual advances toward a colleague.

  • July 10, 2024

    WFW Sees Global Revenues Hit Record Of £238M

    Watson Farley & Williams LLP said Wednesday that its global business had seen revenues reach an all-time high of £238 million ($306 million), while profits also grew significantly.

  • July 10, 2024

    Shoosmiths Surpasses £200M Revenue Mark For First Time

    Shoosmiths LLP said Wednesday that its revenue climbed by 6% over the last fiscal year to hit £207 million ($266 million), with double-digit income spikes in its corporate and litigation practices fueling the growth.

  • July 10, 2024

    Reed Smith Bumps NQ Salaries To £125K

    Reed Smith LLP said Wednesday that it is giving newly qualified lawyers in its London office a double-digit salary increase to £125,000 ($160,480), though it still remains on the low end for the city as major U.S. players drive salaries for new solicitors to dizzying levels.

  • July 10, 2024

    Dentons, Others Win Extension On Gov't Procurement Panel

    Dentons, DLA Piper and more than a dozen other law firms that advise the government will retain their places for another year as it develops its strategy for procuring legal services, the Crown Commercial Service has said.

  • July 10, 2024

    Partner Exits Continue At A&O Shearman Amid Change

    A&O Shearman continues to lose partners to U.S. rivals, a trend that observers expect will continue in the coming months as the new firm deliberately trims or inadvertently loses lawyers who are unhappy with the merger.

  • July 10, 2024

    Whistleblowing Trainee At Defunct Law Firm Wins £36K

    An employment tribunal has ordered an insolvent law firm to pay more than £36,000 ($46,200) to a trainee it dismissed after she blew the whistle on its "chaotic" operations to the industry regulator.

  • July 17, 2024

    Travers Smith Hires Infrastructure Finance Pro From WFW

    Travers Smith LLP announced Wednesday that it has recruited a specialist in infrastructure finance from Watson Farley & Williams LLP, boosting the firm's partnership ranks after it suffered a recent wave of exits.

  • July 09, 2024

    Mishcon De Reya Adds Blick Rothenberg Partner

    Mishcon de Reya has added a former director from Blick Rothenberg to its corporate tax team in London as a partner, the firm announced in a statement.

  • July 09, 2024

    Lawyer Accused Of Making False Mishcon Claims On Iran TV

    The solicitors' watchdog told a disciplinary tribunal on Tuesday that a high-profile criminal defense lawyer recklessly made false statements about Mishcon de Reya LLP while appearing on an antisemitic show on an Iranian state-owned media channel.

Expert Analysis

  • PR Perspectives: The Advantages Of A Legal Background

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    A legal background can bring several advantages to the work of a legal public relations professional, from an understanding of the subject matter itself and the pressures that lawyers face, to a meticulous attention to detail and knowledge of the importance of following breaking news stories, says Kath Walkling at Herbert Smith.

  • Perfecting Outreach Cadence Between Lawyers And Clients

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    Obligations can get in the way of lawyers creating a regular communication cadence with their clients, but it is possible to rebuild and strengthen a relationship by employing empathy and showing a commitment to the client's success and well-being, says Megan Senese at Stage.

  • PR Perspectives: What Makes A Great Legal PR Professional

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    A great legal public relations professional needs first-class writing skills, intellect and an attention to detail, but in addition to these core competencies, there are transferable skills and personal qualities that are vital, says Daniela Conte at Gibson Dunn.

  • Roundup

    PR Perspectives

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    As the importance of law firm public relations continues to grow and the role of communications teams evolves, in this Expert Analysis series PR professionals discuss lawyer media relations, reputation management and more.

  • PR Perspectives: Effectively Managing Crisis Communications

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    The rise of 24/7 media and far reach of social media has made crisis communication more likely and much harder to manage, highlighting the importance for law firms to be prepared and effectively deal with crises to avoid the risk of reputational damage, says Steve Rudaini at MD Communications.

  • New Solicitor Workplace Rules Present Practical Challenges

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    As law firms and partners are beginning to understand and apply the Solicitors Regulation Authority's new rules and guidance on unfair treatment toward colleagues, it is becoming clear that there are a number of potential pitfalls to navigate, says Andrew Pavlovic at CM Murray.

  • PR Perspectives: Getting Merger Communications Right

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    As the recent Allen & Overy and Shearman Sterling deal announcement demonstrates, controlling the narrative is the priority when merger discussions begin, so law firms need to consider their stakeholder base and the best communication channels for each segment, ready to adapt to the audience group's needs, say Ben Girdlestone and Bethany Durkin at Byfield.

  • Why Law Firms Should Consider Apprenticeships

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    A recent government briefing shows that young people are increasingly signing up for apprenticeships, a trend that law firms should take advantage of to improve socioeconomic diversity and help to recruit a variety of talent, which can boost employee retention in the long run, says Emma O'Connor at Boyes Turner.

  • How AI Could Affect The Way Law Firms Operate

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    Generative artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the legal industry, and it is becoming increasingly clear that law firms will need to adjust their recruitment strategies, refine their service offerings and hire specialist lawyers versed in AI technologies, says Brent Harris at Major Lindsey.

  • In-Office Policies May Be Solution To UK Skills Shortage

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    Against the backdrop of the U.K. skills shortage, personal engagement with junior lawyers could boost employee commitment, engagement and retention, highlighting that physical presence in the office is valued and vital, says Michael Stokes at Harrison Clark.

  • PR Perspectives: A 20-Year Shift For Law Firm Press Teams

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    In-house law firm public relations has developed into a sophisticated practice as firms become more business-minded, and will continue to grow in importance, with legal PR teams becoming more integrated and working seamlessly across all forms of media, says Daniela Conte at Gibson Dunn.

  • Successfully Implementing AI Rules Requires A Cultural Shift

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    Recent positive use cases of artificial intelligence demonstrate the potential benefits it can bring to the legal profession, and while the development of AI rules is essential, their effectiveness depends on user adoption, behavioral change and human acceptance, say Charlie Morgan and Salman Dhalla at Herbert Smith.

  • PR Perspectives: How Lawyers Build Good Press Relations

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    There are multiple benefits for lawyers appearing in the media, and those who want to build good relations with the press should consider establishing contacts and maintaining those links, and understanding the role of journalists is critical in achieving this, says Steve Rudaini at MD Communications.

  • What Lawyers Look For When Considering A Firm Move

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    With younger lawyers increasingly paying attention to factors beyond salary, such as work-life balance and career progression, it is firms that know how to appeal to other wants that will ultimately pull ahead when competing for talent, says Adam Stocker at Major Lindsey.

  • What Private Investment Can Bring To Barristers' Chambers

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    The recent private equity investment in The Barrister Group, believed to be the first at the Bar of England and Wales, demonstrates how an upgrade in chambers' business processes and technology can be achieved, both essential for the future of the profession, says Harry Hodgkin at The Barrister Group.

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