Legal news

Top UK law firms on merger trail

One in four of the top 200 UK law firms would consider merging despite 43 per cent of lawyers from merged firms not viewing them as effective.

• MEGA MERGER

  

  Global legal landscape to be reinvented by Dentons Dachung megamerger

  International law firms have been put on notice by the Dentons-Dachung link-up which marks 'the first phase of a whole reinvention of the legal landscape', according to an Australia-based consultant.

• CRIMINAL CHARGES

  

  Charged New York politician distances himself from law firm

  Shelden Silver, the New York Assembly speaker who has been charged in connection with US$3m of referral fees, is taking unpaid leave of absence from one of the firms with whom he had a referral relationship.

• IT PROTECTION

  

  Freshfields gives cyber security help on pro bono basis

  Freshfields and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson are giving free advice to start-up entrepreneurs taking a 12-week programme with a new pro bono advice organisation called Cyber London.

• JOB SATISFACTION

  

  Lawyers rank with shop workers as unhappiest UK employees

  While over half of British workers feel underpaid and unhappy, that proportion rises to two in three for two categories - shop workers and lawyers.

Editor's picks

BARRISTER

Hollywood meets law in London

Whilst the Clooney factor is keeping the Inns of Court in Hello mode, news has just emerged of Benedict Cumberbach's near legal conversion.

IT

Qatar lawyers look to modernise the courts

With a fast-growing population and an expanding court workload in Qatar, the bar association is calling on the courts to modernise.

COST CONTROL

Law firms warned on cost control

An accountancy firm has warned law firms to keep costs down at a cash-critical time of year.

PRICING

Pricing directors miss the point

The growth of pricing directors in law firms is to protect profits not to develop relationships, one lawyer opines.

Blogs

LITIGATION FUNDING

Will the rise of US law firms in London benefit litigation funding?

US firms have form when it comes to litigation. Surely it is time for them to flex their muscles in London, says Nick Rowles-Davies, Managing Director of Burford Capital.

CORPORATE LAW

A sea change in UAE corporate law: Doing away with minimum capital

Will the proposed changes in company law have the significant impact anticipated, asks Professor Bashar Malkawi?

Business sector round up

LUXURY LAW SUMMIT

Rihanna victorious in Topshop image rights case

Celebrity image rights will be on the agenda at this year's Luxury Law Summit on 19 May as pop star Rihanna wins her case against Topshop.

EMPLOYMENT

Ringing in the changes to the Italian job market in 2015

Can Renzi succeed where other Italian Prime Ministers have failed? Luca Failla and Sharon Reilly, Partners, LABLAW Law Firm discuss the current state of play.