Pulse UK

  • October 24, 2024

    CMS Partner To Lead IP Committee At City Law Society

    The City of London Law Society has named a CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP partner as the chair of its new intellectual property law committee.

  • October 30, 2024

    Cooley Hires Gowling Life Sciences Chief In London

    Cooley LLP announced Wednesday that it has recruited a senior life sciences and patent specialist at Gowling WLG as it looks to continue expanding its legal services offerings in London.

  • October 23, 2024

    Mitsubishi Bank's Co-GC Talks Tackling The Legal Pay War

    James Morgan is using his financial clout at Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. to help the Japanese megabank tackle a spiraling pay war in the legal sector.

  • October 23, 2024

    Travers Smith Launches AI Training Program For Staff

    Travers Smith LLP announced on Wednesday that it has launched an internal training program to improve literacy on artificial intelligence across the business as more and more firms make use of new technology for client work.

  • October 23, 2024

    UK Top Court Clarifies Solicitor Payment Rules In Fee Dispute

    The U.K.'s highest court ruled Wednesday that a crash victim should be able to challenge solicitors fees because he had not been given an opportunity to question the costs, meaning the time limit for reassessment did not apply.

  • October 23, 2024

    Consumers Trust Regulation Despite Scandals, SRA Says

    About three-quarters of consumers and small and medium-sized businesses in England and Wales think legal services are well regulated — despite recent scandals in the profession, the Solicitors Regulation Authority said Wednesday recent research found.

  • October 23, 2024

    SRA Taps New AML Director As Regulatory Uncertainty Looms

    The Solicitors Regulation Authority said Wednesday that it has appointed a new director of anti-money laundering, as the watchdog awaits a decision from the government on whether it will continue to supervise the industry in this area.

  • October 22, 2024

    Real Estate Co. Hits Back At Taylor Wessing's Fees Claim

    A real estate company owned by Southend United Football Club's former chair has fought Taylor Wessing LLP's claim to recoup unpaid fees and expenses, saying the company is not liable to pay the football club's legal bills.

  • October 22, 2024

    Norton Rose Names Atty Duo As Global Arbitration Leaders

    Norton Rose Fulbright has elevated the firm's U.S. arbitration team leader and a London-based partner to co-lead its global international arbitration practice, shaking up the group's leadership for the first time in over a decade, the firm announced Tuesday.

  • October 22, 2024

    Tribunal Judge Reprimanded For 17-Month Delay In Decision

    The U.K.'s judicial conduct watchdog said Tuesday that it had issued formal advice to a tribunal judge after a member of the public complained that she had taken more than a year to deliver a judgment.

  • October 22, 2024

    Firm Says Client Knew Risks In Historical Sex Abuse Case

    Hugh James has said that a former client knowingly accepted the risk of being undercompensated when he followed the law firm's advice to accept an offer to settle a claim over alleged historical abuse at a Catholic school where he was a pupil.

  • October 22, 2024

    Kingsley Napley Doubles Down On AML Amid SRA Uncertainty

    The recent departure of the anti-money laundering director at the solicitors' watchdog has put the spotlight on the regulator's role as an AML supervisor for the legal sector, as Kingsley Napley LLP capitalizes on this opportunity to boost its advisory services in this area.

  • October 22, 2024

    Reforms Set To Foist 15% More Cases On Struggling Tribunals

    Even though the U.K. government expects its proposed employment rights law to lead to a 15% rise in cases, it hasn't committed any additional funding for employment tribunals to handle such an increase, which would present an existential threat to the beleaguered system.

  • October 22, 2024

    Bird & Bird Hires M&A Pro In Milan From A&O

    Bird & Bird LLP has added an experienced M&A and private equity expert as a partner to its main office in Milan, as part of the law firm's long-term strategy to bolster its global corporate platform.

  • October 22, 2024

    Closed Law Firm Must Pay Ex-Staffer For Breach Of Contract

    A tribunal has ordered a shuttered law firm to pay a former employee £2,400 ($3,100) after it breached their contract by dismissing them without notice.

  • October 21, 2024

    Former Unite Official Loses Tribunal Claim Amid Fraud Probe

    A tribunal has concluded that a former legal chief at Unite the Union did not face a "baseless" disciplinary investigation in connection with a police raid over a £112 million ($145 million) construction project that has since been referred to the Serious Fraud Office.

  • October 21, 2024

    Howard Kennedy LLP Ex-Partner Can't Claim £176K

    An employment tribunal has dismissed a former partner's claims that Howard Kennedy LLP owed him £176,725 ($230,238) in unpaid wages because he wasn't entitled to employment law protections.

  • October 21, 2024

    Kirkland Hires 2 Structured Finance Attys In NY, London

    Kirkland & Ellis LLP is continuing the build-out of its structured finance and private credit practice, announcing on Saturday the lateral hiring of two partners in New York and London.

  • October 21, 2024

    Judge Sanctioned Over Speeding Conviction

    Britain's judicial conduct watchdog has sanctioned a judge for misconduct after she received a speeding conviction last year, though it said it took into account the judge's claim that she was fleeing from an "aggressive" vehicle.

  • October 28, 2024

    Commercial Barrister Joins Monckton From 2 Temple Gardens

    Monckton Chambers has recruited a new barrister from 2 Temple Gardens in a move that adds expertise to its ranks across a broad range of arbitration and commercial matters.

  • October 21, 2024

    Top UK Firms Boost Hourly Rates By 40% Over 5 Years

    The top 10 U.K.-headquartered law firms have increased their hourly rates by nearly 40% over the past five years as global legal outfits reassess their international footprint and scale back in less-profitable countries, a report published Monday revealed.

  • October 25, 2024

    Sidley Hires Capital Markets Duo From Latham

    Sidley Austin LLP has recruited two capital markets partners from Latham & Watkins LLP for its London office, further boosting its finance capabilities in the city after it recently snapped up a group of five partners from its U.S.-based rival.

  • October 18, 2024

    BigLaw Sees Rise In Partner Hires, Led By NY And London

    Despite economic turbulence, partner lateral hires at BigLaw firms have held steady in the first three quarters of the year, with the New York and London markets seeing the most significant uptick, according to a recent report from legal search firm Macrae.

  • October 18, 2024

    Solicitor Must Pay For Suing Barrister Repping Ex-Firm

    An employment tribunal ordered a solicitor to pay £3,000 ($3,914) to cover costs that his old law firm and its barrister incurred while fighting claims of victimization that the court had no jurisdiction to hear.

  • October 18, 2024

    Squire Patton Bumps Up NQ Pay In London To £110K

    Squire Patton Boggs LLP said Friday it is increasing the salaries of newly qualified lawyers in its London office to £110,000 ($143,471), as it also posted a high trainee retention rate.

Expert Analysis

  • Perfecting Outreach Cadence Between Lawyers And Clients

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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.

  • How Tech Can Make A Career In Law More Accessible

    Author Photo

    As practitioners and the U.K. Solicitors Regulation Authority seek to increase diversity in the legal profession, the adoption of technology, such as remote learning, artificial intelligence and social media communities, is playing a major role in breaking down entry barriers to a career in law, says Caroline Rayson at BPP.

Want to publish in Law360?


Submit an idea

Have a news tip?


Contact us here
Can't find the article you're looking for? Click here to search the Pulse UK archive.
Hello! I'm Law360's automated support bot.

How can I help you today?

For example, you can type:
  • I forgot my password
  • I took a free trial but didn't get a verification email
  • How do I sign up for a newsletter?
Ask a question!