Send us a text

The associate recruitment market has tightened up over the past year or two. For trainees looking to qualify, that means finding a home in their preferred practice area is more difficult too.

But qualification and, specifically, which team you qualify into, can be one of the most crucial moments in a solicitor’s career. 

So on the final episode of The Lawyer Podcast before the summer and with editor Catrin Griffiths away, litigation editor Christian Smith is joined by deputy editor (UK) Richard Simmons, senior reporter Lucie Cruz and reporter Charlotte Lear to debate how much a practice area actually matters, and what to do if you don’t get what you want.

Like many of you, The Lawyer Podcast will be taking a summer break for the month of August. Regular service will resume on 5th September. 

Send us a text

Labour won. Now what?

As Sir Keir Starmer walks into Downing Street, The Lawyer Podcast boils up a vat of coffee and brings you an election results show for lawyers.

With special guests including former Clifford Chance partner and tax celebrity Dan Neidle, we discuss which lawyers are in and out of Parliament after a night of change, look at what will be on the desk of the new Justice Secretary, and run through what a Labour victory means for lawyers working in different practice areas.

 For more, check out The Lawyer's coverage here:

https://www.thelawyer.com/election-2024-live/

https://www.thelawyer.com/dogs-and-their-lawyers-at-polling-stations-in-pictures/

https://www.thelawyer.com/keir-starmer-25-years-of-coverage-in-the-lawyer/

https://www.thelawyer.com/general-election-poll-results-lawyers-turn-to-labour/

Send us a text

Law firms leaders love saying they don’t want growth for growth’s sake, but the truth is, without any growth at all they soon find themselves floundering.

So as the financial year draws to a close, litigation editor Christian Smith and deputy editor Rich Simmons are joined by head of insight Matt Byrne, Horizon editor Katy Dowell and international editor Alex Taylor to look at what law firms are doing to find good, profitable growth - and whether they need to grow at all costs.

Send us a text

The new episode of The Lawyer Podcast is out now.

Last week The Lawyer reported that claimant firm Pogust Goodhead could pay its newly qualified associates up to £2m (if it wins its cases), making them by far and away the highest paid in the country.

Yet although Pogust Goodhead is offering more money than anyone else, the move is also a sign of what is an exciting and diverse market.

So on this episode of the podcast, The Lawyer editor Catrin Griffiths and litigation editor Christian Smith are joined by senior litigation reporter Annabel Tinson, deputy editor (UK) Richard Simmons, and reporter Charlotte Lear, to look into Pogust Goodhead’s plan, what associates want out of their careers, what clients they want to act for, and why it’s never been a better time to be a litigation associate.

Click here to sign up to our associate-themed Partnerless email.

If you want to read more, check out the stories below:

• Pogust Goodhead: “We’ll make NQs millionaires”
• Pogust Goodhead to spend millions luring climate quitters from City firm

Send us a text

London has become the biggest referral market in the world - and the Brits are nowhere

The rise and rise of American firms in London’s private equity market – and the challenge that has presented to UK firms - has been well documented, particularly here at The Lawyer. But their increasing dominance is now also threatening UK firms across Europe, as European relationships in London start migrating to US firms.

On this episode of The Lawyer Podcast, international editor Alex Taylor and director of insight Matt Byrne join Catrin and Christian to explore the changing dynamics of London’s lucrative relationship with Europe, and what UK firms are doing to get their own back in the US.

Send us a text

Linklaters seemingly started the year strongly with a six partner hire from Shearman & Sterling in New York.

So why then has it come in for so much negative attention?

From an absent US strategy to a stream of senior partner losses, many in the market now believe Linklaters is losing its sparkle.

On this episode, Catrin and Christian are joined by director of insight Matt Byrne and deputy editor (City) Rachel Moloney to discuss what’s going wrong at the magic circle firm, is it justified, or is this a whole fuss over nothing?

 

If you’d like to read any of the articles mentioned in this podcast, you can find their links below:

https://www.thelawyer.com/six-strong-shearman-team-exits-for-linklaters/ 

https://www.thelawyer.com/linklaters-should-be-embarrassed-about-its-us-performance/ 

https://www.thelawyer.com/linklaters-threatens-to-withhold-distributions-from-departing-partners/ 

https://www.thelawyer.com/paul-weiss-hits-linklaters-for-yet-another-partner/ 

https://www.thelawyer.com/the-magic-circle-has-had-enough/ 

Send us a text

The Lawyer Podcast is back for 2024 and we’re kicking things off by delving into the lessons the legal profession can glean from the Post Office scandal.

The Post Office scandal has already become one of the biggest stories of the year and few groups are so closely tied to it as the legal profession.

With that in mind, editor Catrin Griffiths and litigation editor Christian Smith are joined by senior litigation reporter Annabel Tinson to ask: Are lawyers the baddies in this national scandal? Where is the line between acting in your client’s best interests and acting unethically? Should hyper-aggressive litigation be a thing of the past? And how has litigation funding managed to get caught up in it all?

Plus, we have special guest appearances from the University of Exeter’s professor of law and professional ethics Richard Moorhead, and Harbour Litigation Funding’s founder Susan Dunn.

Send us a text

Every law firm and his dog seems to be moving into a green office at the moment, but how important is that really when it comes to a law firm's impact on the environment?

Well with COP28 well underway in Dubai, for the last episode of The Lawyer Podcast for 2023, we dive into one of the great challenges for this generation of lawyers: how can firms manage their relationship with the environment?

Catrin and Christian are joined by The Lawyer's sustainability guru Jessica Boak, along with deputy editor (UK) Rich Simmons, to discuss how firms impact the environment, what they are doing about it, what the next generation of lawyers want from their employers, and the thorny issue of acting for big polluter clients.

Send us a text

The new episode of The Lawyer Podcast is out now!

Across the UK and Europe, new types of litigation are booming – and the money is pumping in.

On this episode of The Lawyer Podcast, Catrin Griffiths, Christian Smith and Alex Taylor sit down to debate what the future holds for the once maligned practice area, and whether litigators are proving themselves more creative than their transactional colleagues.

Send us a text

Salary wars are so 2022. Or are they?

On Tuesday this week, The Lawyer’s deputy editor (UK) Rich Simmons revealed the largest firm pay gaps between London and the regions.

Did you know that Hogan Lovells’ Birmingham newly qualifieds (NQs) are paid £45,000 less than their London colleagues? And Eversheds Sutherland’s regional NQs are all paid £33,000 less than those in the City? 

A London-regional pay gap has always existed, but lawyers are starting to question whether it has ever been so big, and if it is still fair.

Suffice to say, the question led to a particularly robust debate in The Lawyer’s newsroom, so on the new episode of The Lawyer Podcast, the London-based Catrin and Christian are joined by Rich Simmons from Brighton, deputy news editor Jessica Boak from Leeds, and Horizon editor, Devonshire’s own, Katy Dowell to sort out the divide once and for all.

Send us a text

The Lawyer’s Horizon Live is due to kick off next month. We are launching a series of webinars, dinners and roundtables featuring some of the biggest names in law discussing the most prominent issues affecting the profession.

To celebrate, on the new episode of The Lawyer Podcast, four of The Lawyer’s editors present some of their favourite Horizons in recent times.

The Lawyer editor Catrin Griffiths presents Horizon editor Katy Dowell’s piece Just let more women in the equity, Rich Simmons brings us his Horizon Oxford is the New Cambridge, deputy news editor Jessica Boak argues that firms need to be bolder in their net zero plans in Don’t backtrack like Sunak, and international editor Alex Taylor argues why Freshfields is still a staunch Europhile.

You can subscribe to Horizon Live here.

Send us a text

Profits are falling and costs are rising. On the latest episode of The Lawyer Podcast, the team chat about why profit isn't a dirty word:

• Love it or hate it, PEP is part of a firm's branding and the status of its lawyers;
• Profit matters for firms' long-term health and investment;
• Would-be partners should use PEP in tandem with intel on capital requirements to know what they're letting themselves in for;
• Freshfields is deluded if it thinks it can ignore PEP as a metric.

For all this and more, the annual UK200 on the UK Signal Channel, sponsored by Thomson Reuters, is out now. Read it here. 

Send us a text

The doom of the middle market has long been foretold.

As global mergers grab attention and smaller, boutique firms blossom, many question whether there is any role for mid-market practices in law’s future.

But, on Tuesday evening, Addleshaw Goddard marked a remarkable, decade-long turnaround as it was crowned Law Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards.

And Addleshaws is not the only mid-market firm to have proven its credentials, with commended and highly commended being awarded to Freeths and Shoosmiths.

What have they done, how have they done it, and what are the numbers to back it up?

All is revealed on the new episode of The Lawyer Podcast. Plus, find out what Mishcon de Reya, Baker McKenzie, Tottenham Hotspur and Jason Beer KC all have in common. Listen now.

Send us a text

Proposed redundancies at CMS and Taylor Rose have raised associate anxieties across the market, with many wondering whether they could be the start of wider trouble.

Hosts Catrin Griffiths and Christian Smith are joined by director of insight Matt Byrne and deputy editor (UK) Rich Simmons to discuss what you need to know, and whether you should be worried.

Send us a text

Why is everyone talking about Paul Weiss and Neel Sachdev?

The Lawyer Podcast is BACK after the summer break and for the first episode of the new term, the team take on the hottest story of the summer: Paul Weiss and its big London play.

Join hosts Catrin Griffiths, Christian Smith and guests Matt Byrne and Rachel Moloney as they unlock the Chamber of Secrets to reveal what you need to know, why you need to know it, and what it all means for the likes of Kirkland, Slaughters, Macfarlanes and the rest.

Send us a text

Like many of its listeners, The Lawyer Podcast is on its summer holidays.

But hanging over the summer for partners at A&O and Shearman & Sterling is the question of whether they should vote through the two firms’ proposed merger.

With the vote expected in the Autumn, whether the biggest firm tie-up in decades will actually go through is still a live debate.

So if you’re looking for something to listen to while you sip your next piña colada and look out to sea, check out this episode on the merger from our archives, recorded less than 24 hours after it was first announced.

Send us a text

The last episode of The Lawyer Podcast before the summer break is out now!

Join hosts Catrin and Christian as they speak with Horizon editor Katy Dowell about why so many firms are moving or upgrading offices, and why they don’t all agree on what the future office should look like.

What do treasure chests, Robert the Bruce, Adam Smith, seduction and sedition have in common? Anderson Strathern, as it turns out. The Lawyer Podcast chats to managing partner Murray McCall about how the firm discovered its, and half of Scotland’s, history.

And we are live from The Lawyer’s In-House Financial Services conference where we are joined by two GCs to talk about getting to grips with the financial services sector, what to expect from life as a GC, and AI (obviously). 

The Lawyer Podcast will be taking a summer break over July and August but will return in the Autumn.

Send us a text

The new episode of The Lawyer Podcast is out now!

On this episode, Catrin and Christian preview next week’s The Lawyer Awards and take a look at some of the categories exciting them this year.

Rachel Moloney, deputy editor (City), joins the podcast to discuss which firms retain talented senior lawyers in corporate when they're not making partner, while other firms just don’t like it (hint, it’s the US ones).

And following the launch of Horizon Live last week, we bring you an excerpt of the discussion between the London managing partners of three leading US firms. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett’s Jason Glover, Jenner and Block’s Christine Braamskamp, and Mayer Brown’s Dominic Griffiths join to tell us why an economic downturn isn’t a bad thing for private equity lawyers, and what they think about the A&O – Shearman & Sterling merger.

Send us a text

The new episode of The Lawyer Podcast comes to you live from The Lawyer’s recent GC conference in Bedfordshire.

Catrin and Christian are joined by a range of senior in-house leaders, along with journalists from The Lawyer to discuss what’s keeping GCs up at night.

Sarah Binder from Lime and Kodak’s John O’Reilly explain how a bad economy is making life tough for in-house lawyers, Chanel’s Cécile Cailac suggests what in-house counsel can do so they aren’t seen as idea killers, Mollie Stoker from Ocado gives her advice on improving retention in a competitive market, and Adam Woodhall of Lawyers for Net Zero argues why GCs can tackle climate change during their day jobs.

Deputy editor (UK) Rich Simmons and in-house reporter Lucie Cruz also join to tell listeners what they’re hearing behind the scenes at the conference.

Please note, this podcast was recorded on 11 May 2023.

Send us a text

It looks set to be one of the most extraordinary deals in legal market history, ushering in a new era of global law, and so The Lawyer Podcast is here with an emergency edition to tell you what the A&O - Shearman & Sterling merger means.

Hosts Cat and Christian are joined by deputy editor (City) Rachel Moloney to talk through why they have merged, why it is bold, and why, no matter what they say, it’s absolutely a takeover.

Director of insight Matt Byrne also joins the podcast to discuss what it says about the future of the transatlantic market, and where it leaves other US and magic circle firms.

Send us a text

On the brand new episode of The Lawyer Podcast, the coronation may be over, but law firms are still crowning new leaders and partners across the City. Our deputy editor (City), Rachel Moloney, joins hosts Catrin Griffiths and Christian Smith to discuss the trends emerging from the annual round of promotions.

Our other deputy editor (UK) Richard Simmons is also with us to explain why A&O and Linklaters have caved and upped their NQ salaries.

And Christian tells Cat why the Quinn Emanuel and Pallas Partners' Credit Suisse litigation reflects the changing nature of class actions and litigation strategy.

Send us a text

The latest episode of The Lawyer Podcast is out now!

Tune in as hosts Catrin Griffiths and Christian Smith speak to reporter Maria-Ward Brennan about the downfall of the Ince Group, while Horizon editor Katy Dowell joins the podcast to reflect on previous law firm collapses.

Director of insight Matt Byrne takes us on a tour of what the 2023 US Top 50 report reveals about some of the most profitable firms in London, and why this year is different to all the others,

And are the days of office dogs numbered? International editor and pandemic puppy purchaser Alex Taylor makes an appearance to talk about his dog Pilot.

Send us a text

On the new episode of The Lawyer Podcast, editor Catrin Griffiths and litigation editor Christian Smith speak to director of insight Matt Byrne, who reveals how litigation funder Harbour is evolving into something of a bank to law firms. Keep an eye out for Matt’s article next week.

Meanwhile, in-house reporter Lucie Cruz brings all the goss on Paul Hastings’ controversial slide to junior associates, as Catrin and Christian ask whether it really is a privilege to work at a top 20 firm.

Finally, deputy editor (UK) Richard Simmons is back on the show to argue why Linklaters and the rest of the top 50 are actually incredibly boring, and why The Lawyer will soon be launching ‘Beyond The Bubble’, its new strand of stories exploring what’s going on in the UK’s mid-market. 

Send us a text

Law firms have long had a problem with gender equality. Partners and senior leaders are weighted heavily towards men, with an average of 2.35 male partner to every female partner in the UK's top 100 firms.

However, that number is actually much improved on five years ago, when it was 2.83 male partners to every female. The number of female senior and managing partners is also increasing, with the likes of Freshfields, Linklaters and Slaughter and May having appointed women to senior or managing partner positions in the past few years.

So on the new episode of The Lawyer Podcast, using research conducted by The Lawyer, Catrin and Christian chat with Horizon editor Katy Dowell and director of insight Matt Byrne about whether the tide is turning for women in leadership.

Send us a text

In the latest episode of The Lawyer Podcast, we ask:

Which law firm is involved with a ballet about a tech billionaire?

Why is the challenger firm in Oslo banned from a football tournament?

And why are we being so nice about Eversheds?

Send us a text

The latest episode of The Lawyer Podcast has just landed.

If you think the last few years have been buoyant for recruiters, then check out what director of insight Matt Byrne has to say about just how busy the lateral market has been.

Elsewhere, do you like virgin piña coladas? After her LinkedIn post about alcohol at law firm events gained traction online, Kirkland & Ellis associate and founder of social mobility charity Strive, Sana Shafi, speaks to in-house reporter Lucie Cruz about whether the law needs to pay more attention to those who don’t drink.

And finally, deputy news editor Jessica Boak explores why the legal market in Leeds is having a growth spurt.

Send us a text

On this episode, editor Catrin Griffiths and deputy editor (City) Rachel Moloney bring you all the drama from Cravath’s raid on Shearman & Sterling’s leveraged finance team.

Meanwhile litigation editor Christian Smith quizzes deputy editor (UK) Richard Simmons and in-house reporter Lucie Cruz on how junior lawyers are faring this trainee qualification season.

And Catrin and Christian discuss the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s recent decision in the class action against Meta and Facebook, and what it might mean for this burgeoning and lucrative area of law.

Send us a text

On this episode, litigation editor Christian Smith and international editor Alex Taylor discuss Man City’s new signing: Lord Pannick KC, and how big money means lawyers are the new stars of football.

The Lawyer’s editor Catrin Griffiths talks about an emerging trend of former managing partners switching firms.

 And to mark the anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine, the show is joined by Kinstellar’s Daniel Bilak in Kyiv to explain what life is like now for Ukrainian lawyers, and lawyer for Ukraine Jonathan Gimblett of Covington & Burling explains Ukraine's legal actions against Russia in the international courts. 

Send us a text

Following the launch of the Hot 100 last week, The Lawyer’s editor Catrin Griffiths sits down with new Hot 100 member Banke Odunaike from CBRE to discuss her career, the nuances of being a role model, and what her son made of her inclusion.

The Six Nations kicks off this weekend as a storm of legal issues hangs over rugby. The Lawyer’s litigation editor Christian Smith explains what’s going on, and why lawyers are so much more involved in the game now.

The Womble Bond Dickinson and BDB Pitmans merger is off. Deputy editor (UK) Rich Simmons is back on the podcast to figure out what went on, and what struggling BDB Pitmans might do next.

And international editor Alex Taylor joins us from Oslo, where he wants to talk about Spain, and the possible strategic partnership between Taylor Wessing and Spanish firm ECIJA.

Send us a text

The Lawyer Podcast is back for 2023.

In the first episode of the year, The Lawyer's editor Catrin Griffiths and litigation editor Christian Smith are joined by deputy editor (City) Rachel Moloney to discuss all the rumours surrounding Hogan Lovells’ merger talks with Shearman & Sterling.

We also speak to Hill Dickinson partner Jessica Neary about being accused of being an “absent mother” at the school gates.

Deputy editor (national), Richard Simmons, is also in the studio to discuss what Gen Z law students want out of their careers – and it’s not as many dogs and oat milk flat whites as you might think.

And The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases for 2023 was announced earlier this week. Senior litigation reporter Adam Mawardi joins the podcast to discuss some of his favourites.

Send us a text

Tis the season to be jolly, so for the last episode of The Lawyer Podcast for 2022, editor Catrin Griffiths and litigation editor Christian Smith are getting into the Christmas spirit with the dulcet tones of the best law firm choirs the City has to offer. 

But first, can lawyers actually switch off at Christmas? Lawyers-turned-journalists Christian and in-house reporter Lucie Cruz discuss what might be in store for lawyers this holiday season, and what it tells us about the wider challenges of the practice.

Elsewhere, as Linklaters announce its first solicitor apprenticeship scheme, Horizon editor Katy Dowell breaks down how such programmes have developed, and how they offer an exciting future for new lawyers.

And Santa’s sleigh drops into Poland with international editor Alex Taylor to see what would happen if Slaughter and May merged with Mishcon de Reya.

With thanks to the wonderful choirs at Linklaters, Addleshaw Goddard and RPC.

The Lawyer Podcast will be taking a break over the festive season, but will be back again in January, so make sure to subscribe on your favourite podcast app for future episodes.

Send us a text

This episode, has the music stopped for leveraged finance? Deputy editor Rachel Moloney joins Catrin Griffiths to assess what the recession is doing to all those expensive hires.

Christian Smith talks about lawyers' obligations and the SRA’s new guidance on SLAPPs - and there's a punchy guest appearance from former Clifford Chance UK tax head Dan Neidle on his tussle with Osborne Clarke.

And Matt Byrne joins to talk about where there are more merger targets than any other as he celebrates publishing the final instalment of his 20th UK200 this week.

Send us a text

In the latest episode of the fortnightly The Lawyer Podcast, editor Catrin Griffiths and litigation editor Christian Smith are back with the stories driving the UK legal market.

Football's World Cup could be the most controversial in recent history and has shone a spotlight on the role of sport and business in Qatari nation-building. So what does it mean for those international firms operating in Qatar? International editor Alex Taylor joins the podcast to talk about what firms are doing in Doha and argues that, despite ESG, Saudi Arabia and fossil fuels still rule for Big Law.

Cryptocurrency is one of the fastest growing legal spaces in the UK, so where will collapses of exchanges like FTX steer the market? Senior litigation reporter Adam Mawardi has everything you need to know.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn statement today warned of “unprecedented global headwinds.” Deputy news editor Jessica Boak joins the podcast to explain just how law firms are faring at the halfway point of the 2022/23 financial year.

And finally, are transatlantic mergers back? After The Lawyer revealed last week that Dickson Minto held talks to merge with Fried Frank, Catrin and Horizon editor Katy Dowell discuss strategic rationale, cultural fit and why BCLP's five-year marriage still looks difficult.


The Lawyer Podcast can be contacted at podcast@thelawyer.com

 
For more news, analysis and data, go to www.thelawyer.com

Send us a text

Send us a text

O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?

Last week, The Lawyer reported that time-poor lawyers are struggling to date in a profession where time is money. Longer hours for junior lawyers, compounded by a waning London dating market, is only adding to the problem.

So on this episode of The Lawyer Podcast, editor Catrin Griffiths and litigation editor Christian Smith are joined by reporters Lucy Floydd and Charlotte Lear to discuss what new trends in lawyering mean for romance.

We examine the law firm’s role in fostering social bonds, the impact of post-COVID society and remote working, dating apps, MeToo and much, much more.

Check out these stories below to read more:

• All work and no play: how law kills your love life
• Linklaters responds to #MeToo concerns with whistleblowing hotline
• Love at first swipe: the legal issues around dating apps

Send us a text

The Lawyer Podcast is launching this week. Listen to the trailer now.

Send us a text

In this episode Cat Griffiths and Matt Byrne discuss the latest US financials season, and whether law firms are actually listening to their clients on one of the biggest issues in the world today.

Send us a text

This episode of the Wellness Podcast is a recording of a panel discussion that took place at The Lawyer's in-house counsel as business partner summit, featuring both general counsel and private practice lawyers who have battled their own mental health issues.

Send us a text

Junior associate Eloise Skinner and The Lawyer's features editor Richard Simmons discuss mindfulness.

Send us a text

Eloise Skinner, Sally Davies, Andrew Wells and Katie Power discuss the importance of having a sense of purpose as a lawyer.

Send us a text

In the first episode of The Lawyer's Wellness Podcast, we talk about the role of mental health first-aiders within law firms.

Send us a text

Last week, all eyes were on A&O Shearman, a union hailing Big Law and its future. But in this week’s episode, we consider why so many solicitors are pursuing another future: opening their own firm.

A survey from Censuswide on behalf of Harbour Litigation Funding last year found that half of UK firm partners had ambitions to set up their own firm – up 10 per percent on 2021.

So as The Lawyer Awards draws nearer, with the prestigious awards litigation boutique and specialist firm of the year up for grabs, The Lawyer editor Catrin Griffiths and litigation editor Christian Smith are joined by senior reporter and boutiques-guru Annabel Tinson to discuss why so many lawyers are gagging to quit Big Law in the name of niche practice. And, more interestingly perhaps, why now?

For more on litigation boutiques, check out the stories below:

• The Lawyer Awards 2024: Shortlist revealed
• Pogust Goodhead: “We’ll make NQs millionaires”
• Seven chambers and 10 firms: Lawyers prepare for bumper $13.8bn Russia dispute

Send us a text

The wait is finally over. In just under a week, the transformational merger between Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling will go live.

But while the deal is done, the job is only just beginning. So on this episode of The Lawyer Podcast, Catrin and Christian look at how the merger will play out in the next week, the next year and beyond?

They are joined by director of insight Matt Byrne and deputy editor (City) Rachel Moloney as they break down the five big challenges facing the new A&O Shearman – and its worst mistake.

If you want to read more, check out the stories below:

• Shearman trainees to miss out on extra £20k after A&O merger
• A&O Shearman: 40 partners made up ahead of merger
• A&O Shearman: New leaders announced 
• A&O Shearman will be a European kingmaker

Send us a text

The Lawyer's Christian Smith, Catrin Griffiths, Richard Simmons, Katy Dowell and Charlotte Lear are joined by College of Legal Practice CEO Giles Proctor for this emergency episode of The Lawyer Podcast as they discuss the latest Solicitors Qualification Exam debacle: marking errors that led to 175 students being incorrectly told they had failed.

What went wrong, who's to blame, and what happens next?

Send us a text

Regional offices have long been critical to some of the UK’s biggest law firms.

The essential components of today’s DLA Piper came from across the country, legacy Eversheds was formed of four firms from outside London, and Pinsent Masons was a Birmingham and Leeds outfit before it opened in London.

But in recent years, some of those firms’ regional offerings have started to look like the offices they are housed in: old, crumbling, unloved.

So on this episode of The Lawyer Podcast, we take a look at what Big Law is doing in England and Wales outside London, and why upstart regional firms are stealing their lunch.

Send us a text

Grabbing the attention of aspiring solicitors and spectators alike, criticism of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination has torn through the media over the weeks following the most recent set of results.

From City firms dropping training contracts from offer holders after failing on their first attempt, to questions over whether the exams really equip candidates for life as a newly-qualified solicitor.

This week, The Lawyer asks – what the hell is going on? Catrin and Christian are joined by deputy editor Rich Simmons and reporters Lucy Floydd and Charlotte Lear to discuss the trials and tribulations of this new exam.

Send us a text

Football law has typically been the domain of sports specialists. However, in recent years, there has been a growing number of large, elite firms and chambers entering the football market.

Clifford Chance and Freshfields act for Manchester City, and Slaughter and May and Linklaters represent the Premier League. Latham and Watkins worked on the Chelsea sale, sports boutiques like Northridge and Onside Law are going gangbusters, and Silver Circle firms Ashurst and Macfarlanes are also getting in on the action. Over at the Bar, Fountain Court has started its own sports law team.

With the hearing of the Premier League’s 115 charges against Manchester City expected this month, The Lawyer Podcast takes a look at why football law has gone mainstream, who the new entrants doing the best work are, and what the future might hold for lawyers and football.

Send us a text

Last week, A&O Shearman set out post-merger plans to close its legacy Allen & Overy base in Johannesburg, reduce its partnership by 10 per cent by the end of the financial year, and sell its consultancy business Consulting by A&O Shearman.

So is this a sign of things already going wrong, or is this all par for the course for big mergers?

In this new episode of The Lawyer Podcast, hosts Catrin Griffiths and Christian Smith are joined by deputy editor (City) Rachel Moloney and Horizon editor Katy Dowell to discuss the aftermath of mega mergers.

Drawing on the notable transatlantic mergers of Hogan Lovells, BCLP and Eversheds, the team discuss partner losses and the importance of the first six months of a newly consolidated operation. What mergers should A&O Shearman model? And is this culling a sign of weakness or strength?

Send us a text

If this year's UK200 is anything to go by, the majority of UK law firms are in robust health. Indeed, they are finally fighting back against the growth of US competitors.

So why are so many upending their partnership models?

In part one of our two part podcast series celebrating the 20th edition of The Lawyer's UK200, editors Catrin Griffiths, Christian Smith, Matt Byrne, Katy Dowell and Richard Simmons sit down to discuss what this year's UK200 report tells us about the health of UK law firms and how a partnership evolution is changing the way law firms operate.

Come back in a fortnight for part two, when we reveal our picks for the five law firms to watch - for good or for ill.

Send us a text

In part two of our two-part podcast series, celebrating the 20th edition of The Lawyer's UK200, editors Catrin Griffiths, Christian Smith, Matt Byrne, Katy Dowell and Richard Simmons are back to reveal the five firms they are watching in the coming years – for good or for ill.

With a list of 200 law firms, it’s not difficult to find some which pique our interest…but why have they?

Tune in as we discuss Freshfields, Hill Dickinson, BDB Pitmans, Osborne Clarke and BCLP.

And please remember to like and subscribe on your favourite podcast platform.