Expert Analysis

• Rethinking 'No Comment' For Clients Facing Public Crises

  

  “No comment” is no longer a cost-free or even a viable public communications strategy for companies in crisis, and counsel must tailor their guidance based on a variety of competing factors to help clients emerge successfully, says Robert Bowers at Moore & Van Allen.

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  Practice Leader Insights: Mishcon de Reya's Daniel Naftalin

  

  Daniel Naftalin, who chairs the employment practice at Mishcon de Reya, discusses the challenges of working on multijurisdictional litigation, the need to show consideration for lawyers' well-being, and why employment law offers unique opportunities to specialize in a commercial field with a high degree of human interest.

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  Practice Leader Insights From Baker McKenzie's David Scott

  

  David Scott, head of the London mergers and acquisitions practice at Baker McKenzie, discusses the excitement of working on a highly complex transaction, the need for a harmonized approach to deal regulatory scrutiny, and why deal work can become addictive.

• Transatlantic Law Firm Mergers Are Transforming UK Market

  

  With the current prevalence for high-profile U.K.-U.S. law firm mergers likely to continue, a new type of firm could emerge that strikes a balance between U.K. culture and working style, but with the global ambition that U.S. firms offer, says Ria Karnik at Major Lindsey.

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  Practice Leader Insights: Taylor Wessing's Paul Callaghan

  

  Paul Callaghan, who leads Taylor Wessing's employment, pensions and mobility group, discusses the challenges of clients who take matters personally, why discrimination based on socioeconomic background needs to be addressed by the law, and how being contracted as an independent investigator is becoming a new trend for senior employment lawyers.

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  Practice Leader Insights From BCLP's Benjamin Lee

  

  Benjamin Lee, who co-leads BCLP's global corporate transactions practice, discusses the value of face-to-face meetings, how aspects of English company law could align with a more global approach, and what junior lawyers can learn by observing their senior colleagues.

• Opinion

  Defunding Lawyer Apprenticeships Could Have Hidden Costs

  

  In proposing to reform the U.K. apprenticeship system, it is crucial that the government gives sufficient consideration to how funding changes could reduce opportunities for underrepresented groups and negatively affect firms' ability to deliver effective training, says Carrie Laws at The Family Law Co.

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  Practice Leader Insights From Eversheds' Diane Gilhooley

  

  Diane Gilhooley, who leads Eversheds Sutherland's employment, labor and pensions practice, looks at the multifaceted challenges of advising clients during pandemic lockdowns, the need to reform U.K.'s whistleblowing law, and why it's important for lawyers to enjoy their work.

• 'Revolving Door' Model Can Help Bridge Legal Sector Gaps

  

  The ability for lawyers to move freely between private and public sectors, a long-time feature of the U.S. legal landscape that was recently embraced by the U.K. Government Legal Department, offers valuable career experience and an effective way to close talent gaps at either end, say James Lavan and Thomas Hanlon at Buchanan.

• Pros And Cons Of Nonequity Partnership For English Firms

  

  With Cleary recently announcing a new nonequity partner category, it is an opportune time for firms governed by English law to examine the advantages and disadvantages of this position from the perspective of both the firm and the lawyer, says John Gould at Russell-Cooke.

• Global Law Firms: The Challenge Of Where To Do Business

  

  As the world becomes less predictable and operational risks present greater challenges, global law firms must contend with a range of pressures, yet financial considerations still drive much of the process when deciding where to plant a flag, say Bethaney Durkin and Liam McCafferty at Byfield Consultancy.

• How Partners' Role In Firm Culture Affects Pay Decisions

  

  Amid an increased regulatory focus on workplace culture, law firms are more than ever having to grapple with how they can reinforce the right partner behaviors when making decisions as to promotion or remuneration, in a way that is objective and fair, say Andrew Pavlovic and Corinne Staves at CM Murray.

• 3 Reasons For Popularity Of Pro Bono In UK, Europe BigLaw

  

  Several factors have contributed to the rise in organized pro bono work in the legal sector across the U.K. and Europe, and with large law firms looking to distinguish themselves and compete for talent, the trend seems likely to continue, says Paul Yates at Freshfields.

• UK Election Offers New Opportunity To Promote Rule Of Law

  

  With many members of Parliament entering the House of Commons for the first time following the election in July, it is a daunting time for those transitioning into elected legislators, and the input of lawyers is crucial to ensure we see evidence-driven and legally certain legislation, says Tyrone Steele at Justice.

• The Art Of Storytelling In E-Discovery, And Why It Is Important

  

  With document review accounting for a large proportion of legal costs, weaving in a storytelling approach to e-discovery alongside increasingly automated processes allows a more effective way of producing evidence that minimizes inefficiencies and ultimately achieves better outcomes, says Tiana Van Dyk at Epiq Legal Solutions.