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Practice Leader Insights From Skadden's Deborah Kirk

Deborah Kirk, Skadden's head of intellectual property and technology, discusses the challenges of cross-disciplinary collaboration on a transaction, how the proliferation of artificial intelligence is forcing clients to rethink their IP and data strategies, and why flexibility, curiosity and dynamism are key as a lawyer.

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Practice Leader Insights From Stewarts' Joseph Lappin

Joseph Lappin, head of employment at Stewarts, discusses the challenges of representing barristers with very high IQs, how the employment tribunal system is crying out for proper investment, and the Financial Conduct Authority's inconsistent approach to nonfinancial misconduct.

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Practice Leader Insights From Jones Day's Anna Cartwright

Anna Cartwright, co-head of Jones Day's real estate practice, discusses the challenges of working on a transaction requiring regulatory expertise from multiple regions, why new regulatory complexities in the real assets sector can introduce risks for clients, and how the convergence of real estate and infrastructure is playing out in asset managers' investment decisions.

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Practice Leader Insights: Kingsley Napley's Corinne Aldridge

Corinne Aldridge, head of employment at Kingsley Napley, discusses the challenges of leading a transaction requiring local employment law advice from multiple jurisdictions, how the perception of workplace conduct has changed dramatically in recent years, and why people skills and empathy are key in her field.

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Practice Leader Insights From Birketts' Gavin Coull

Gavin Coull, head of insurance and reinsurance at Birketts, discusses litigating in the aftermath of the London Market Excess of Loss spiral, how reinsurance disputes have grown in scope in the last few years, and why understanding commercial drivers is just as important as learning the law.

Practice Leader Insights From McDermott's Aymen Mahmoud

Aymen Mahmoud, co-head of the London transactions practice at McDermott, discusses the challenges of navigating a complex cross-border financing in his first matter as partner, why regulators should resist the instinct to fix what is not broken, and how private capital continues to reshape the landscape.

Law Firms Must Offer More Than Perks To Retain Top Talent

Perks make headlines as law firms look for ways to draw in the best talent, but while they add value, they cannot replace competitive and transparent pay or the realistic career road map that form the fundamentals of a strong recruitment strategy and result in long-term engagement, says Adam Stocker at Major Lindsey.

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Practice Leader Insights From HSF Kramer's Samantha Brown

Samantha Brown, HSF Kramer's managing partner for employment, pensions and incentives for U.K. and Europe, the Middle East and Africa, discusses the challenges of managing a deal where many of the commercial aspects were new to the buyout market, why pension adequacy needs attention, and how new pensions legislation makes it an exciting time for schemes and their advisers.

How AI Can Support Dealmakers On Business Exits

Entrepreneurs are increasingly using artificial intelligence in their operations to model valuations or test market timing, and the same sophistication is expected from those advising them, so lawyers should use AI tools responsibly to reinforce their judgment and good advice, says Amen Alonge at Farrer.

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Practice Leader Insights From Walkers' Neil McDonald

Neil McDonald, head of the corporate and M&A group at Walkers Global in London, discusses the challenges of conducting a multijurisdictional transaction with a pressing timeline, the need for regulation to keep pace with innovation, and why a willingness to go the extra mile to assist clients is so important.

Law Firms Can Turn Brand Threats Into Opportunities In 2026

If left unchecked, four megatrends — polarization, artificial intelligence, Gen Z and saturation — could threaten law firm growth or even long-term survival, but if well managed may be turned into opportunities to empower a brand, says Leor Franks at Kingsley Napley.

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Practice Leader Insights From Addleshaw's Paul Medlicott

Paul Medlicott, head of private equity at Addleshaw Goddard, discusses the challenges of working on a deal involving five separate acquisitions in one day, why foreign direct investment legislation would benefit from refinement, and how the evolution of private equity has been positive for the industry.

Judicial AI Guidance Update Shows Caution Still Prevails

The judiciary’s recently updated guidance on the use of artificial intelligence warns judges and tribunal members about misinformation and white text manipulation, providing a reminder that AI tools cannot replace direct engagement with evidence and reflecting a broader concern about their application when handling confidential material, say lawyers at Hogan Lovells.

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Practice Leader Insights: Stephensons' Philip Richardson

Philip Richardson, head of employment law at Stephensons Solicitors, discusses the challenges of an emotionally charged case that put his client management skills to the test, whether the Employment Rights Bill strikes the right balance for employees, and how there still needs to be greater focus on quality control for artificial intelligence.

Navigating Legal Privilege Issues When Using AI

The recent explosion in artificial intelligence has led to prompts and AI outputs that may be susceptible to disclosure in proceedings, and it is important to apply familiar principles to assess whether legal privilege may apply to these interactions, say lawyers at HSF.