Market monitor

Southern England commercial law firm EMW has made the first of what it says will be a series of acquisitions of specialist consultancies as it looks to diversify beyond legal work.

Listed law firm Gateley has made its sixth acquisition of a non-legal business after adding a property and construction consultancy to its portfolio at a cost of up to £6.75m.

Fortuna Law, a litigation boutique set up by former DLA Piper partner Mark Goodwin, has changed its name after complaints from commercial practice Fortune Law.

The South East has suddenly become a new legal battleground after a £40m merger between Moore Blatch and Barlow Robbins followed listed firm Knights’ entry into the region.

Listed law firm consolidator Knights today accelerated its growth yet further by announcing two further acquisitions, making it five deals since the beginning of the year alone.

Female founders of legal start-ups are confronting sexism among investors, including having to answer demeaning questions like ‘have you frozen your eggs?’.

There is a “real profitability divide” between larger and smaller law firms although income is generally increasing across the board, new research has found.

Commercial law firms based in the UK are falling behind their global rivals in adopting new technology, including artificial intelligence and data analytics, a report has warned.

A criminal law barrister who has called for the restoration of legal aid for early advice has become the new minister at the Ministry of Justice responsible for legal aid.

Three months should be enough time for personal injury law firms and defendant insurers to be ready for the whiplash reforms, the government official leading the work said yesterday.