Practice Management

Mid-sized law firms have improved their margins for the first time since 2021 while also reducing their exposure to client interest income, according to NatWest.

The annual rush of M&A activity around the October insurance renewal season has included a private equity-backed deal and a firm buying another more than twice its size.

A 25-partner law firm has become the first mid-market practice in London to take private equity investment, with plans to grow both organically and through acquisition.

The top 100 UK law firms have increased their responsible business scores, while the average results for US counterparts have crashed “in the face of political headwinds”.

Six in 10 people working in the law have poor mental wellbeing, while a fifth feel they have been bullied, harassed or discriminated against in the past year.

Candidates should soon be able to apply for the first barrister apprenticeships, it emerged at an event that also featured a debate about the existence of ‘imposter syndrome’.

Doing nothing is “a legitimate strategy” for lawyers which “maintains focus on key objectives and avoids burnout”, the founder of LOD (Lawyers on Demand) has argued.

Listed firm Keystone Law continues to make significant strides, with revenue up 17% in the first half of its financial year and likely to exceed market expectations for the full year.

New research has highlighted the importance of using artificial intelligence – and being seen to use it – among the largest law firms.

Consumer law platform Lawhive has said it will be looking for similar targets after buying fee-share law firm Woodstock Legal Services and setting up an ABS in the US.