Practice Management
The Unilever of law? Shakespeare Martineau’s big ambitions
Shakespeare Martineau has outlined its ambition to be a top 30 law firm by 2025 as it rolls out its unique new ‘house of brands’ strategy, with “crowdfunding” staff investment one possible way to raise finance.
Report questions equality initiatives that “set women apart”
Some of the measures used by law firms to tackle a lack of gender diversity in senior roles could be “ineffective or even counter-productive”, a report has found.
PII market “only getting harder” after 17% premium increase
The market for professional indemnity insurance is likely to continue to worsen but future premium rises should not be at the average of 17% seen this autumn, a leading broker has predicted.
Leading firm eyes rapid growth by building “house of brands”
Midlands-based law firm Shakespeare Martineau has outlined a strategy to attract mergers, acquisitions and hires to a “house of brands” and double in size by 2023.
Law firm and union in war of words over dress code leak
The family law firm that made national news recently after details of its dress code were leaked has secured an order to prevent a former employee from disclosing further information.
SRA: Most firms secured insurance but mergers on the rise
This year’s indemnity insurance renewal season has not been as bad as some had predicted, but there has been an uptick in mergers and acquisitions, the SRA has revealed.
Leading firm considers ‘blind’ work allocation scheme
A national law firm is considering the use of a ‘blind’ work allocation scheme to ensure the decisions it makes about how to distribute work are free from bias on the grounds of factors such as gender.
Ex-DWF boss becomes ABS’s chair as he launches new venture
The former chief executive of DWF has re-emerged as non-executive chair of flexible lawyer business The Legal Director and announced the creation of his own ‘digital law firm’.
Law firms “must showcase how they make the world better”
Law firms wanting to recruit the best young lawyers must showcase how they make “the world a better place”, a report on the post-pandemic legal services landscape has said.
Mergers increasingly based on net assets in absence of goodwill
Law firm mergers and acquisitions are increasingly based on net assets rather than a multiple of income or profits, as many do not have any inherent goodwill, an adviser has said.
Blog
Modern search is about ‘knowledge’ retrieval
Search has long been understood as data retrieval – the ability to call back information and check a box on finding something. Legal professionals today need more of a 360-degree view on a matter.
Lessons from Sir Keir Starmer for SRA chief
The proposed 29%, or £25m, increase in the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s budget announced last week should really come as no great surprise.
The hidden risks in client account reconciliations
The client account reconciliation process will be second nature to most people in legal finance – and so is also a potential area for a problem to be undetected until it becomes serious.
