Practice Management
PE-backed law firm takes over top insurance company’s ABS
Private equity-backed HF has acquired most of the assets of the alternative business structure owned by global insurance services firm Crawford & Company.
Lawyers worried about impact of AI on training next generation
The profession is worried about how junior lawyers will develop fundamental legal skills in the age of artificial intelligence, new research has found.
Community interest company uses AI to support immigration work
A community interest company is using artificial intelligence to help it provide pro bono advice to people seeking global talent visas to come to the UK.
Majority of mid-sized law firms “have been approached by PE”
Seven in 10 of mid-sized law firms have been contacted in the last year by a private equity investor or PE-backed law firm about acquisition, according to new research.
Criminal law firm to launch AI accreditation scheme
A criminal law firm in Manchester is turning its attention to artificial intelligence (AI) after 29 of its lawyers successfully obtained a client-care accreditation it created.
National litigation practice bought by private equity house
A national practice best known for its credit hire work has become the latest addition to the ranks of law firms owned by private equity.
Top offshore firm eyes new locations after taking external capital
Leading offshore law firm Walkers is eyeing geographic growth after becoming the latest to take external cash after agreeing a “strategic co-investment” into its fund and corporate services business.
Staff churn drops sharply as Knights reports positive results
Listed law firm Knights has significantly reduced staff churn, according to half-year results which showed a 30% rise in turnover to £130m, albeit most of it from acquisitions.
Clients demanding AI chatbots to “circumvent lawyers”
Large law firms are facing “increasing demands from clients” for AI chatbots to allow them to “self-serve and circumvent the need to direct all queries through lawyers”.
Government will put firms “at risk” with client account interest grab
The government’s proposed raid on client account interest “will put high street law firms at risk and force legal fees to rise for those that survive”, the Law Society has warned.
Blog
The SRA’s client money reforms: good intentions, questionable execution
On the face of it, the SRA’s plans to tighten protections around client money sounds sensible. The detail, as ever, tells a more complicated story.
Recruitment, retention and reward in the legal accounts world
Understanding the legal finance market is important – not just for those actively involved in it day-to-day but also for leaders within law firms.
From ‘year zero’ to £6.5m – how a law firm found its second life
In 2018, I hit what I call ‘year zero’. On paper, Olliers Solicitors was a top-tier criminal defence firm but beneath the surface, I could see we were at a crossroads.
