Pulse UK

  • October 03, 2025

    Clifford Chance Mourns Ex-Leader Michael Bray

    Clifford Chance LLP is mourning the loss of Michael Bray, a former global managing partner and eminent finance lawyer, after he died at the age of 78.

  • October 03, 2025

    UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

    This past week in London has seen billionaire Michael Platt sue his former tax lawyer, five former Deutsche Bank staffers file claims against the German bank and an Italian financier issue a commercial fraud claim against the Vatican and UBS.

  • October 03, 2025

    Clyde & Co. Accused Of Race Bias Over Assessment Policy

    A resident of Nigeria who failed to get a training contract at Clyde & Co. LLP has told a tribunal that the firm discriminated against her because of her nationality by requiring her to attend an in-person assessment in the U.K.

  • October 03, 2025

    DWF Boosts Scottish Insurance Practice With Hires

    DWF LLP has hired a motor coverage expert as a director amid a wider hiring spree by the law firm to continue strengthening its presence in the Scottish insurance sector.

  • October 03, 2025

    The Revolving Door: Simmons Loses 3 Lawyers To Rivals

    Over the past week, Simmons lost three lawyers to Latham, Ashurst and Mewburn Ellis, a second co-founder of Seastone left for a London firm, and Irwin Mitchell swiped a Duane Morris partner as head of its construction and engineering team.

  • October 03, 2025

    Crown Office Adds Ex-White & Case Disputes Pro

    A former partner at White & Case LLP has joined Crown Office Chambers to pursue a career at the bar, representing clients in disputes arising from complex construction, engineering, energy and infrastructure projects.

  • October 02, 2025

    Nordic Legal AI Startup Saga Raises €1.5M In Seed Funding

    Saga, a year-old startup based in Norway and the Netherlands, announced Thursday its first outside raise, bringing in seed funding of €1.5 million (around $1.76 million) for its legal artificial intelligence platform.

  • October 02, 2025

    Morgan Lewis Elevates 29 Lawyers To Partner

    Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP has promoted 29 attorneys from 12 offices and 10 practice groups to partner, the firm announced this week.

  • October 02, 2025

    Goodwin Promotes 37 Attorneys To Partner  

    Goodwin Procter LLP kicked off October with the promotion of more than 35 attorneys at 11 of its offices to partner.

  • October 02, 2025

    Barrister Appointed To Lead Union Disputes Panel

    The Department of Business and Trade said Thursday that it has appointed a former employment barrister to handle complaints about trade unions and employers' associations, replacing its former certification officer of eight years.

  • October 02, 2025

    Kennedys Partners With AI Copilot Spellbook To Train Attys

    U.K.-based law firm Kennedys Law LLP announced the coming launch of a training program for its younger attorneys in partnership with Spellbook, a document automation software provider, to supplement the type of entry-level coaching lost with the introduction of artificial intelligence into the legal profession.

  • October 02, 2025

    UK Lawyers Get Easier Path To Work In Belgium In New Deal

    Legal groups have agreed a deal to simplify the process for U.K. lawyers to practice in Belgium, addressing challenges the profession has faced in the aftermath of Brexit.

  • October 02, 2025

    DLA Piper To Usher In New In-Office Requirement

    DLA Piper will ask the entirety of the firm's global workforce to work out of its physical offices at least three days a week after a new policy for the firm's non-U.S. offices goes into effect in November, the firm said this week.

  • October 02, 2025

    Tax KC Sued By Hedge Fund Billionaire Over Negligence

    Billionaire Michael Platt and his hedge fund BlueCrest Capital Management have sued a senior One Essex Court barrister who represented them in a dispute with the U.K. tax authority over the identity of awards paid under a special partnership program. 

  • October 02, 2025

    EPO Opens Door For Lawyers To Join Patent Associations

    Legal practitioners can now freely form and join associations before representing clients in cases before the European Patent Office, finally placing them on equal footing with other professional representatives as the office works towards its 2028 strategic plans. 

  • October 02, 2025

    Investors Sue Aston Bond For Mishandling £2M Property Deal

    Two property developers are suing their ex-lawyers for £1.9 million ($2.5 milliom) for allegedly tanking a real estate deal as a result of their negligence and causing the developers to lose their deposit and face a lawsuit from the would-be sellers.

  • October 02, 2025

    Ex-Irwin Mitchell Paralegal Barred Over Fabricated Docs

    A former paralegal at Irwin Mitchell has been barred from working for a law firm after he fabricated documents to conceal mistakes he made while acting for a client, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has said.

  • October 02, 2025

    Weil Taps 2 Latham Partners To Boost German PE Practice

    Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP said Thursday that it has snapped up two leading private equity partners from Latham & Watkins in Germany.

  • October 01, 2025

    Covington Promotes 14 Lawyers To Partner Worldwide

    Covington & Burling LLP announced Wednesday that it had promoted 14 lawyers from six offices around the world to its partnership.

  • October 01, 2025

    Sheppard Mullin Eyes Rebrand Ahead Of 100th Anniversary

    Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP has filed a trademark application to potentially shorten its branding and logo to one word in anticipation of the firm's 100 years in business.

  • October 01, 2025

    Litigation Capital Management Posts Loss Amid Trial Setbacks

    Litigation Capital Management Ltd. said Wednesday that it has had the most challenging year in its history, as the Australian disputes funder reported dismal performance in its latest financial results amid "an unprecedented number" of adverse results in cases it has invested in.

  • October 01, 2025

    Law Society Seeks 'Urgent' SRA Talks After Shock Ruling

    The professional body for solicitors in England and Wales said Wednesday that it was seeking "urgent engagement" from regulators after a shock court ruling that means unqualified law firm staff cannot conduct litigation.

  • October 01, 2025

    Data Services Co. HaystackID Expands In London

    Data services company HaystackID, which helps teams with legal and compliance events, announced Wednesday both the expansion of its artificial intelligence capabilities and growth in London, including the hiring of a former digital forensics investigator for London's Metropolitan Police.

  • October 01, 2025

    SQE1 Pass Rate Hits Record Low As Disparities Persist

    Barely four in 10 candidates who sat the solicitors' qualifying examination in July passed, as aspiring lawyers continue to fall short in England and Wales, according to data released on Wednesday.

  • October 01, 2025

    Legal Sector Risks Talent Loss Amid Mental Health Crisis

    Nearly six in 10 lawyers and other professionals in the legal sector are affected by poor mental health, with a large majority reporting that they regularly work beyond their contractual hours, according to a report published Wednesday by a leading mental health charity.

Expert Analysis

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Linklaters' Julia Schönbohm

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    Julia Schönbohm, global head of technology, media and telecommunications and intellectual property at Linklaters, discusses the challenges of deciding patent validity in complex litigation cases, why the enforcement of standard essential patents is an area in need of reform, and how the advent of the Unified Patent Court is having a significant impact on patent litigation in Europe.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Walker Morris' Andrew Rayment

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    Andrew Rayment, head of employment at Walker Morris, discusses the challenges of dismissing employees at a coal mine, how the proposed employment law reforms could create logistical burdens for businesses, and why prioritizing effectively is key for a lawyer.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Kennedys' Matthew Poli

    Matthew Poli, head of Kennedys' corporate M&A transactions team, discusses the challenges of rushing to close transactions ahead of possible budgetary changes, why reform is needed in the way a company's statutory books can be altered at Companies House, and that client service needs to be a lawyer's watchword.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Broadfield's Caroline Yarrow

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    Caroline Yarrow, head of Broadfield's employment practice, discusses the challenges of analyzing huge volumes of data in a service provider transfer of 2,000 employees, why the employment tribunal system needs urgent review, and why being pragmatic and commercial when giving advice is important.

  • 8 Ways Law Firms Can Prepare For SRA's AML Offensive

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    The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s recent plans to intensify anti-money laundering enforcement means firms need to concentrate on strengthening client matter risk assessments, policies and procedures, source of funds checks and firmwide risk assessments, says Harriet Holmes at Thirdfort.

  • How Fostering Well-Being Can Drive Law Firm Profitability

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    To counter the common assumption that prioritizing lawyer’s well-being damages profitability, firms should look at the role itself and build strategies to reduce stress, especially with the current focus on delivering more billable hours in light of artificial intelligence tools creating new capacity, says Charlotte Clegg at The Mindful Business Charter.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Bristows' Robert Burrows

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    Robert Burrows, joint head of patent litigation at Bristows, discusses the challenges of remote working when preparing cases, the need for reform in respect of second medical use patents, and whether recent European Union court decisions could mark the beginning of a shift in European litigation practice.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights: Farrer & Co.'s Kathleen Heycock

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    Kathleen Heycock, leader of the employment practice at Farrer & Co., discusses why challenging cases foster a sense of achievement, how an increase in workplace investigations has affected her practice, and the importance of emotional intelligence when working on both positive and negative employment matters.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Morgan Lewis' Timothy Corbett

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    Timothy Corbett, leader of Morgan Lewis' London corporate and business transactions practice, discusses the challenges of divesting a company of its Russia operations under wartime conditions, the need to align regional regulatory approaches to artificial intelligence across global businesses, and why junior lawyers should develop an area of special interest.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Covington's Gregor Frizzell

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    Gregor Frizzell, head of the EMEA corporate group and vice chair of the global corporate practice at Covington, discusses the creative challenges of merger and acquisition document provisions, how modernizing the archaic stamp duty regime would be welcomed by tax lawyers, and the guidance offered by a recent case on the interpretation of material adverse clauses.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Farrer & Co.'s Simon Ward

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    Simon Ward, leader of the private capital practice at Farrer & Co., discusses the challenges of coordinating an acquisition with lawyers from other practice areas, why finding ways to connect education institutions to regulators and decision-makers would be a positive shift, and why young lawyers should get involved in the business world early on.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Morgan Lewis' Nick Bolter

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    Nick Bolter, leader of the London intellectual property practice at Morgan Lewis, discusses the challenges of acting in disputes where the other party is a lay person representing themselves, the need to refocus trademark law on consumer protection, and why IP is a challenging area of law.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Mayer Brown's James West

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    James West, co-leader of Mayer Brown's private equity practice, discusses the challenges of conducting complex deals at pace, the benefits of maintaining a relatively light regulatory framework in the private equity arena, and why the current economic climate has led to a need for the industry to be more flexible in its approach to dealmaking.

  • Practice Leader Insights From Norton Rose's Paul Griffin

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    Paul Griffin, head of employment and labor for Europe, Middle East and Asia at Norton Rose, discusses the challenge of litigating a whistleblowing case with a CEO remaining in post, why the qualifying period for claiming unfair dismissal should be reviewed, and the importance of retaining one's authenticity as a lawyer.

  • What Rise Of AI Means For Future Of Junior Lawyer Careers

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    While artificial intelligence is reshaping law firms’ approach to core tasks, it is unlikely to eliminate the need for human oversight, and if junior lawyers can embrace new technologies with integrity, they can focus on more meaningful work and add greater value to their teams, says Valeriya Zinchenko at Teacher Stern.

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