Pulse UK

  • July 03, 2026

    The Revolving Door: DWF Loses Pros To RPC, Hill Dickinson

    Over the past week, DWF lost top talent to Hill Dickinson, RPC and Shoosmiths, an insurance M&A pro left DLA Piper for Sidley Austin, and Ashurst Perkins Coie hired a partner from Stephenson Harwood to head up its post-merger real estate litigation team. Here, Law360 looks at those and more of the week's most notable lateral hires across the U.K.

  • July 03, 2026

    DLA Piper Raises NQ Pay In London 8% To £140K

    DLA Piper has hiked the pay of newly qualified solicitors in London to £140,000 ($187,000), marking its second increase in less than 12 months as law firms continue to offer higher pay to attract emerging talent.

  • July 03, 2026

    SRA Proposes New Client Update Rules For Complaints

    The solicitors' watchdog has proposed two new rules that would require law firms to communicate more clearly and regularly with clients who make complaints as part of reforms to strengthen complaint-handling standards before matters are escalated to the Legal Ombudsman.

  • July 03, 2026

    Axiom Ince Says SRA Missed £65M Shortfall For Months

    Axiom Ince has challenged the solicitors watchdog's defense to the law firm's negligence claim, arguing that the regulator missed a "crucial opportunity" to uncover the alleged £65 million ($87 million) misappropriation of client money by intervening too late.

  • July 02, 2026

    Reed Smith Adds Ex-Norton Rose Partner, RE Atty In Munich

    Reed Smith LLP has bolstered its private equity practice with the hire of a former Norton Rose Fulbright group leader in Munich.

  • July 02, 2026

    Voir Dire: Law360 Pulse's Weekly Quiz

    The legal industry began the second half of 2026 with another busy week as BigLaw firms merged and expanded their practice offerings. Test your legal news savvy here with Law360 Pulse's weekly quiz.

  • July 02, 2026

    SRA Finds Consumer Confusion With High-Volume Firms

    Confusion during the onboarding process and a lack of clear information about costs are among problems people experience when they turn to law firms and claims management companies specializing in high-volume consumer claims, research commissioned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority revealed Thursday.

  • July 02, 2026

    Hill Dickinson Not Negligent In Doctor's Whistleblowing Case

    Hill Dickinson defeated a doctor's bid for a wasted costs order Thursday, with an appellate tribunal ruling that the firm's failure to disclose a document didn't amount to negligence even if it might have been relevant to his whistleblowing case.

  • July 02, 2026

    DWF Fights Appeal In Personal Injury Data Privacy Claim

    Three personal injury claimants on Thursday sought to revive their data privacy claim against DWF, arguing at an appeals court that the law firm should not have shared their health data in proceedings involving their insurers without removing identifying information.

  • July 02, 2026

    BCLP Plans Move To Bigger Frankfurt Office In 2027

    Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP has said that it is planning to move to a larger office in Frankfurt as it seeks to expand in Germany.

  • July 02, 2026

    Macfarlanes NQ Pay Hits £150K To Match Magic Circle Firms

    Macfarlanes LLP said Thursday that it has raised the basic salary for newly-qualified lawyers to £150,000 ($200,000), matching the level offered by Magic Circle firms.

  • July 01, 2026

    Withers Promotes 12 Partners In US, UK, Singapore

    International law firm Withers has appointed a dozen new partners across three countries, nearly half of whom are based in the United States.

  • July 01, 2026

    Setfords' In-House Tech Platform Built For Consultant Lawyers

    Setfords has launched a new legal technology platform that it built in-house and combines case, accounts and practice management capabilities, the firm announced Wednesday.

  • July 01, 2026

    Hogan Lovells Cadwalader Sees 'Opportunity' In Boston

    With the official launch of Hogan Lovells Cadwalader, Boston attorneys at Hogan Lovells are expecting the firm to be able to leverage Cadwalader's strengths and some of the Hub's unique traits in what they call a truly "additive" merger.

  • July 01, 2026

    Walkers Promotes 4 New Partners In Europe

    Walkers said Wednesday that it has promoted a total of 14 new partners across its global network, with women making up more than half. 

  • July 01, 2026

    KC Thought He Was 'Clever Enough' To Lawfully Cut Tax Bill

    A senior barrister accused of cheating the public revenue out of nearly £2 million ($2.6 million) believed he was "clever enough" to devise a lawful scheme to reduce his tax liability, his counsel told the trial Wednesday.

  • July 01, 2026

    KC Faces July Contempt Hearing Over Palestine Action Trial

    A senior barrister at Garden Court Chambers is set to face contempt of court proceedings over allegations that he breached rulings when he delivered a closing address to a jury while representing a Palestine Action activist in criminal proceedings.

  • July 01, 2026

    Simmons & Simmons' Revenue Nears £700M In Record Year

    Simmons & Simmons said Wednesday that it has set records as profits climbed 14% and revenue rose to almost £700 million ($927 million), driven by a focus on sectors including asset management, use of new technology and growth in partner numbers.

  • June 30, 2026

    Legora CFO Pledges SPAC Recusal Amid Acquisition Spree

    Legora's chief financial officer also serves as a director of a newly listed SPAC and could have oversight of future investments there as the legal artificial intelligence company grows through acquisitions.

  • June 30, 2026

    Uber Ruling Clouds Privilege For Funders' Law Firm Talks

    A recent ruling that communications between claimant lawyers and prospective litigation funders are not automatically protected by litigation privilege could widen disclosure and make it harder for claimant firms to secure funding, experts say.

  • June 30, 2026

    Billionaire Appeals Abuse Of Process Ruling In $415M Suit

    Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego urged an appeals court Tuesday to overturn a ruling refusing him a quick win in his $415 million fraud claim, arguing that using a private intelligence agent to gain information from his opponent's lawyer did not amount to an abuse of process.

  • June 30, 2026

    Cripps Says Live Nation Advice Did Not Cause £3.4M Loss 

    Cripps has denied costing Margate Dreamland's operator £3.4 million ($4.5 million) for misadvising the venue on using a termination clause to exit a catering contract, arguing that the operator had not retained the firm during its sale to Live Nation. 

  • June 30, 2026

    Solicitor Can't Sue Top Judge Again Over Sheriff Suspension

    An employment tribunal has tossed a lawyer's second bid to sue the most senior judge in Scotland, finding that he already had his chance to sue over his suspension as a part-time sheriff.

  • June 30, 2026

    KC Dodges Disbarment Over False Oxford Degree Claim

    A King's Counsel successfully overturned his disbarment over falsely claiming he studied at the University of Oxford in an application for tenancy, as a London court found Tuesday that the penalty was disproportionate given the historical, isolated nature of the lie.

  • June 30, 2026

    Former PM Law Exec Barred Over Client Account Shortfalls

    The Solicitors Regulation Authority said Tuesday that it has barred the former chief executive of Sheffield-based PM Law Ltd. from working at another SRA-regulated law firm after finding he had caused or allowed withdrawals from client accounts that resulted in a shortfall.

Expert Analysis

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From CRS' Dewdney Drew

    Author Photo

    Dewdney Drew, head of brand protection at Charles Russell Speechlys, discusses the challenges of working on a firm's rebrand under time pressure, how the process to simplify U.K. design protection is under way, and why lawyers need to harness the power of artificial intelligence.

  • What UK, EU Law Firms Can Do To Rectify Gender Inequality

    Author Photo

    The latest figures show that elite international law firms remain among the weakest performers on gender equality in the legal industry, demonstrating that equity is no longer external to the practice of law, and sits within the core responsibilities of those who steward trust in courts and governments, says Govindi Deerasinghe at Global 50/50.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Jones Day's Vica Irani

    Author Photo

    Vica Irani, co-leader of Jones Day's corporate practice, discusses the challenges of assisting a multinational client with divesting its Russian operations at the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war, why greater harmonization across borders would be beneficial, and the increase in regulatory scrutiny for deals in terms of antitrust and foreign direct investment screening.

  • Why SRA Is Cracking Down On 'No Win, No Fee' Law Firms

    Author Photo

    Harriet Gamper at the Solicitors Regulation Authority discusses the regulator’s recent warning notice concerning "no win, no fee" arrangements in high-volume consumer claims, aimed at offering lawyers clarity in understanding their obligations following findings that many law firms were failing in their duty to protect clients' best interests.

  • Why UK Criminal Court Changes Need To Be Systemic

    Author Photo

    The proposals in the second part of Brian Leveson's long-anticipated independent review of criminal courts, aimed at easing pressure on the criminal justice system and restoring public confidence, are broadly welcomed, but without structural change and sustained funding, they risk becoming little more than temporary fixes, says Vicky Lankester at Brett Wilson.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Stewarts' Aaron Le Marquer

    Author Photo

    Aaron Le Marquer, Stewarts' head of insurance, discusses the challenges of conducting defamation proceedings in Thailand, why the minimal impact of the Insurance Act 2015 is disappointing, and how working in diverse environments provides a more holistic understanding of the way insurance works.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Skadden's Deborah Kirk

    Author Photo

    Deborah Kirk, Skadden's head of intellectual property and technology, discusses the challenges of cross-disciplinary collaboration on a transaction, how the proliferation of artificial intelligence is forcing clients to rethink their IP and data strategies, and why flexibility, curiosity and dynamism are key as a lawyer.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Stewarts' Joseph Lappin

    Author Photo

    Joseph Lappin, head of employment at Stewarts, discusses the challenges of representing barristers with very high IQs, how the employment tribunal system is crying out for proper investment, and the Financial Conduct Authority's inconsistent approach to nonfinancial misconduct.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Jones Day's Anna Cartwright

    Author Photo

    Anna Cartwright, co-head of Jones Day's real estate practice, discusses the challenges of working on a transaction requiring regulatory expertise from multiple regions, why new regulatory complexities in the real assets sector can introduce risks for clients, and how the convergence of real estate and infrastructure is playing out in asset managers' investment decisions.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights: Kingsley Napley's Corinne Aldridge

    Author Photo

    Corinne Aldridge, head of employment at Kingsley Napley, discusses the challenges of leading a transaction requiring local employment law advice from multiple jurisdictions, how the perception of workplace conduct has changed dramatically in recent years, and why people skills and empathy are key in her field.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From Birketts' Gavin Coull

    Author Photo

    Gavin Coull, head of insurance and reinsurance at Birketts, discusses litigating in the aftermath of the London Market Excess of Loss spiral, how reinsurance disputes have grown in scope in the last few years, and why understanding commercial drivers is just as important as learning the law.

  • Practice Leader Insights From McDermott's Aymen Mahmoud

    Author Photo

    Aymen Mahmoud, co-head of the London transactions practice at McDermott, discusses the challenges of navigating a complex cross-border financing in his first matter as partner, why regulators should resist the instinct to fix what is not broken, and how private capital continues to reshape the landscape.

  • Law Firms Must Offer More Than Perks To Retain Top Talent

    Author Photo

    Perks make headlines as law firms look for ways to draw in the best talent, but while they add value, they cannot replace competitive and transparent pay or the realistic career road map that form the fundamentals of a strong recruitment strategy and result in long-term engagement, says Adam Stocker at Major Lindsey.

  • Series

    Practice Leader Insights From HSF Kramer's Samantha Brown

    Author Photo

    Samantha Brown, HSF Kramer's managing partner for employment, pensions and incentives for U.K. and Europe, the Middle East and Africa, discusses the challenges of managing a deal where many of the commercial aspects were new to the buyout market, why pension adequacy needs attention, and how new pensions legislation makes it an exciting time for schemes and their advisers.

  • How AI Can Support Dealmakers On Business Exits

    Author Photo

    Entrepreneurs are increasingly using artificial intelligence in their operations to model valuations or test market timing, and the same sophistication is expected from those advising them, so lawyers should use AI tools responsibly to reinforce their judgment and good advice, says Amen Alonge at Farrer.

Want to publish in Law360?


Submit an idea

Have a news tip?


Contact us here
Can't find the article you're looking for? Click here to search the Pulse UK archive.