Office Attendance, Bonus Promises and Inflated Bills
This week, Olivia speaks with Byfield Joint Managing Director Ben Girdlestone about the latest shifts in the legal industry, from four-day office policies and Addleshaw Goddard’s pay freeze to concerns over inflated billable hours and Burford Capital’s move to buy into US law firms. Thank you for Listening!
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18:21
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18:21
US Firms, London Moves, and Lateral Hiring Trends with Habiba Cullen-Jafar
This week, Olivia is joined by Habiba Cullen-Jafar, Senior Reporter at Law.com International, to discuss her beat and what makes a compelling legal story. Their conversation also explores US law firms expanding into London, how their profitability compares to UK counterparts, and the latest trends shaping lateral hiring.Thank you for Listening!
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41:25
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41:25
Financial Success, Bonus Adjustments and Class Actions on the Rise
This week, Olivia is joined by Joint Managing Director Michael Evans to explore law firm profit announcements, the changing landscape of bonus systems, the rise of UK class action values to £155 billion despite fewer filings, the Law Society’s taxpayer-funded push into the US, and the leadership changes at Pogust Goodhead following the appointment of a new management team.Thank you for Listening!
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24:05
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24:05
Hiring Slowdowns, AI Tributes and a Vegas Fortune Fight
This week, Olivia is joined by Ben to explore why private equity partners in New York are making fewer moves despite an uptick in lateral market activity - and what this might signal for the sector. The conversation then turns to Rod Stewart’s AI-powered tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, examining how technology continues to blur the lines between performance, nostalgia, and intellectual property. They also dive into a remarkable Las Vegas inheritance dispute, where two women - both married to the same bigamist on the same street - are now battling over his fortune. As mentioned in the episode, here is the link to Dan Neidle's Q&A in the FT: https://www.ft.com/content/72138fa7-f664-4fb0-90e7-f6793de8bbeeThank you for Listening!
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18:33
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18:33
Ownership Shifts, Disputes Firm Growth, and AI Gone Wrong
This week, Olivia is joined by Eleanor and Ben to discuss Clifford Chance’s openness to M&A and private equity investment and what this signals for the future of law firm ownership. They also look at the rise of disputes boutique Quillon, which has generated £10 million in revenue over four years. The episode also explores Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron's defamation claim against a right-wing podcaster and the legal implications of City trader Tom Hayes’ successful appeal against his libor-rigging conviction. They round off the episode with highlights from Law.com’s Top 10 AI blunders, reflecting on what they reveal about the intersection of tech and legal practice.Thank you for Listening!