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If this year's UK200 is anything to go by, the majority of UK law firms are in robust health. Indeed, they are finally fighting back against the growth of US competitors.

So why are so many upending their partnership models?

In part one of our two part podcast series celebrating the 20th edition of The Lawyer's UK200, editors Catrin Griffiths, Christian Smith, Matt Byrne, Katy Dowell and Richard Simmons sit down to discuss what this year's UK200 report tells us about the health of UK law firms and how a partnership evolution is changing the way law firms operate.

Come back in a fortnight for part two, when we reveal our picks for the five law firms to watch - for good or for ill.

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Last week, A&O Shearman set out post-merger plans to close its legacy Allen & Overy base in Johannesburg, reduce its partnership by 10 per cent by the end of the financial year, and sell its consultancy business Consulting by A&O Shearman.

So is this a sign of things already going wrong, or is this all par for the course for big mergers?

In this new episode of The Lawyer Podcast, hosts Catrin Griffiths and Christian Smith are joined by deputy editor (City) Rachel Moloney and Horizon editor Katy Dowell to discuss the aftermath of mega mergers.

Drawing on the notable transatlantic mergers of Hogan Lovells, BCLP and Eversheds, the team discuss partner losses and the importance of the first six months of a newly consolidated operation. What mergers should A&O Shearman model? And is this culling a sign of weakness or strength?

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Football law has typically been the domain of sports specialists. However, in recent years, there has been a growing number of large, elite firms and chambers entering the football market.

Clifford Chance and Freshfields act for Manchester City, and Slaughter and May and Linklaters represent the Premier League. Latham and Watkins worked on the Chelsea sale, sports boutiques like Northridge and Onside Law are going gangbusters, and Silver Circle firms Ashurst and Macfarlanes are also getting in on the action. Over at the Bar, Fountain Court has started its own sports law team.

With the hearing of the Premier League’s 115 charges against Manchester City expected this month, The Lawyer Podcast takes a look at why football law has gone mainstream, who the new entrants doing the best work are, and what the future might hold for lawyers and football.

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The associate recruitment market has tightened up over the past year or two. For trainees looking to qualify, that means finding a home in their preferred practice area is more difficult too.

But qualification and, specifically, which team you qualify into, can be one of the most crucial moments in a solicitor’s career. 

So on the final episode of The Lawyer Podcast before the summer and with editor Catrin Griffiths away, litigation editor Christian Smith is joined by deputy editor (UK) Richard Simmons, senior reporter Lucie Cruz and reporter Charlotte Lear to debate how much a practice area actually matters, and what to do if you don’t get what you want.

Like many of you, The Lawyer Podcast will be taking a summer break for the month of August. Regular service will resume on 5th September. 

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Labour won. Now what?

As Sir Keir Starmer walks into Downing Street, The Lawyer Podcast boils up a vat of coffee and brings you an election results show for lawyers.

With special guests including former Clifford Chance partner and tax celebrity Dan Neidle, we discuss which lawyers are in and out of Parliament after a night of change, look at what will be on the desk of the new Justice Secretary, and run through what a Labour victory means for lawyers working in different practice areas.

 For more, check out The Lawyer's coverage here:

https://www.thelawyer.com/election-2024-live/

https://www.thelawyer.com/dogs-and-their-lawyers-at-polling-stations-in-pictures/

https://www.thelawyer.com/keir-starmer-25-years-of-coverage-in-the-lawyer/

https://www.thelawyer.com/general-election-poll-results-lawyers-turn-to-labour/

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The doom of the middle market has long been foretold.

As global mergers grab attention and smaller, boutique firms blossom, many question whether there is any role for mid-market practices in law’s future.

But, on Tuesday evening, Addleshaw Goddard marked a remarkable, decade-long turnaround as it was crowned Law Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards.

And Addleshaws is not the only mid-market firm to have proven its credentials, with commended and highly commended being awarded to Freeths and Shoosmiths.

What have they done, how have they done it, and what are the numbers to back it up?

All is revealed on the new episode of The Lawyer Podcast. Plus, find out what Mishcon de Reya, Baker McKenzie, Tottenham Hotspur and Jason Beer KC all have in common. Listen now.

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Law firms have long had a problem with gender equality. Partners and senior leaders are weighted heavily towards men, with an average of 2.35 male partner to every female partner in the UK's top 100 firms.

However, that number is actually much improved on five years ago, when it was 2.83 male partners to every female. The number of female senior and managing partners is also increasing, with the likes of Freshfields, Linklaters and Slaughter and May having appointed women to senior or managing partner positions in the past few years.

So on the new episode of The Lawyer Podcast, using research conducted by The Lawyer, Catrin and Christian chat with Horizon editor Katy Dowell and director of insight Matt Byrne about whether the tide is turning for women in leadership.

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O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?

Last week, The Lawyer reported that time-poor lawyers are struggling to date in a profession where time is money. Longer hours for junior lawyers, compounded by a waning London dating market, is only adding to the problem.

So on this episode of The Lawyer Podcast, editor Catrin Griffiths and litigation editor Christian Smith are joined by reporters Lucy Floydd and Charlotte Lear to discuss what new trends in lawyering mean for romance.

We examine the law firm’s role in fostering social bonds, the impact of post-COVID society and remote working, dating apps, MeToo and much, much more.

Check out these stories below to read more:

• All work and no play: how law kills your love life
• Linklaters responds to #MeToo concerns with whistleblowing hotline
• Love at first swipe: the legal issues around dating apps

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Last week, all eyes were on A&O Shearman, a union hailing Big Law and its future. But in this week’s episode, we consider why so many solicitors are pursuing another future: opening their own firm.

A survey from Censuswide on behalf of Harbour Litigation Funding last year found that half of UK firm partners had ambitions to set up their own firm – up 10 per percent on 2021.

So as The Lawyer Awards draws nearer, with the prestigious awards litigation boutique and specialist firm of the year up for grabs, The Lawyer editor Catrin Griffiths and litigation editor Christian Smith are joined by senior reporter and boutiques-guru Annabel Tinson to discuss why so many lawyers are gagging to quit Big Law in the name of niche practice. And, more interestingly perhaps, why now?

For more on litigation boutiques, check out the stories below:

• The Lawyer Awards 2024: Shortlist revealed
• Pogust Goodhead: “We’ll make NQs millionaires”
• Seven chambers and 10 firms: Lawyers prepare for bumper $13.8bn Russia dispute

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The wait is finally over. In just under a week, the transformational merger between Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling will go live.

But while the deal is done, the job is only just beginning. So on this episode of The Lawyer Podcast, Catrin and Christian look at how the merger will play out in the next week, the next year and beyond?

They are joined by director of insight Matt Byrne and deputy editor (City) Rachel Moloney as they break down the five big challenges facing the new A&O Shearman – and its worst mistake.

If you want to read more, check out the stories below:

• Shearman trainees to miss out on extra £20k after A&O merger
• A&O Shearman: 40 partners made up ahead of merger
• A&O Shearman: New leaders announced 
• A&O Shearman will be a European kingmaker