The phrase “despite the impact of covid-19” embodies the overarching theme for M&A deals in 2021 for large international law firms. There has been a complete turnaround where deals, and especially megadeals, are de facto doing better than during pre-covid time. Deals are at a 10 year high in the first quarter of 2021 in the US. 

Subsequent to the Internet 2.0 with the rise of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Twitter, the new revivification of the Internet will be the emergence of the Internet of Value.

Private equity  has been under the limelight during the pandemic and here are some emerging trends that all aspiring lawyers should be aware of. 

The sharp rise of the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) sector has created a demand from investors and scrutiny from regulators, especially in the environmental sector. The abbreviation ESG has become ubiquitous recently, therefore it is paramount for aspiring lawyers to follow the rise of the ESG sector.

How can you articulate commercial awareness as a graduate?

The Commercial Bar Association is once again offering financial awards and work experience in 2017, as part of its drive to encourage people from less-privileged backgrounds to consider careers as commercial barristers. 

Leading commercial set 20 Essex Street has become the first barristers’ chambers in the country to adopt Rare’s contextual recruitment system (CRS), an approach to assessing applicants that is designed to be fairer to candidates from diverse and less-privileged backgrounds.

The commercial Bar covers a broad range of practice areas, including banking and financial services, sale of goods and shipping, insolvency, professional negligence and civil fraud, insurance/reinsurance and oil and gas law.

Leading commercial firm DAC Beachcroft has launched an “in-house chambers”, with plans for it to become “the biggest model of its kind” by the end of the year, according to Sahar Farooqi, one of the two barrister partners leading the project.

Each year LawCareers.Net conducts a user survey to gather feedback on the tools available to those seeking a career in law and to assess the mood of those entering the profession.

In this post I will share my experience with commercial negotiation competitions and explain why I would wholeheartedly recommend them.

Why commercial awareness? Why not! Start here with our carefully selected compilation of thought-provoking and conversation-starting business news.

The much-discussed triggering of Article 50 has happened, and two long years of negotiation now stretch ahead. At the end of that period, the United Kingdom will leave the European Union, regardless of whether an agreement has been reached. Any certainty on what it all means is entirely elusive at this point, but the Law Society has published a short explanation of some of the implications for lawyers. For Brexit and more, read on.

With news this week that Article 50 will be triggered on 29 March, the reality of what a departure from the European Union will mean for the economy is likely to start firming up. 

Last week’s NationalLawLIVE conference confirmed once again that the ability to deliver commercial legal advice to clients is essential – we heard from a panel of partners about its centrality to their practices, from recruiters about how to demonstrate it, and a myriad of workshop topics that delved into its role in today’s law firms. We expect that this message will be affirmed once again at CityLawLIVE tomorrow. As a way to start developing your commerciality, read on for this week’s selection of top business news.

The now compulsory Black Friday frenzy provided lots of shoppers with (perceived) bargains this past week, but does it really make economic sense for retailers in the lucrative pre-Xmas shopping rush? Some resisted the urge to discount, claiming that the Black Friday phenomenon is “bonkers” and that it simply moves the traditional January sales period to November. For more on this, and other business stories, read on.

Sadiq Khan has kicked off Thursday with predictions that centre on a “lost decade” of lower employment and reduced investment that would result from a hard Brexit. Specifically, a study commissioned by the mayor estimates the loss of half a million UK jobs and nearly £50 billion in investment by 2030. For more big business news, try these on for size.

Application season is upon us and part of your preparation should be developing your commercial awareness – namely, an interest in the business world and how the issues that affect clients will also affect and shape the advice that you, as their lawyer, will give. There’s also every chance you’ll be asked to comment on something topical in an interview, so best to be prepared! For a selection of this week’s most interesting commercial news stories, read on:

As details of the laborious and confusing Brexit negotiations continue to seep out – today’s highlights alone include the possibility that UK will remain under EU judicial remit and warnings that an absence of EU workers will seriously damage the economy – there is much to consider about where we will be from an economic point of view when the split becomes final. For news on this, and more, read on.