The Lawyer Podcast

Send us a textIn the latest episode of The Lawyer Podcast, we ask:Which law firm is involved with a ballet about a tech billionaire?Why is the challenger firm in Oslo banned from a football tournament?And why are we being so nice about Eversheds?

Send us a textThe latest episode of The Lawyer Podcast has just landed.If you think the last few years have been buoyant for recruiters, then check out what director of insight Matt Byrne has to say about just how busy the lateral market has been.Elsewhere, do you like virgin piña coladas? After her LinkedIn post about alcohol at law firm events gained traction online, Kirkland & Ellis associate and founder of social mobility charity Strive, Sana Shafi, speaks to in-house reporter Lucie Cruz about whether the law needs to pay more attention to those who don’t drink.And finally, deputy news editor Jessica Boak explores why the legal market in Leeds is having a growth spurt.

Send us a textOn this episode, editor Catrin Griffiths and deputy editor (City) Rachel Moloney bring you all the drama from Cravath’s raid on Shearman & Sterling’s leveraged finance team.Meanwhile litigation editor Christian Smith quizzes deputy editor (UK) Richard Simmons and in-house reporter Lucie Cruz on how junior lawyers are faring this trainee qualification season.And Catrin and Christian discuss the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s recent decision in the class action against Meta and Facebook, and what it might mean for this burgeoning and lucrative area of law.

Send us a textOn this episode, litigation editor Christian Smith and international editor Alex Taylor discuss Man City’s new signing: Lord Pannick KC, and how big money means lawyers are the new stars of football.The Lawyer’s editor Catrin Griffiths talks about an emerging trend of former managing partners switching firms. And to mark the anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine, the show is joined by Kinstellar’s Daniel Bilak in Kyiv to explain what life is like now for Ukrainian lawyers, and lawyer for Ukraine Jonathan Gimblett of Covington & Burling explains Ukraine's legal actions against Russia in the international courts. 

Send us a textFollowing the launch of the Hot 100 last week, The Lawyer’s editor Catrin Griffiths sits down with new Hot 100 member Banke Odunaike from CBRE to discuss her career, the nuances of being a role model, and what her son made of her inclusion. The Six Nations kicks off this weekend as a storm of legal issues hangs over rugby. The Lawyer’s litigation editor Christian Smith explains what’s going on, and why lawyers are so much more involved in the game now. The Womble Bond Dickinson and BDB Pitmans merger is off. Deputy editor (UK) Rich Simmons is back on the podcast to figure out what went on, and what struggling BDB Pitmans might do next. And international editor Alex Taylor joins us from Oslo, where he wants to talk about Spain, and the possible strategic partnership between Taylor Wessing and Spanish firm ECIJA.

Send us a textThe Lawyer Podcast is back for 2023.In the first episode of the year, The Lawyer's editor Catrin Griffiths and litigation editor Christian Smith are joined by deputy editor (City) Rachel Moloney to discuss all the rumours surrounding Hogan Lovells’ merger talks with Shearman & Sterling.We also speak to Hill Dickinson partner Jessica Neary about being accused of being an “absent mother” at the school gates.Deputy editor (national), Richard Simmons, is also in the studio to discuss what Gen Z law students want out of their careers – and it’s not as many dogs and oat milk flat whites as you might think.And The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases for 2023 was announced earlier this week. Senior litigation reporter Adam Mawardi joins the podcast to discuss some of his favourites.

Send us a textTis the season to be jolly, so for the last episode of The Lawyer Podcast for 2022, editor Catrin Griffiths and litigation editor Christian Smith are getting into the Christmas spirit with the dulcet tones of the best law firm choirs the City has to offer.  But first, can lawyers actually switch off at Christmas? Lawyers-turned-journalists Christian and in-house reporter Lucie Cruz discuss what might be in store for lawyers this holiday season, and what it tells us about the wider challenges of the practice. Elsewhere, as Linklaters announce its first solicitor apprenticeship scheme, Horizon editor Katy Dowell breaks down how such programmes have developed, and how they offer an exciting future for new lawyers. And Santa’s sleigh drops into Poland with international editor Alex Taylor to see what would happen if Slaughter and May merged with Mishcon de Reya.With thanks to the wonderful choirs at Linklaters, Addleshaw Goddard and RPC.The Lawyer Podcast will be taking a break over the festive season, but will be back again in January, so make sure to subscribe on your favourite podcast app for future episodes.

Send us a textThis episode, has the music stopped for leveraged finance? Deputy editor Rachel Moloney joins Catrin Griffiths to assess what the recession is doing to all those expensive hires.Christian Smith talks about lawyers' obligations and the SRA’s new guidance on SLAPPs - and there's a punchy guest appearance from former Clifford Chance UK tax head Dan Neidle on his tussle with Osborne Clarke.And Matt Byrne joins to talk about where there are more merger targets than any other as he celebrates publishing the final instalment of his 20th UK200 this week. 

Send us a textIn the latest episode of the fortnightly The Lawyer Podcast, editor Catrin Griffiths and litigation editor Christian Smith are back with the stories driving the UK legal market. Football's World Cup could be the most controversial in recent history and has shone a spotlight on the role of sport and business in Qatari nation-building. So what does it mean for those international firms operating in Qatar? International editor Alex Taylor joins the podcast to talk about what firms are doing in Doha and argues that, despite ESG, Saudi Arabia and fossil fuels still rule for Big Law. Cryptocurrency is one of the fastest growing legal spaces in the UK, so where will collapses of exchanges like FTX steer the market? Senior litigation reporter Adam Mawardi has everything you need to know. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn statement today warned of “unprecedented global headwinds.” Deputy news editor Jessica Boak joins the podcast to explain just how law firms are faring at the halfway point of the 2022/23 financial year. And finally, are transatlantic mergers back? After The Lawyer revealed last week that Dickson Minto held talks to merge with Fried Frank, Catrin and Horizon editor Katy Dowell discuss strategic rationale, cultural fit and why BCLP's five-year marriage still looks difficult. The Lawyer Podcast can be contacted at podcast@thelawyer.com  For more news, analysis and data, go to www.thelawyer.com

Send us a textIn the first episode of the new fortnightly The Lawyer Podcast, hosts Catrin Griffiths and Christian Smith dive into the top stories shaking the UK legal market. They discuss why Slaughter and May’s new work-life balance code has got people talking, and what it says about US firms’ zero imagination in London. Speaking of US firms in London, Matt Byrne, Director of Insight at The Lawyer, joins to assess the state of the market for the Americans as the UK economy heads for recession. Also on the podcast, senior litigation reporter Adam Mawardi singles out RPC as leading the field for lucrative Big Tech disputes. Litigation Tracker subscribers can read more here.The Lawyer Podcast can be contacted at podcast@thelawyer.com.For more news, analysis and data, go to www.thelawyer.com.