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13 February 2019 / Jeffrey Catanzaro
Issue: 7828 / Categories: Features , Profession , Technology
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Blockchain: under lock & key?

It’s not a question of if but when this new technology will start to transform law firms, so the time to prepare is now, says Jeffrey Catanzaro

Blockchain has the power to revolutionise so many sectors in so many ways, and it is likely we will continue to read more and more about this technology and its practical applications in 2019.

For example, blockchain is being used to track the provenance of food, to ensure it is what it says on the label: the technology can prove an onion has been grown organically, or that a piece of fish used in your sushi is sustainable. In the financial world, blockchain has the potential to be a gamechanger by creating more secure transactions, and it also forms the basis for cryptocurrencies. The music industry is using blockchain to stamp out illegal downloads and ensure artists are properly compensated. The automotive sector is utilising the platform to manage supply chains and track vehicles. You get the picture: blockchain can transform most sectors

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Walkers—Muriel Marseille

Walkers—Muriel Marseille

Ashurst's Chief Risk Officer joins Walkers

Excello Law—John Osborne

Excello Law—John Osborne

Northern family lawyer John Osborne joins Excello

mfg Solicitors—Rebecca Rogers, Kennedy Langley & Victoria Griffiths

mfg Solicitors—Rebecca Rogers, Kennedy Langley & Victoria Griffiths

Trio of promotions announced at Kidderminster law firm mfg Solicitors

NEWS
A sole director can conspire with their own company for the purposes of the tort of unlawful means conspiracy, the High Court has ruled in a judgment with potentially wide implications for business disputes
The Court of Appeal has reinforced that domicile depends on intention rather than residence alone, in a significant post-Brexit ruling on cross-border financial remedy claims
The Chancery Division's long history comes to an end this autumn as it is reborn as the Business and Property Division, prompting questions over whether the shake-up is really necessary
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) continues to show that failing to disclose regulatory issues can attract harsher consequences than the original misconduct itself
Rejecting a generous settlement can prove an expensive mistake, as two recent high-profile cases demonstrate
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