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22 September 2023 / Sinead O’Callaghan
Issue: 8041 / Categories: Features , Profession
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Boutiques in bloom

With the rise in smaller specialist law firms showing no signs of slowing down, Sinead O’Callaghan explains how the boutique firm can stand out in a crowded field
  • The continued success of boutique law firms shows that this model remains attractive for both lawyers and clients.
  • Boutique firms are top of the acquisition wish list for larger firms wishing to invest in specific practice areas.
  • The key to the survival of the boutique law firm is planning and diversifying to accommodate the ever-evolving disputes market.

While the 2008 financial crash and the consequent surge of conflicts work arguably instigated the emergence of the new wave of litigation boutiques, the changes in working practices brought about by the pandemic, among other things, have meant that the growth in numbers of specialist legal boutiques shows no signs of abating.

Increased competition

The legal landscape has undergone a significant transformation over the last decade, with many smaller, more specialised firms taking work away from established full-service domestic and international law firms. With the ongoing

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Charles Russell Speechlys—James Paterson

Charles Russell Speechlys—James Paterson

Charles Russell Speechlys further bolsters Private Equity expertise with the appointment of James Paterson

Ellisons—Samuel Flower

Ellisons—Samuel Flower

Ellisons strengthens Rural Affairs team with senior appointment

Sidley—Carl Hotton

Sidley—Carl Hotton

Sidley adds insurance mergers and acquisitions partner to London office

NEWS
A deputy costs judge correctly exercised his discretion to allow late service rather than strike out the point of dispute, the Court of Appeal has held
Prince Harry, Baroness Doreen Lawrence and five others have lost their case against the publisher of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline, in Various Claimants v Associated Newspapers [2026] EWHC 1637 (KB)
Public confidence in the justice system is being undermined by a lack of accessible, useable data, magistrates have warned
The Sentencing Council has launched draft guidelines for facilitation and endangering another person during a sea crossing to the UK
Government proposals to make independent written legal advice a prerequisite for workplace non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) may prove unworkable, according to a senior employment lawyer
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