header-logo header-logo

28 May 2009
Issue: 7371 / Categories: In-House , Legal News , Profession
printer mail-detail

In-house optimism

Profession

The recession will be over in two years but more regulation is required, according to inhouse counsel.

Research carried out by Pinsent Masons in March- April 2009 into the practices and policies UK businesses are implementing in order to survive the economic downturn found in-house counsel broadly optimistic.

Some 63% of senior executives and in-house counsel at 200 UK corporations expect an increase in turnover, while 60% expect profits to increase or stay the same, and 58% expect no change in M&A activity.

Among in-house counsel, 85% say increased regulation is a price worth paying to ensure stability in banking and finance, and one quarter cite the availability of more credit as the single most important factor to improve business confidence. More than threequarters agreed that bonuses and large redundancy packages are here to stay.

Eighty-eight per cent of in-house counsel also believe major London infrastructure projects like Crossrail will improve the attractiveness of London as a business centre. Sixty-three per cent think London 2012 will improve the competitiveness and attractiveness of London as a business centre.

Issue: 7371 / Categories: In-House , Legal News , Profession
printer mail-details

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Nick Vernon, Walkers Bermuda

NLJ Career Profile: Nick Vernon, Walkers Bermuda

Nick Vernon of Walkers on swapping Birmingham for Bermuda and building an employment practice by the sea

Bird & Bird—Christian Bartsch

Bird & Bird—Christian Bartsch

Global firm re-elects CEO for second term

Fletchers Group—Miriam Hall

Fletchers Group—Miriam Hall

Business appoints managing director of operational excellence

NEWS

From blockbuster judgments to procedural shake-ups, the courts are busy reshaping litigation practice. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School hails the Court of Appeal's 'exquisite judgment’ in Mazur restoring the role of supervised non-qualified staff, and highlights a ‘mammoth’ damages ruling likened to War and Peace, alongside guidance on medical reporting fees, where a pragmatic 25% uplift was imposed

Momentum is building behind proposals to restrict children’s access to social media—but the legal and practical challenges are formidable. In NLJ this week, Nick Smallwood of Mills & Reeve examines global moves, including Australia’s under-16 ban and the UK's consultation
Reforms designed to rebalance landlord-tenant relations may instead penalise leaseholders themselves. In this week's NLJ, Mike Somekh of The Freehold Collective warns that the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 risks creating an ‘underclass’ of resident-controlled freehold companies
Timing is everything—and the Court of Appeal has delivered clarity on when proceedings are ‘brought’. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ, Stephen Gold explains that a claim is issued for limitation purposes when the claim form is delivered to the court, even if fees are underpaid
The traditional ‘single, intensive day’ of financial dispute resolution (FDR) may be due for a rethink. Writing in NLJ this week, Rachel Frost-Smith and Lauren Guiler of Birketts propose a ‘split FDR’ model, separating judicial evaluation from negotiation
back-to-top-scroll