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Law firm risks: weathering the storm

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Trying times: Clare Hughes-Williams & Patrick Hill advise on how best to mitigate exposures in an economic downturn
  • Certain risks for law firms become more prevalent during times of economic crisis, including the frequency of claims and the possibility of cyber-attacks.
  • It is vital to maintain strong financial governance and security systems during such times.

The news that the UK may be entering a recession is as unwelcome for the general public as it is for business leaders.

Professional services firms, and law firms in particular, are no exception. Recessionary conditions traditionally have an adverse impact on real estate and corporate lawyers with fewer deals being done, while their insolvency colleagues experience an uptick in activity levels as businesses start to suffer.

But are there any exposures that are specific to a poor economic climate, and can we mitigate those exposures?

Financial governance

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has recently made it clear that it will be keeping a watchful eye over law

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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