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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

Payne Hicks Beach—Craig Parrett

Payne Hicks Beach—Craig Parrett

Insolvency and restructuring practice welcomes new partner

Muckle LLP—Phoebe Gogarty

Muckle LLP—Phoebe Gogarty

North East firm welcomes employment specialist

Browne Jacobson—Colette Withey

Browne Jacobson—Colette Withey

Partner joins commercial and technology practice

NEWS
Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys [2025] EWHC 2341 (KB) has restated a fundamental truth, writes John Gould, chair of Russell-Cooke, in this week's NLJ: only authorised persons can conduct litigation. The decision sparked alarm, but Gould stresses it merely confirms the Legal Services Act 2007
The government’s decision to make the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) the Single Professional Services Supervisor marks a watershed in the UK’s fight against money laundering, says Rebecca Hughes of Corker Binning in this week's NLJ. The FCA will now oversee 60,000 firms across legal and accountancy sectors—a massive expansion of remit that raises questions over resources and readiness 
The High Court's decision in Parfitt v Jones [2025] EWHC 1552 (Ch) provided a striking reminder of the need to instruct the right expert in retrospective capacity assessments, says Ann Stanyer of Wedlake Bell in NLJ this week
Paige Coulter of Quinn Emanuel reports on the UK’s first statutory definition of SLAPPs under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023in NLJ this week
In this week's NLJ, Sophie Houghton of LexisPSL distils the key lesson from recent costs cases: if you want to exceed guideline hourly rates (GHR), you must prove why
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