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28 May 2021 / Dominic Ayres
Issue: 7934 / Categories: Features , Marketing , Profession , Covid-19 , Legal services
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Making the best of black swan events

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How can your firm help clients navigate change in unforeseen circumstances? Dominic Ayres provides some insight
  • Firms that know what their clients truly need—and how to provide it—can position themselves as the trusted partners that clients turn to in times of turbulence.

Given the backdrop of Brexit and the US elections, law firms expected uncertainty and turbulent change in 2020; yet the global breakout of COVID-19, which many commentators have termed a ‘black swan event’, was to overshadow all other concerns. With the country in lockdown, clients turned to their legal advisers to help their businesses adapt and navigate the disruption brought on by COVID-19, and the significant role legal advisers can play in adding greater value to clients beyond routine legal matters became apparent.

Adding value

Requests for information and help came through daily from clients at the height of the lockdown last year, and those firms that could respond by servicing these via workshops, bespoke client notes and more, will have strengthened their relationships

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NEWS
Children can claim for ‘lost years’ damages in personal injury cases, the Supreme Court has held in a landmark judgment
The Supreme Court has drawn a firm line under branding creativity in regulated markets. In Dairy UK Ltd v Oatly AB, it ruled that Oatly’s ‘post-milk generation’ trade mark unlawfully deployed a protected dairy designation. In NLJ this week, Asima Rana of DWF explains that the court prioritised ‘regulatory clarity over creative branding choices’, holding that ‘designation’ extends beyond product names to marketing slogans
From cat fouling to Part 36 brinkmanship, the latest 'Civil way' round-up is a reminder that procedural skirmishes can have sharp teeth. NLJ columnist Stephen Gold ranges across recent decisions with his customary wit
Digital loot may feel like property, but civil law is not always convinced. In NLJ this week, Paul Schwartfeger of 36 Stone and Nadia Latti of CMS examine fraud involving platform-controlled digital assets, from ‘account takeover and asset stripping’ to ‘value laundering’
Lasting powers of attorney (LPAs) are not ‘set and forget’ documents. In this week's NLJ, Ann Stanyer of Wedlake Bell urges practitioners to review LPAs every five years and after major life changes
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