Law and business: commercial news round-up 01.10.15

As we head off to our first-ever LCN Lunch Club with representatives from student law societies, we imagine that many of the clued-up attendees are aware that good lawyers are more than just legal advisers - they are also business advisers, who must understand their clients’ concerns and motivations. To get a sense of the commercial environment that those clients inhabit, read some of this week’s top business news:

• The Bank of England has expressed concern over the growing buy-to-let market and the potential it has to “amplify a housing boom and bust”.
• Shell has decided to abandon its controversial drilling plans in the Arctic, due to a combination of pressure from environmental bodies and because initial exploration failed to find much in the way of oil or gas.
• Gender diversity in the boardroom is win-win, as a study reveals that companies with at least one woman executive perform better than those without.
• Morrisons is set to be the next big UK supermarket to introduce the national living wage for its 90,000 employees.
• Power to the pig: Peppa Pig has been sold in a £140 million deal and its new owner has plans to expand the international franchise, intending to grow it from $1 billion to $2 billion in the next five years.

Be sure to check the News section every Thursday for this weekly commercial news round-up. Follow @LawCareersNetUK and @CityLawLIVE on Twitter for instant business news updates.