The phrase “despite the impact of covid-19” embodies the overarching theme for M&A deals in 2021 for large international law firms. There has been a complete turnaround where deals, and especially megadeals, are de facto doing better than during pre-covid time. Deals are at a 10 year high in the first quarter of 2021 in the US. 

As temperatures plummeted this week and most of the UK was hit with snow, we sat down to bring you some of the week’s top commercial stories.   

High-profile legal challenges against the government were denied legal aid funding after supposedly independent decision makers told government staff about the potentially embarrassing cases being brought against their bosses.

Is big tech too powerful for competition law to tame?

Can we expect to see more private law claims in the UK courts seeking damages for breach of competition law?

This summer I applied to 30 law firms for training contracts and had two interviews, but wasn’t offered a training contract – what do I do now?

Manchester City launches legal action against the Premier League, while TikTok and Ticketmaster experience cyberattacks that may have compromised the personal data of millions of clients, including celebrities and brands. Plus, an Irish takeaway chain has won a major trademark battle against McDonald’s, and researchers are using AI to help reduce animal testing. Read this week’s commercial news round-up to find out more.

This week’s round-up takes a deep dive into what the future may look like. We look at discriminatory laws against women, air quality worldwide and the future of Wales under the first Black leader in Europe. Plus, we cover NHS wait times and the lives lost as a result. This week’s stories highlight some of the most pressing issues in the world right now, so settle in for an important read. 

The transition from sixth form to university, especially at the height of the pandemic, was quite challenging (for context, I attended an international school outside the UK).

We took home the trophy for the 'Best Law Society for Commercial Awareness' award. This award particularly stands out to us, as commercial awareness often seems to be a buzzword for students and presents a large barrier for those who have never had experience or insight into the commercial world!

What are the implications of the Bribery Act 2010 for corporates with a presence in the United Kingdom?

What can the recent High Court case involving clothing and similar 'criminal' trademarks tell us about protecting highly distinctive marks?

Rising inflation, party resignations, state takeovers, Chat GPT and, of course, Eurovision! Use today’s round-up to catch up on what’s been happening across the UK this week.

The pupillage application process continues as hundreds of aspiring barristers prepare for online interviews this month. Read this key advice on how to prepare for the final stage of pupillage selection.

As an associate in the private funds team at Simmons & Simmons LLP, Jonny Corrie outlines his experience applying to and working at the firm in this Meet the Lawyer. 

UK unemployment has climbed to its highest level in four years, while inflation has unexpectedly surged. Meanwhile, Jaguar Land Rover is shedding hundreds of jobs amid trade tensions and US President Donald Trump has implied that Coca-Cola may be making a change to its recipe in the US following health concerns. Read on for a more in-depth summary on these stories.  

A 15-hour Amazon Web Services (AWS) outage this week disrupted thousands of businesses worldwide and oil prices have spiked following new US sanctions on Russia’s top producers. In the UK, gambling ads featuring Lewis Hamilton and Chelsea FC were banned over concerns about youth influence and, across the globe, the viral Labubu dolls have driven a 250% revenue surge for Chinese toy giant Pop Mart. Read on for LCN’s picks of the top commercial stories this week!

As we continue to read about the ongoing rescue efforts in Turkey, we’ve put together a short summary of five commercial news stories that should be on your radar for this week’s round-up.

How enforceable are English court judgments after Brexit?

The pupillage application process continues despite the covid-19 crisis and hundreds of aspiring barristers are preparing for online interviews this month. Here is some key advice on how to prepare for the final stage of pupillage selection.