Commercial firm Boodle Hatfield LLP was credited as the country's best law firm for women at the second annual Women in Business Law Awards on 20 June 2012; an event run by the Euromoney Legal Media Group Europe.

Another week, another opportunity to learn more about the commercial world and its impact on us all – including lawyers! Enjoy our digest of stories from the past week.

Football fans can now watch matches transmitted from overseas by using foreign decoder cards after the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that preventing consumers from doing so would be contrary to free trade laws.

The president of the Law Society, John Wotton, recently told delegates at the International Legal Forum that while pro bono makes a valuable contribution to the provision of access to justice, it is no substitute for a properly funded legal aid system.

Partners from magic circle law firm Allen & Overy LLP and New York-based Shearman & Sterling LLP are due to take a vote on their proposed merger that’s worth £2.7 billion.

The chair of Parliament’s justice select committee has called for fee-charging McKenzie Friends to be banned after the High Court ruled that an unqualified “legal adviser” was negligent in his handling of a clinical negligence case.

UK law firms must adapt to keep pace with increasing competition from their US counterparts, a survey of top firms by accountancy firm PwC has warned.

As it starts to feel like summer is just round the corner, it is easy to be tempted by the allure of outside drinking and BBQs, and lose focus on the task at hand – namely, honing your commercial awareness so as to be able to present yourself as a credible candidate to the law firms that you hope to join. 

Ramp up your efforts towards achieving commercial amazingness by keeping up with current affairs and casting your eye over these interesting business news stories from the last few days.

Staff at Stephenson Harwood LLP can work from home permanently in return for a 20% pay cut, as part of the firm’s new remote working policy which is set to be enforced this month. 

US firm Armstrong Teasdale has acquired London-based Kerman & Co in its first overseas venture. The move by the top 200 US firm adds 50 lawyers to its roster, bringing its headcount to roughly 340 fee earners and 300 support staff. 

City lawyers could be hit with job losses and stagnant or declining pay amid the harsh consequences of the financial year, according to The Times.  

Most LPC programmes are delivered in two stages.

Premier international law firm Milbank LLP has launched a new training pathway – leveraged finance track – for candidates with “a clear and committed interest in leveraged finance”. 

Conservative MP Chris Grayling has replaced Ken Clarke as the country's justice secretary, following a reshuffle by Prime Minister David Cameron on 4 September.

How are innovation and technological advancements making Israel such an attractive environment for M&A?

Two conflicting surveys paint a confusing picture of how consumers feel about the legal profession and the services it provides.

As summer takes its last official gasp today, and we look towards autumn and all that brings (new term, law fairs, vacation scheme applications), there is just time to reflect on the business stories of the past week – look no further than this sparkling collection.

According to recent research into Twitter use by the top 50 UK law firms, those that have corporate accounts but fail to use them effectively could be "damaging their brand".

City law firms Travers Smith LLP and Ashurst LLP have both revealed increases to the salaries of their newly qualified (NQ) solicitors.