In the first year since its transatlantic merger, A&O Shearman reported global revenues of £2.9 billion and a pre-tax profit of £1.1 million.

A nuanced appreciation of the vast business world may be a bit much to hope for at this stage, but developing an interest in - and a broad understanding of - the commercial pressures and topics that will be a part of clients’ everyday lives is important.

Chartered legal executives will be able to set up their own firms in 2015 after legislation passed successfully through the House of Lords.

The Ministry of Justice has already refunded almost £2 million in employment tribunal fees since the Supreme Court’s ruling that such charges were unlawful and a barrier to justice. However, this represents only a fraction of the repayments that the government expects to have to make, which could be as high as £33 million.

The government’s competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority is turning its attention to the legal profession to look at “long-standing concerns” about the affordability and standards of legal services.

Recently merged Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) has been granted approval to provide legal services in Hong Kong and Singapore, further cementing its status as a leading international firm.

Another week, another set of business stories to keep on top of. Here are just some that you should lavish your attention on.

The Ministry of Justice has been allocated an extra £30 million, not to address the legal aid crisis, but to prepare for the possibility of a ‘no deal’ Brexit.

City firms Nabarro and Simmons & Simmons have both won national recognition for the quality of their work experience and internship schemes at the National Council for Work Experience 2012 awards.

The Legal Aid Agency has been criticised for adding to funding problems which have created “advice deserts” around the UK by setting a maximum £35 case fee for immigration telephone advisers.

The King approved the appointment of 94 barristers and one solicitor as new King’s Counsel (KC) on Monday.

The Legal Services Board has confirmed plans to regulate all will-writing and estate administration services by classing them as 'reserved activities'.

Coram Children’s Legal Centre, one of the UK’s first children’s charities, has called for the mandatory provision of an independent advocate enshrined in law for all children and young people receiving or seeking care or support from the state.

Commercial firm Gordon Dadds has acquired fellow City practice Ince & Co in a deal worth £27 million, although the final agreement will see Ince’s affiliated overseas offices continue to operate under the Ince & Co brand.

Cuts of £13.8 million to universities' bursary and scholarship budgets could disadvantage less wealthy students during their time in higher education.

On Sunday 1 January Mishcon de Reya LLP and Taylor Vinters LLP completed their merger after it was first announced in September 2021. A joint statement confirmed that more than 200 staff joined Mishcon de Reya, including 145 fee-earners and 60 business operations and legal staff as part of the merger.  

The bitter legal battle over the introduction of employment tribunal fees is set to end soon as the verdict on a Supreme Court hearing is considered. 

Tens of thousands of pounds have been spent on improving the security of top judges’ homes due to fears for their safety, a freedom of information request has revealed. 

Prospective barristers studying the Inns of Court College of Advocacy’s (ICCA) new Bar course will receive their Postgraduate Diploma in Bar Practice from King’s College London (KCL), after KCL’s Dickson Poon School of Law agreed to act as the course’s validating body.