This month, in-house lawyers will be assessing the impact of the announcements made in the government’s “Growth Plan 2022”. They should also take note of the publication of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill, and two reports by the FRC Lab.
Episode 101 of the Hearing is now available.
This episode examines the high prevalence of stress and burnout among lawyers, and what can be done to reduce it. Yasmin talks to Legatics CEO Anthony Seale and Lucy Shurwood from Pinsent Masons, one of the founding members of the Mindful Business Charter.
The trio discuss what burnout is, some common causes and what we can learn from the pandemic. Now that wellbeing conversations have come to the fore, firms are having to take an honest look at their corporate culture. But as well as focusing internally, it’s clear there are some brave conversations to be had about being equally as mindful to those we work with externally.
In the highly regulated and competitive biopharmaceutical industry, legal innovation is a critical driver of business success, guiding research and development (R&D), and matters of intellectual property (IP). Innovation in IP law is especially vital for a company like AbbVie, which has been at the forefront of R&D since its inception in 2013, investing almost $50 billion to advance and deliver new medicines.
To best serve our patients, researchers and partners, we have assembled a team of outside counsel from the top global law firms to help us navigate the legal complexities of developing solutions for the world’s toughest health challenges.
Today’s legal departments are tasked with accomplishing and contributing more than ever before. Not only do they need to provide legal advice and oversee compliance, they must also anticipate threats, collaborate across teams, contribute towards shaping the strategic direction of their organisations, and more.
Still, most legal departments are measured against just a fraction of what their job really entails. Because, while most legal teams are using metrics-driven approaches to manage their departments, most are only reporting on external spend, turnaround and response times, and quality of work. In fact, this year 90% of departments reported that they used some form of metrics in 2021, compared to just 75% in 2015 (Thomson Reuters Institute 2022 State of Corporate Law Departments Report).
The FTSE Women Leaders Review (the Review) is an independent, business-led framework supported by the government, which sets recommendations for Britain’s largest companies to improve the representation of women on boards and in leadership positions. It is the successor phase to the Hampton-Alexander and Davies Reviews, and captures data on over 24,000 roles across FTSE 350 boards, extending down into the two leadership layers below the board. This makes the UK’s approach and drive for more women in business leadership arguably the biggest and most ambitious of any country to date.
The Centre for Legal Leadership is hosting an online roundtable event for sole lawyers on 5 October 2022 from 08:30-10:00. The topic for discussion is how to avoid being overwhelmed and burning out.
This event is aimed at sole lawyers who would welcome the chance to discuss the good, the bad and the ugly aspects of their roles, to share their experience and learn from others. It provides an opportunity to talk with your peers about how you and others have coped with the challenges of the role and the tips and tricks people use to make the role exciting and rewarding, while minimising the threat of being overwhelmed and burning out.
Places are limited and offered on a first come first served basis and participation is mandatory. Please register on the The Centre for Legal Leadership website.
I remember when I first went into law being asked “which area do you want to specialise in?” My response was swift given it was a second career after teaching in inner-city London. I would always reply, “I don’t want to do law with a human face.” I knew what I meant by that, no family law or criminal law for me, I wanted to immerse myself in documents and facts. So, I became a corporate lawyer, but it wasn’t really for me, I missed the human side after all.
I learnt a lot about myself: that I can knuckle down and pay great attention to detail, and that I can absorb facts and make a cogent argument. However, in doing so, I was suppressing part of myself and that part (although I did not know it at the time) was my desire to understand the human being behind the legal problem. I was interested in the emotion that surrounds the client when faced with a situation that could mean their livelihood, contact with their children, reputation, business or home could be on the line.
The summer is traditionally a slow time for new developments but 2022 has not played ball. In particular, the government’s proposed reforms of the UK data protection regime have moved a step closer to reality with the introduction of the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill to parliament. Continue reading
Episode 100 of the Hearing is now available.
WE’RE 100 EPISODES OLD! To celebrate, we decided to turn the spotlight (mic) on our beloved host, Becky. She had mixed feelings about it, but you’re going to love getting to know her better.
Yasmin and Becky talk about where her passion for the law came from, her interesting career journey, and the work she does now to combat climate change. She’s a hero and we’re glad to dig deeper into what makes her tick.
An emergency budget is likely in September due to the forthcoming change in leadership of the Conservative Party and therefore the country. In-house lawyers should also take note of recent developments in relation to climate change, digital assets and employment law.