REUTERS | Bees are seen on the frame of a hive in a village of Ripanj near Belgrade, Serbia, April 9, 2019. Picture taken April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Marko Djurica - RC1799744470
September 14, 2022

Are you sacrificing effectiveness for the sake of efficiency?

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).

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REUTERS | Michaela Rehle
September 12, 2022

FTSE Women Leaders Review extends its scope to include UK top 50 private companies

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.

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REUTERS | People run past Tower Bridge in the early morning autumnal sunshine, in London, Britain, October 24, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson - RC129ACEEA00
September 9, 2022

Sole lawyers online roundtable: How to avoid being overwhelmed and burning out

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.

REUTERS | A man carrying an umbrella walks across the Old Town Square during a rainstorm in Prague, May 30, 2013. REUTERS/David W Cerny
September 8, 2022

The importance of empathy for lawyers

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.

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REUTERS | Luke MacGregor
September 5, 2022

Data privacy and cybersecurity: Autumn agenda 2022

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 →

REUTERS | A bee searches for pollen among cherry blossoms on a sunny spring day in Lausanne, Switzerland March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
September 1, 2022

The Hearing podcast: ep.100, Becky Annison

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.

 

REUTERS | Luke MacGregor
August 26, 2022

What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in September 2022?

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.

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REUTERS | Wind turbines produce renewable energy outside Caledon, South Africa, May 20, 2020. Picture taken May 20, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings - RC272H96YWGL
August 17, 2022

Episode 13 of The Construction Briefing podcast

Episode 13 of The Construction Briefing podcast is now available.

This month the Practical Law Construction team discusses several developments related to building safety including provisions of the Building Safety Act 2022 that are already in force, new consultations and secondary legislation, and the new PAS competence standards for the Principal Designer role, the Principal Contractor role and the requirements for managing safety in residential buildings.

They also consider Martlet Homes Ltd v Mulalley & Co Ltd [2022] EWHC 1813 (TCC), the first judgment following a full trial of issues relating to building safety following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 and Orchard Plaza Management Company Ltd v Balfour Beatty Regional Construction Ltd [2022] EWHC 1490 (TCC), which concerned remoteness of loss under a collateral warranty, and two adjudication enforcement judgments, FTH Ltd v Varis Developments Ltd [2022] EWHC 1385 (TCC) and The Metropolitan Borough Council of Sefton v Allenbuild Ltd [2022] EWHC 1443 (TCC).

REUTERS | People jump into the sea on a hot summer day in Fiesa, Slovenia June 6, 2015. REUTERS/Srdjan Zivulovic - RTX1FE7P
August 11, 2022

Key takeaways from the ICO’s Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2022

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) recently held its annual Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference (DPPC) 2022 online. Here are some key takeaways:

In his opening speech, Mr John Edwards, the Information Commissioner, spoke about his plans for the ICO as an empowering regulator and emphasised why data protection practitioners “have never been more important”. Continue reading →

REUTERS | Residents and tourists enjoy the sun at Barra da Tijuca beach during a summer day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, January 15, 2017. REUTERS/Nacho Doce - RTSVNJY
August 8, 2022

ICO25: a plan for empowerment

The Information Commissioner, Mr John Edwards, recently launched the ICO’s plan for the next three years, the “ICO25”.

It sets out why the ICO’s work is important, what it wants to be known for and how it intends to achieve this by 2025. Practical Law’s detailed legal update on the ICO25 is available here. Continue reading →