REUTERS | Luke MacGregor
March 9, 2022

Five ways to set and maintain boundaries at work

It has never been harder to divide work and home life. The use of technology, combined with the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, means that we can work from anywhere, at any time, if we choose to. This is particularly significant where we have clients and stakeholders who have expectations of immediate service. Increasingly, lawyers are struggling to manage feelings of “always being on”. This post discusses how establishing boundaries can help to combat feelings of being overwhelmed.

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REUTERS | A farmer cuts tulips on a field near the city of Creil, Netherlands April 19, 2019. REUTERS/Yves Herman
March 8, 2022

Episode 8 of The Construction Briefing podcast

Episode 8 of The Construction Briefing podcast is now available.

This month, we highlight the latest building safety developments, looking at wide-ranging amendments to the Building Safety Bill, which is currently proceeding through the House of Lords (starts at 0.54 minutes).

We also discuss Power and another v Shah [2022] EWHC 209 (QB), where the High Court dismissed the party wall surveyors’ appeal, finding they lacked jurisdiction to make a party wall award under the Party Wall etc Act 1996 (starts at 22.17 minutes).

Finally, we touch on Prime London Holdings 11 Ltd v Thurloe Lodge Ltd [2022] EWHC 303 (Ch), where the High Court made an access order under the Access to Neighbouring Land Act 1992 (starts at 37.55 minutes).

For details of previous episodes, see The Construction Briefing podcast.

REUTERS | Pedestrian cross the new diagonal crossing at Oxford Circus in London November 2, 2009. The design of the new £5 million ($8.2 million) pound crossing was inspired by the Shibuya crossing in Tokyo and allows pedestrians to cross diagonally. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth (BRITAIN TRANSPORT CITYSCAPE SOCIETY IMAGES OF THE DAY)
February 24, 2022

The Hearing: ep.91, Jo-Anne Pugh (BPP University Law School)

Episode 91 of the Hearing is now available.

In this episode, Yasmin goes back to school to meet the dean of BPP University Law School, Jo-Anne Pugh. They discuss what legal education is like for students who are at the beginning of their careers, and how the learning is evolving to fit (and indeed informing) the modern legal ecosystem.

The pair also chat about the concept and real life experience of “O-shaped lawyers”,  a term that’s likely to become more prevalent in industry thought leadership this year. And Jo provides an insight into the future of legal learning in a post-pandemic world.

Even if your university days are well behind you now, we think you’ll appreciate hearing about the new dynamic between educators and the legal profession, and getting an insight into the kinds of changes you can expect to see coming through the ranks.

REUTERS | Wind turbines produce renewable energy outside Caledon, South Africa, May 20, 2020. Picture taken May 20, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings - RC272H96YWGL
February 18, 2022

What does it take to be an ‘influential’ in-house lawyer?

Yesterday I met with Jenny Block (General Counsel at Ofwat) and Chris Fowler (General Counsel Technology at BT Group plc) ahead of a Centre for Legal Leadership webinar on 23 February 2022. Chris and Jenny plan to discuss how the in-house lawyer can ensure that they are involved in the most legally significant areas of their organisation’s business and that they are involved at a time when they can influence outcomes, rather than being seen as a legal “rubber stamp” on decisions already taken.

We talked about how those new to roles in-house can identify the skills they need to influence their organisations from day one, as well as what it takes to develop those skills over a legal career, and to help others do the same. It promises to be a fascinating discussion, and I can’t wait to hear the perspectives of these influential thinkers on this interesting topic. If you haven’t yet registered for the webinar, there is still time to do so up until the day by following this link.

REUTERS | Carlos Barria
February 14, 2022

The Construction Briefing podcast, ep.7: building safety and adjudication

Episode 7 of the Construction Briefing podcast is now available.

This month we are joined by Matt Molloy of MCMS Ltd to discuss a number of developments referred to in January’s monthly bulletin.

These include the latest building safety developments, with more government guidance on EWS1 forms, developers being told to pay to replace unsafe cladding and an extension of the limitation period under the Defective Premises Act 1972 to 30 years.

We also look at a number of adjudication enforcement cases, including John Graham Construction Ltd v Technicas Reunidas UK Ltd [2022] EWHC 155 (TCC), BraveJoin Co Ltd v Prosperity Moseley Street Ltd [2021] EWHC 3598 (TCC) and Bilton and Johnson (Building) Co Ltd v Three Rivers Property Investments Ltd [2022] EWHC 53 (TCC).

For details of previous episodes, see The Construction Briefing podcast.

REUTERS | An aerial view of tulip fields near the city of Creil, Netherlands April 18, 2019. REUTERS/Yves Herman
February 7, 2022

The Hearing: ep.90, Mark van Baal (Follow This)

Episode 90 of the Hearing is now available.

During the last week of May 2021, significant gains were made in the battle against climate change. In this episode, Becky Annison talks to Mark van Baal, the founder of the international pressure group Follow This, about what happened. Was this the beginning of a sea-change that could save the world?

What some commentators bill as the start of the end of fossil fuel was driven in part by activist shareholders, as well as through the courts. The big oil companies are now being asked in very real terms by customers and shareholders to treat the Paris Climate Agreement seriously. Becky and Mark discuss the intricate ways that company law is being leveraged to drive this peaceful rebellion.

We sometimes hear from lawyers that they can feel disheartened that their work isn’t always a force for good. Mark, a relatively unknown journalist before the advent of Follow This, talks to us about how we can all make a difference, and his belief that the legal industry in particular holds the key to a brighter future.

REUTERS | Amr Abdallah Dalsh
February 2, 2022

Life in the law: why we need to come together to improve wellbeing in the legal profession

Last year we released the findings of our research study, Life in the Law. The research, the first of its kind in this country, looked at mental health and wellbeing in the legal profession, and over 1,700 professionals from the UK, Republic of Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man took part. The study questioned legal professionals on a range of areas, including work intensity (workload and working hours). It used three recognised scales for:

  • Burnout (disengagement and exhaustion).
  • Autonomy (the ability to control what, where, how, and with whom, work is done).
  • Psychological safety (the ability to speak up with ideas and questions, and to raise concerns or admit mistakes).

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REUTERS |
January 31, 2022

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

Following the government’s removal of its work from home guidance, many businesses are likely to be organising another return to the office push in February. This month, in-house lawyers should also take note of the forthcoming introduction of mandatory climate-related financial disclosures and consultations on corporate taxation and environmental protection.

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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
January 27, 2022

13th annual cost of compliance survey

Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence has launched its 13th annual survey on the cost of compliance for regulated firms in the financial services industry. All information will be treated in the strictest of confidence and results will be displayed anonymously. The results will form part of a special report on the cost of compliance, which will be available to download in Q2 2022.

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