The Big Question
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| Analysis
Partners support firm moves to hold back profit distributions to shore up finances
By Pui-Guan Man | March 14, 2013
The majority of partners see moves by firms to hold back profit payouts as sensible financial management, as new Legal Week research highlights the widespread use of such measures across the profession. The latest Big Question survey found that 45% of respondents have seen regular profit distributions delayed or withheld at their firm over the past 12 months, including 10% whose firms have held back 'all or several' payments in that timeframe. The remaining 55% said all distributions at their firms had been paid out in full and on time.
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| Analysis
Partners predict further law firm failures as recent collapses shake confidence
By Pui-Guan Man | February 14, 2013
The vast majority of partners believe it is likely that more large law firms will collapse over the next two years, according to new Legal Week research. In the wake of Cobbetts' recent rescue takeover by DWF and Dewey & LeBoeuf's implosion last year, the latest Big Question survey found 95% of respondents acknowledging the possibility that more large corporate law firms would fail in the near term, including 32% who believed another collapse in the next two years was 'likely' and a further 42% describing such an event as 'very likely'.
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| Analysis
Partners warn of 'disastrous' prospect of EU exit amid fears of impact on business
By Alex Newman | January 31, 2013
There may have been much talk of business support for Prime Minister David Cameron's high-stakes referendum on European Union (EU) membership, but law firms are certainly not among the converted. Legal Week's latest Big Question found commercial partners largely united in opposition to Cameron's highly publicised commitment to hold a referendum on the UK's EU membership by the end of 2017 if the Conservative Party wins the next general election.
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| Analysis
Partners back apprenticeships into law but fear trainees will struggle for acceptance
By Pui-Guan Man | January 10, 2013
Moves to establish an apprenticeship route to the profession have drawn considerable support from senior lawyers, despite fears that such candidates will struggle to compete with university-track practitioners. The latest Legal Week Big Question survey comes after news last month that BPP Law School is in talks to create a vocational job route, which could help non-traditional candidates qualify as solicitors.
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| Analysis
Partners scale back hopes for year ahead as economic woes hit business confidence
By Alex Newman | December 13, 2012
The prolonged eurozone downturn and economic stagnation in the UK are continuing to dent business confidence within the legal profession, with one in three partners expecting revenues to fall or remain static at their firm over the coming year. Legal Week's latest business confidence survey found 28% of respondents forecasting static revenues for 2013 – almost double the proportion making the same prediction in July, when the survey was last conducted – while a further 7.5% expect revenues at their firm to drop next year.
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| Analysis
Norton Rose's US merger wins plaudits as doubts surround ambitious Dentons deal
By Pui-Guan Man | November 22, 2012
Norton Rose's transatlantic tie-up with Fulbright & Jaworski has received broad approval from law firm partners, against a more sceptical reponse to the other major merger deal of recent weeks – the proposed three-way union of SNR Denton, Salans and Canada's Fraser Milner Casgrain (FMC). Legal Week's latest Big Question survey found that 61% of partners believe Norton Rose's merger with US firm Fulbright – which is set to go live in June 2013 – is a good deal, with 19% unsure and the remaining 20% having a negative view of the tie-up.
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| Analysis
Outright sexism still commonplace in law despite profession's push for change
By Pui-Guan Man | October 25, 2012
"The views which sexists share are a national problem which will only be amplified by the increase in the Muslim minority in the country in regards to forced marriages and pedophilia..."
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| Analysis
Firms failing on billing practices as 72% of partners note room for improvement
By Alex Newman | September 6, 2012
Large commercial law firms need to improve both the way they price work and bill clients, according to new research.
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| Analysis
Partners remain bullish on prospects for year ahead as almost 80% predict growth
By Friederike Heine | July 26, 2012
Asia and litigation tipped as growth targets in Legal Week business confidence survey. Friederike Heine reports
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| Analysis
Partners say City firms are out of the dark ages on flexi-working
By Pui-Guan Man | July 5, 2012
The overwhelming majority of partners believe law firms must allow both partners and associates to work flexibly, despite acknowledging the difficulties it can cause in terms of career progression. Legal Week's latest Big Question survey found almost half of the 140 respondents said it was essential for firms to offer flexible working opportunities to partners and associates, with a further 36% believing it to be 'very important' for partners, rising to 37% for associates.
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