Michael Todd QC, 2012’s chairman of the Bar, has called on government and the Bar to invest in the future. Delivering his inaugural speech to the Bar Council, Todd laid out a vision for his year in office. Ben Rigby explores what it will bring.

With a background in EU and competition law, John Wotton may be the man to reassure commercial lawyers that the Law Society of England & Wales has their interests at heart. Ben Rigby interviewed him at the IBA Conference in Dubai.

Less than a year into his role as Shell’s legal chief, Peter Rees QC tells Edward Machin how he remains committed to ensuring a more focused service from external counsel.

Hot on the heels of the Unlocking Disputes campaign to promote London as a centre for dispute resolution, Bar Council chairman-elect Michael Todd QC has urged further reform to commercial litigation. Ben Rigby reports from Dubai.

With over 70 barrister delegates attending the IBA Annual Conference, the Bar Council intends to set out its stall to global dispute resolution lawyers as never before.  

With the arrival of six new members to its ACC Value Challenge initiative, the US-centred in-house lawyers group is subtly increasing the pressure and opportunities for law firms.

With the hire of two veteran litigators from Dechert, Ben Rigby says the US litigation-only firm has invested strategically at a time when interest in Russian disputes has rarely been stronger.

Former Supreme Court Justice, Lord Laurence Collins of Mapesbury, has received a lifetime achievement award from the Law Society at the Society’s Excellence Awards in London

US firm Brown Rudnick has hired Lawrence Graham (LG) head of IP and media, Georgie Collins, to its London office.

UK Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke has urged better business relations between the UK and India, including in legal services, in speaking to Indian business and legal leaders. Ben Rigby reports.

The Palo Alto office of K&L Gates has added Michele Floyd as a partner in the firm’s commercial disputes practice.

Three partners are set to join DLA Piper’s specialist litigation team in London, all of whom join from Lawrence Graham.