Features
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Litigation: A proportionate piece of the pie
By Legal Week | October 14, 2009
This April marked 10 years since the introduction of the Civil Procedure Rules which followed Lord Woolf's review of English civil procedure. The Woolf reforms have achieved many things, including greater co-operation (or at least a reduction in overt hostilities) between the parties to litigation, more mediated settlements and an overall increase in the speed at which cases get to trial. It is generally agreed, however, that the reforms were not successful in cutting costs, which was one of the major objectives of Lord Woolf's review.
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Global 100: Emerging markets
By Legal Week | October 6, 2009
From Russia's grey gloom to Brazil's red-hot ambitions, a look at the state of five emerging legal markets
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Global 100: The great game
By Legal Week | October 6, 2009
Soon after Simon Davies took over as Linklaters' managing partner at the end of 2007, he brought together a group of the firm's partners for some scenario planning. Turbulence in the subprime mortgage sector had not yet grown into a global economic downturn, but Davies knew that the legal services market was already changing. "We had been striving to run ourselves as efficiently as possible to deliver clear value to our clients and avoid increasing rates," he says. The purpose of the gathering was to run through some 'what-ifs,' determine how the firm would be affected, and consider how it would respond. Scenario three, the worst one under consideration, was the collapse of a major investment bank.
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Renewable energy: Reaping the whirlwind
By Legal Week | September 23, 2009
The UK has an obligation under the EU Renewables Directive to derive 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. Depending on level of take-up of renewables for transport, heating, etc, this equates to approximately 32% of the UK's electricity being generated from renewable sources by 2020. Offshore wind energy is expected to provide a large share of this increase in renewable generation capacity.
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Renewable energy: Great light hope
By Legal Week | September 23, 2009
There are growth markets, there are long-term bets and then there is renewable energy. But however many false dawns alternative energy has had over the years, in the long run the business of green energy and nuclear power looks certain to ultimately establish itself as a huge, globally-significant industry.
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Renewable energy: Critical mass
By Legal Week | September 23, 2009
"The nuclear industry was for many years not very glamorous in this country, to say the least," recalls Amec Nuclear legal director Kevin Smith. "Now, though, it has suddenly become fashionable," he continues, "with law firms suddenly claiming they have got a nuclear law department". The shift in attitude began in 2003, counter-intuitively with the establishment of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), which subsequently opened up the decommissioning of various ageing nuclear plants, including Sellafield, to private companies. Around this time the Government's commitment to reduce its carbon emission levels, agreed under the Kyoto Protocol, came into force.
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Renewable energy: Great light hope
By Legal Week | September 23, 2009
There are growth markets, there are long-term bets and then there is renewable energy. But however many false dawns alternative energy has had over the years, in the long run the business of green energy and nuclear power looks certain to ultimately establish itself as a huge, globally-significant industry.
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Renewable energy: Emission impossible?
By Legal Week | September 23, 2009
There is no shortage of targets when it comes to Europe's climate change policy. In addition to commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, the European Union (EU) aims to achieve a 20% reduction (from 1990 levels) of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2020 (rising to 30% if other countries commit to similar levels in ongoing negotiations). By the same date, the EU wants to see 20% of all its energy come from renewable sources. In the UK, the Climate Change Act 2008 requires a 34% cut in GHG emissions by 2020, and a cut of 80% by 2050. The concern is whether the mechanisms used by European governments will work to deliver these targets.
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US Briefing: Talkin' revolution
By Legal Week | September 1, 2009
Jeffrey Carr is sick of talking about alternative fee arrangements. The general counsel for Houston-based FMC Technologies has been using alternative fee structures - arrangements with outside counsel that are not based on billable hours - for "well over a decade". But Carr (pictured right) says his efforts over the years to promote these billing models among his counterparts at other companies fell largely on deaf ears.
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Defy the downturn
By Legal Week | July 15, 2009
At the close of the financial year, we reflect on what has been an exasperating period for many businesses. Economic instability has shaken the tables of many boards. Management teams have been faced with difficult decisions around direction and cost cutting, a lot of which has involved cutting the most important asset - people. We cannot say who has made the best move or the right decisions. The truth is, this recession has brought about problems never seen before
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