Byfield Bytes- September Edition
Firstly and foremost, our thoughts are with the families, friends, and colleagues of those who tragically lost their lives in the recent yacht tragedy, including Mike Lynch, the visionary founder of Luminance, and Christopher Morvillo, a partner at Clifford Chance. Mike Lynch’s pioneering work in legal AI with Luminance—a company that has revolutionised document review and due diligence processes—has left an indelible mark on the industry.??
As the summer holidays sadly draw to a close, everyone is gearing up for a busy September. It’s the perfect time to recap on the latest developments and see what’s on the horizon – grab a brew….?
Unfortunately, this month began in the worst possible way with shocking outbreaks of racist violence and rioting across the UK. In times of crisis, it’s crucial for law firms to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of their people. It was encouraging to see firms like Clifford Chance step up as leaders, temporarily suspending hybrid working policies to allow staff to work from home. It’s in moments like these that the true value of empathetic leadership shines through.?
In brighter news, the final weeks of South Asian Heritage Month saw law firms celebrating the contributions of their diverse workforces. The theme, "Free to Be Me," sparked important conversations about nurturing South Asian talent in the legal profession. Reed Smith’s podcast featured voices like Yasmin Batliwala, CEO of Advocates for International Development, and Nity Raj, General Counsel at Brentford FC. Meanwhile, BCLP partnered with Diversity Talent Network to highlight challenges faced by South Asian professionals, revealing that while entry-level representation is strong, 50% of South Asian partners feel underrepresented. This underscores the need for cultural change to foster truly inclusive environments.?
On the wellbeing front, an interesting development this month came from Pinsent Masons, who are trialling "burnout alerts" for their lawyers. This system, which notifies managers when employees consistently work long hours, is a meaningful step toward tackling the burnout crisis in the legal profession. Balancing high productivity with employee wellbeing remains a hot topic, especially with the ‘right to switch off’ policy from the Labour Government on the horizon. How firms adapt to this will likely shape perceptions of their culture.?
Lastly, a few high-profile cases have underscored the impact reputationally damaging disputes can have on a brand. The BBC’s handling of misconduct investigations and Disney’s controversial legal strategy in a wrongful death case both illustrate that reputational management in disputes can be as crucial as the outcome itself. These examples serve as a cautionary tale for companies to carefully consider the broader implications of their legal strategies.?
Any big stories we’ve missed? Get in touch. By(field) for now!?
Big Questions for September
Post of the Month
Lawyer Quote of the Month
Steptoe Senior Counsel Reid Weingarten reflects on the loss of Christopher Morvillo, who tragically passed away last week in the boat accident that also claimed the lives of Mike Lynch, his daughter, and four others:?
"I sat down with Chris and immediately fell in love. The rest was history. Chris was like my brother, was a wonderful lawyer, and ‘wonderful lawyer’ was the least interesting thing about him. He was almost a Renaissance man — a great writer, artist, public citizen, sports nut, family man and so much more.”?
Byfield Spotlight
?? We are excited to welcome two new talented members to our team! Bryan Wang and Allegra Cooper both join as Graduate Account Executives, with Bryan focusing on Disputes & Investigations.
Join us in welcoming the pair as they embark on their new journeys with us! ??
领英推荐
Class action litigation is evolving quickly across Europe, with some markets adapting faster than others. The Representative Actions Directive now requires all EU countries to establish a system for representative actions.
Although class actions are approached differently across markets, an effective communications strategy can still be implemented Disputes and Investigations Senior Consultant, Dina Hudson, joined Elizabeth James Tingen, partner at STARK NARRATIVE, shortly after The European Class Actions Forum to discuss how to apply effective communication during class action litigation.
Visit the following link to watch the discussion in full. ??
?? Joint Managing Director Ben Girdlestone, alongside Daniela Conte and Leor Franks, shares his thoughts on the concept of brand in the legal sector in this Law360 ??
Click below to read the piece in full: https://www.law360.com/articles/1863409/why-a-robust-brand-is-increasingly-important-for-law-firms
Join us at this year's Legal 500 Legal Business Awards on the 17th September, where Byfield is excited to sponsor the "Law Firm of the Year Award" category. Our Joint Managing Director, Ben Girdlestone, will have the honour of presenting the award in this prestigious category. This event celebrates excellence throughout the legal industry, and we are eager to recognize and honour the remarkable achievements of the most outstanding and innovative law firms from across the nation.
Byfield will be sponsoring The Lawyer's Marketing Leadership Summit 2024! This event gathers more than 70 senior marketing and business development professionals from leading and innovative law firms.
Our Joint Managing Director, Ben Girdlestone, and Associate Director, Bethaney Durkin, look forward to attending and engaging with industry leaders during the various sessions.
Be sure to stop by and say hello!