By: Maria Ward-Brennan

Professional Services Editor Maria Ward-Brennan is the Professional Services Editor at CityAM, focused on law, Big Four, and other management and accounting consulting firms. She was previously a litigation reporter at The Lawyer. Contact her via email at [email protected] or X (Twitter) @MariaW_B.

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EY set to close yet another legal arm of its business

December 12, 2023

EY is shuttering its legal arm in Hong Kong in January, which makes it the second closure action the firm has taken against its legal services. On 23 January, the Big Four firm will close its Hong Kong law member firm, LC Lawyers, according to Bloomberg News. LC Lawyers advised on Hong Kong IPO and [...]
Begbies Traynor acquires midlands firm of property auctioneers

December 12, 2023

Professional services that act as a restructuring specialist, Begbies Traynor Group has completed the acquisition of a national firm of property auctioneers.
FRP Advisory profits soar due to uptick in restructuring activity

December 12, 2023

Professional services firm FRP Advisory's revenue jumped 19 per cent in the first half of 2023 as its restructuring team was more active this year.
UK legal market sees revenue hit record level

December 12, 2023

Revenue generated by legal activities in the UK hits its highest level in more than a decade, as the sector generated £43.7bn over 2022/23. In a new report by TheCityUK, much of the £43.7bn figure was generated by the top 100 UK law firms, who netted more than £33.7bn in 2022/23. This figure was up [...]
HMRC seeks more audit files from EY in property tycoon’s tax dispute

December 11, 2023

Counsel for HMRC asked the court this morning to see more of EY’s audit files in relation to the property tycoon’s tax affairs dispute. HMRC filed a claim to the High Court against the Big Four firm over allegations it misrepresented its client tax affairs to the HMRC. The client was the British property investor [...]
Here are the five partners on the ballot to be the next managing partner of A&O Shearman

December 11, 2023

Allen & Overy will host an election for the firm’s next senior partner and managing partner in February, for a new senior team to take over post-merger.
Lawyers warn regulator will want to send a strong message over non-financial misconduct

December 11, 2023

There has been an uptick in firms facing scrutiny over non-financial misconduct, say lawyers, and this won’t be slowing down anytime soon they have warned. James Alleyne, legal director at Kingsley Napley noted, “non-financial misconduct is clearly a priority for the FCA.” He added: “regulated firms are certainly more conscious than ever about staff behaviour [...]
PwC to challenge staff business trips in move to reach net zero target

December 9, 2023

PwC has introduced a programme that will challenge the type of travel staff will take for business trips, in a move to reduce its carbon footprint. According to the Financial Times, senior UK staff were informed that only people travelling on long-haul night flights or those flying for business-critical reasons would be allowed to sit [...]
Major UK mobile networks hit with £3bn competition class action

December 8, 2023

Four of the UK’s largest mobile network operators have been hit with a class action lawsuit, over allegations they used market dominance to overcharge customers. The class action was filed to the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) against Vodafone, EE, Three, and O2. The case alleges that the companies have been abusing their dominant positions in [...]
UK court grants injunction against Russian pipeline firm in $14bn lawsuit

December 7, 2023

Russian state-owned oil pipeline company Transneft has had its ability to move funds restricted after a UK court granted an injunction against the firm as part of a $14bn lawsuit.

Labour ‘political point-scoring’ over bank rules risks investment exodus, top Nomura exec warns

Royal Ascot worth £140m to UK economy

Old Pulteney releases 50-year-old whisky for 200th anniversary

By: Maria Ward-Brennan

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