Laws of nature: new business opportunities
Advice on energy efficiency and renewable power is a new line of business for the legal sector, reports Sarah Murray
FT Innovative Lawyers 2010
Resources
Innovation in the face of adversity can often be a necessity, rather than a bonus. The past year has seen innovative attempts by the legal profession to react positively to the tough business conditions following the financial crisis
Full rankings
VIDEO
- A busy year for the legal industry
- The FT’s Mike Skapinker and Reena SenGupta of RSG Consulting explain the key themes of this year’s awards
- Kevin Jaquiss on ‘punk finance’
- Award winner Kevin Jaquiss, partner with Cobbetts, explains “punk finance”, which enables people and community organisations to “do it themselves”
- Popham looks back at lifetime in law
- Stuart Popham, senior partner at Clifford Chance, gives his thoughts on winning the lifetime achievement award
New challenges for today’s lawyers
This year’s FT Innovative Lawyers report highlights how the role of lawyers has changed
In search of change: law firms face new challenges
Lawyers played a critical role in tackling the financial crisis. But have they responded to challenging times by overhauling the way they work and serve their clients? By Reena SenGupta
Creative thinkers: innovative lawyers on the shortlist
This year’s shortlisted candidates have devised imaginative solutions to legal and commercial challenges in the post-recession world
Cultural exchange: regulatory obstacles keep lawyers busy
A rise in complex cross-border deals means lawyers are negotiating ever more regulatory challenges to forge mutually beneficial agreements
Methodology and performance indicators
How the final rankings were researched, benchmarked and compiled
Related content and features
Climate change and sustainability
Dispute resolution
Creative law firms show courtroom craft
Two important rulings of the past year – while very different – have shown the creativity and ingenuity of law firms
Brands
How to make a legal brand stand out
To retain clients and acquire new ones in a competitive market, firms need to market their values alongside their services, writes Alex Williams
Client service
Service first: lawyers get creative about meeting clients’ needs
Law firms are thinking creatively about ways of serving their clients or assisting clients’ own legal teams
Efficiency
Smooth operators: law firms focus on post-recession efficiency
In the wake of the recession, many law firms have been forced to improve the efficiency of their staff and processes, reports Jeremy Fleming-Jones
Financial services
Structuring success in financial services
Negotiating between vast numbers of differing agendas has prompted lawyers to come up with some imaginative approaches
Fraud
Fighting for good amid financial crime surge
A mini-boom in financial crime is providing plenty of fresh challenges for anti-corruption specialists. Michael Peel reports
In-house lawyers
In-house legal departments rise to the occasion
Company legal departments have seen their power and stature rise in the past two years, often taking on a more commercial role
Risk and regulation
Ahead of the pack: why law firms need to innovate
Whether helping governments draw up legislation or advising on land auctions, law firms need to keep up with clients’ unusual needs
