Shows
The Firm AnalystS14EP3: Heathrow to Detail Multibillion Pound Third Runway Plans; Companies Buy Crypto to Boost Valuations; and PE Funds Turn to Continuation Funds to Keep the Liquidity Tap RunningWelcome back to The Firm Analyst! In this episode, we discussed the following topics:Heathrow’s Third Runway: With a price tag reported to be pushing £50bn and the M25 potentially in its path, we unpack the legal complexities of building one of the UK’s most ambitious infrastructure projects — from project financing and land purchases to government concessions and risk allocation.Crypto on the Balance Sheet: Companies are loading up on crypto to drive valuations sky-high — but what happens when regulators, lenders, and securities lawyers get involved? We explore t...2025-07-2845 min
The Firm AnalystS14EP2: The Legal Reason for Wimbledon's 11 PM Curfew; Upward Only Rent Reviews to Be Banned; and Unpacking CityFibre's £2.3bn Refinancing DealThis episode explores three topical legal and commercial developments. We discuss the proposed ban on upward-only rent review clauses in commercial leases in an attempt to help revive the High Street, its impact on landlords, tenants, and investors. We then cover CityFibre’s £2.3bn refinancing deal, the role of conditions precedent in facility agreements, and implications for lenders. Finally, we delve into why Wimbledon has an 11 PM curfew — tracing it back to planning conditions and the broader planning law framework.2025-07-1430 minThe Firm AnalystS14EP1: EDF Taps Apollo for £4.5bn Hinkley Point C Loan Facility; Law Firms Look to Private Equity Sponsors for Investment; and Domestic Equities Lose Ground with UK Pension FundsIn this episode of The Firm Analyst, we examine Apollo’s £4.5bn loan to support the Hinkley Point C nuclear project and its significance for private credit in large-scale infrastructure. We also explore the growing interest in external investment within the legal sector, as firms consider private equity funding to support strategic growth and innovation. Lastly, we reflect on the continued decline in British equity allocations by UK pension providers and the broader implications for domestic capital markets and commercial law firms at large.2025-06-2232 minThe Firm AnalystS13EP4: Trade Deals - Hope around the Corner?In our final episode of this season I invited Yusuf Serang, an incoming trainee solicitor at Fieldfisher, to the podcast to discuss all things trade. Recently, the UK announced two major trade deals with the US and India while other countries headed to the negotiating tables. Yusuf and I asked ourselves: what does this mean for the markets at large and commercial law firms? Tune in to find out. Link to access on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/thefirmanalyst2025-05-1146 minThe Firm AnalystS13EP3: M&S Suffers Cyberattack; Investors Flee to Swiss Franc; Plans for 29-Storey Battersea Tower RejectedWelcome back to The Firm Analyst everyone! In this episode, we looked at cyberattacks, macroeconomic shifts and the complex world of property development. Covering key stories and concepts along the way, we delved even deeper into the world of business through the lens of a commercial lawyer.I hope you enjoy this episode! Link to access: https://linktr.ee/thefirmanalyst2025-04-281h 11The Firm AnalystS13EP2: US Tariffs - The Markets Can Take Pain, But Not UncertaintyTo say these last few weeks have been volatile is a gross understatement. Donald Trump recently unleashed a wave of tariffs which have sent the global markets into flux. In this episode, we try to unpack the unfolding mayhem and assess how the markets are reacting by looking at US/UK government bond yields, the S&P 500, the FTSE100, the US Dollar index and the price of gold in the last two weeks. We round off the episode by looking the micro effects of this global trade war and investigate how deal uncertainty has...2025-04-1447 minThe Firm AnalystS13EP1: Legal Reflections on the Heathrow Shutdown; Barclays' "Caterpillar" Strategy; and Challenges for Sustainable Finance & InvestmentHi everyone! We are officially back from our season break and we welcome you to Season 13 of The Firm Analyst. In this episode, we discussed: (1) the recent shutdown at Heathrow Airport and some of the potential legal consequences arising as a result; (2) Barclays' "Caterpillar" strategy and how UK banks use derivatives to protect income while weathering fluctuations in interest rates; and (3) the challenges that sustainable finance and investment continue to face and what lies ahead for this sector.2025-03-2353 minThe Firm AnalystS12EP4 - Say Goodbye to Skype...; UK Small Companies Trading at Global Discounts; and Stamp Duty Changes Trigger Deal RushWelcome back to The Firm Analyst as we dive into a range of stories in this early release episode! Today we discussed: (1) Skype's unfortunate demise and what role lawyers play in reorganising businesses; (2) how UK small cap companies have been perceived by international investors in light of the UK's dampened growth; and (3) how changes to the SDLT thresholds in April are convincing home buyers to move their purchases forward. 2025-03-0138 minThe Firm AnalystS12EP3: Activist Investor Builds £3.8bn Stake in BP; Competitive Leisure Market Faces Oversupply; and Creditors Face Off in Thames Water RestructuringThanks for tuning into this episode of The Firm Analyst. Today we'll be discussing a range of stories affecting the market and how they impact the wider practice of commercial law. I hope you find benefit in the stories discussed and feel free to reach out for more information or a general discussion! 2025-02-1738 min
Drama PakistaniFaraar Episode 11 Audio Review
Faraar is a gripping tale of love, guilt and survival, where freedom and redemption come at the highest cost. The series follows six individuals - Batish, Nazish, Fasih, Saadia, Babrik, and Zhalay, each from vastly different worlds, yet all desperate to break free from the chains of their pasts. Driven by guilt, secrets, and the desperation to escape their old lives they set out on paths that soon intersect. But as they cross paths in their pursuit of freedom and redemption, they discover that escape isn’t the answer - it’s only the beginning. In a high-stakes journey mark...2025-02-0326 minThe Firm AnalystS12EP2 - How DeepSeek and Tariffs Are Shaking up the Markets... and More$600bn...that's the estimated value NVIDIA is said to have lost as markets struggled to comprehend a new company's arrival onto the AI scene. Here at The Firm Analyst, we discuss how DeepSeek's AI model is set to affect the wider data infrastructure and legal markets (2:15).
In this week's episode, we also discussed how the US' recently introduced tariffs are set to cause challenges for multinational corporations and investigate how lawyers can help their clients navigate a new era of international trade environment (16:20).
To wrap up, we looked into...2025-02-0247 min
Drama PakistaniFaraar Episode 10 (Audio Review) 19th Jan 2025
Faraar Episode 10 (Audio Review ) 19th Jan 2025| Hamza Ali Abbasi - Mamya Shajaffar - Ahmed Ali Akbar - Sohai Ali Abro - Green TV Entertainment
Faraar is a gripping tale of love, guilt and survival, where freedom and redemption come at the highest cost. The series follows six individuals - Batish, Nazish, Fasih, Saadia, Babrik, and Zhalay, each from vastly different worlds, yet all desperate to break free from the chains of their pasts. Driven by guilt, secrets, and the desperation to escape their old lives they set out on paths that soon intersect. But as they cross paths in...2025-01-2347 minThe Firm AnalystS12EP1: 2025 - Year of Volatility? UK Outlook, TikTok Ban & MoreWelcome back to The Firm Analyst everyone! Super glad to be kicking this year off to a start with a discussion on what 2025 holds for the UK economy (2:30) and the world at large as the political climate grows ever more uncertain (20:00) .
Listen in as we also break down how the TikTok ban illustrates what sorts of challenges multinational corporations and clients will be expected to face this year after an unprecedented number of leadership changes worldwide following the 50+ elections that took place in 2024 (27:15).
Happy listening!
2025-01-1937 min
Drama PakistaniFaraar Episode 5 Review | Hamza Ali Abbasi | Ahmed Ali Akbar | Sohai Ali Abro | 15th Dec 2024 | Green TVFaraar is a gripping tale of love, guilt and survival, where freedom and redemption come at the highest cost. The series follows six individuals - Batish, Nazish, Fasih, Saadia, Babrik, and Zhalay, each from vastly different worlds, yet all desperate to break free from the chains of their pasts. Driven by guilt, secrets, and the desperation to escape their old lives they set out on paths that soon intersect. But as they cross paths in their pursuit of freedom and redemption, they discover that escape isn’t the answer - it’s only the beginning. In a high-stakes journey mark...2024-12-1833 minThe Firm AnalystS11EP4: A Review of Market Reactions to the US ElectionsWelcome back to The Firm Analyst everyone! In this episode, we reviewed market reactions to one of the most significant events of this year: the US election.
With the dollar rising in strength, the possibility of tariffs looming on the horizon and rate cuts in the US and the UK, there was lots to unpack this episode. Listen in to hear how this will impact global markets and the world of commercial law as a whole.
Link to access: https://linktr.ee/thefirmanalyst2024-11-1040 minThe Firm AnalystS11EP3: Autumn Budget - As Bad As We Thought?; Zilch Expands Consumer Loan Securitisation Facility to £150mn; BlackRock Bets on Private Credit with HPS ApproachWelcome back to the Firm Analyst! We have a range of stories to cover this week, including:
the Labour government's autumn budget and what this means for SMEs, the PE industry and the economy at large;
Zilch's use of a securitisation facility to fund its Buy Now Pay Later operations and why this funding technique remains popular in the financial markets; and
what BlackRock's approach to HPS - an alternative lending giant - tells us about the growing importance of private credit in the global economy.
2024-11-0340 minThe Firm AnalystS11EP2: UK Puts Rare Minerals in Focus; Schroders to Launch First of A Kind UK Fund; Monzo Millionaires - How Startups Keep Investors and Employees HappyWelcome back everyone! Today, we discussed the following topics in what was a more reflective episode:
a new UK Export Finance programme aiming to grant finance to companies importing minerals into the UK for manufacturing amidst a global trade war for rare earth minerals;
Shroders being the first asset manager to setup a Long Term Asset Fund in the UK. We also embarked on a whistle-stop tour of the investment funds world and how law firms play a role in its daily activities; and
how employees at...2024-10-2742 minThe Firm AnalystS11EP1: Labour Budget Unpacked; 76 Storey Tower to Dominate Manchester Skyline; and Space X's "Catch" - A New Era for Space Law?Welcome back to The Firm Analyst! I'm very excited to be kicking off season 11 with a discussion on the following topics:
firstly, we unpacked the Labour budget, looking specifically at how a change in tax law can impact several sectors and how law firms may be called on to assist their clients;
for our second story, we looked at the Viadux phase 2 project in Manchester as a joint venture case study and examined how law firms get involved in putting these structures together;
lastly, we reflected on how Space X's recent achievement of...2024-10-2042 minThe Firm AnalystS10EP4: Unique Tools for Researching Law Firms (Part 2) - Government Work, Book Recommendations & General TipsHi everyone! Welcome to the final episode of this season of The Firm Analyst. Today we discussed:
the importance of being curious as well as reflective. I shared a recent personal story about how I was able to connect simple markings on an electricity meter to a learning point about a law firm's practice;
using books to learn about the history and strategy of certain law firms. In particular, we made mention of books such as Too Big to Fail, Barbarians at the Gate and more; and
2024-10-0648 minThe Firm AnalystS10EP3: REA Makes Fourth Offer for RightMove; Why Do Firms Rebrand?; and Standard Chartered Takes on Investors in Test CaseWelcome back to The Firm Analyst! In this episode we discussed:
how REA Group's £6.2bn offer for Righmove could result in a hostile takeover of the company and how lawyers assist clients in such circumstances;
why law firms seek to rebrand, while taking a closer look at how Freshfields, Foot Anstey, A&O Shearman and BDB Pitmans have considered branding more recently; and
Standard Chartered's dispute with investors regarding the proposed rate switch from LIBOR to SOFR on preference shares issued by the bank i...2024-09-3046 minThe Firm AnalystS10EP2: HSBC Faces Property Loan Defaults in HongKong; Investment Platforms Unite to Form Trade Association; and Next Could Pay £30m in Damages in Equal Pay CaseWelcome back to The Firm Analyst! In today's episode we discussed a range of stories affecting the markets including:
HSBC dealing with a number of defaults across its HongKong real estate loan portfolio and how finance lawyers mitigate risk for their clients in these scenarios;
the importance of trade associations for different business sectors and why the formation of the Platforms Association for direct-to-investor companies may be of interest to law firms; and
the recent Employment Tribunal decision in an equal pay case relating to Next's employee pay structure and how this may a...2024-09-2350 minThe Firm AnalystS10EP1: CMA Casts Doubt on Vodafone x Three Merger; Notting Hill Home Sells for £21m; and How Low Can You Go? - Reviewing Rate Cuts and the UK's October BudgetWelcome back to The Firm Analyst! In the first episode of Season 10, we dive into a range of key stories hitting the papers this week.
(2:00) First off, we look at the CMA's provisional conclusion that the Vodafone x Three merger will result in a substantial lessening of competition and examine the legal impact that this will have on the deal;
(16:15) we also discussed private wealth as a practice area/sector in law firms using the recent purchase of a residential property in Notting Hill for £21m as a case s...2024-09-1548 minThe Firm AnalystS9EP4: Unique Tools for Researching Law Firms (Part 1) - M&A/PE and Debt FinanceHi everyone, after a brief hiatus due to exams and a city move, we are back with the final episode of The Firm Analyst this season!
In this episode, we discussed unique tools that you can use to research law firms and the work that they do. This episode specifically focussed on how to find out what law firms are up to in the debt finance, M&A and PE spaces.2024-09-0831 minThe Firm AnalystS9EP3: Mayhem Unfolds in the Global Equities Markets; Seven Law Firms Advise on £5.4bn Takeover Bid for Hargreaves Lansdown; and Saudi Arabia to Introduce New Investment Laws to Attract InvestorsWelcome back to this week's episode of The Firm Analyst! In today's episode, we discussed the following:
(2:05) the sharp stock sell off that occurred last week in the global equities markets as a result of fears of a US recession and the unwinding of several Japanese Yen carry trades;
(17:30) how a range of law firms including Macfarlanes, Linklaters, Latham & Watkins and others advised parties connected to a £5.4bn acquisition bid for the direct to consumer investment platform Hargreaves Landsdown; and
(35:35) Saudi Arabia's new investment l...2024-08-1152 minThe Firm AnalystS9EP2: Is an AI Bubble Forming?; HSBC, Barclays & Shell Announce Share Buybacks; and Rachel Reeves Set to Raise Tax Rates to Plug £22bn Fiscal HoleWelcome back to this episode of The Firm Analyst! Today we discussed:
(02:00) Elliot Management's letter to investors, which suggests that an economic bubble is forming around the artificial intelligence sector;
(17:15) HSBC, Barclays and Shell announcing billions of pounds worth of buybacks after performing better than expected this quarter; and
(32:30) the fiscal conundrum being faced by the Labour government which may force a rise in the capital gains tax rate.
I hope that you enjoy this episode and I look...2024-08-0449 minThe Firm AnalystS9EP1: Labour Announces £7.3bn National Wealth Fund; Revolut Taps Linklaters for Banking License Approval; and BDB Pitmans to Rebrand to International Powerhouse: 'Broadfield'Welcome back to The Firm Analyst! In today's episode, the first of season 9, we discussed:
the recently elected Labour government's plans to create a multibillion pound national wealth fund to bankroll UK industry and infrastructure projects and what this means for the legal market;
Revolut, with the help of Linklaters, emerging victorious in its uphill battle to obtain authorisation to operate as a bank in the UK; and
BDB Pitmans' plans to create an international law firm network named 'Broadfield' alongside Alvarez & Marsal Legal Services.
I hope that you enjoy the episode and I...2024-07-2849 minThe Firm AnalystS8EP4: A Revival of the UK's IPO Market?; Carpetright to File for Administration; and Metro Bank Eyes Mortgage Portfolio Sale to Boost ProfitabilityHi everyone! It has been a very eventful few weeks and I am glad to be bringing this final episode of this season to you today where we discussed:
how the FCA's proposed changes to the Main Market's listing regime will, according to some, revive the IPO market in the UK;
Carpetright's decision to file a notice to appoint administrators as it slips into insolvency and how solicitors deal with such situations; and
Metro Bank's attempt to shore up its capital by selling a chunk of its mortgage book and how law firms assist in...2024-07-1548 minThe Firm AnalystS8EP3: Paul Weiss Is Not Testing the Waters...It Is Laying Down the Roots: A Brief Introduction for Aspiring SolicitorsHi network! I hope you enjoy this special edition of The Firm Analyst. We have seen a lot about Paul Weiss in the papers recently and many aspiring solicitors still trying to navigate the legal market might be wondering what the coverage is all about.
This podcast serves as a brief introduction to recent events surrounding the firm's formal expansion into London through an English law offering. I hope that those still trying to assess what firms they want to apply to will find this episode useful. 2024-07-0935 minThe Firm AnalystS8EP2: The Age of $20m Partner Pay Packages; Is the £100m+ City of London RE Market Dead?; and Light at the End of the Tunnel for PEWelcome back to this episode of The Firm Analyst! In this episode, we discussed:
$20m partner pay packages and what they tell us about the direction the UK's commercial law sector is taking in terms of pay;
how a deal drought in the City of London's £100m+ property market may affect real estate behemoths of the legal sector; and
a 14% increase in deal volume in PE across the globe as central banks begin to hint towards rate cuts.
Thanks for tuning in once again and I hope you enjoy the episode!2024-06-3044 minThe Firm AnalystS8EP1: Market Temperature Check: Systemic Risk in PE? And What Election Year Means for ClientsI am super excited to be back with this new episode of The Firm Analyst and I hope that you are all ready to engage with some of the topics we will be discussing today. These include:
the PRA ordering a review of Barclay's leveraged finance business and what the PRA's findings may mean for the market;
a review how elections have impacted currency, debt and equity capital markets in the last few months;
an in depth review of how the election year will affect the derivatives, project finance and tax sectors for law firms.
I hope...2024-06-2452 minThe Firm AnalystS7EP4: 48 Laws of Restructuring & InsolvencyWelcome back everyone to The Firm Analyst! I was really excited to release this episode, where we will be discussing how international law applies to restructuring & insolvency contexts.
In particular, we looked at how the UK has become a popular restructuring hub and the topic of "forum shopping". We also take a brief look at Ch.11 proceedings in the US and EU insolvency proceedings as well as the application of the UNCITRAL Model Law to larger global restructurings.2024-04-2247 minThe Firm AnalystS7EP3: FCA Calls Out "Finfluencers"; A&O and Others Reappointed to Santander Panel and Trowers to Open Office in SingaporeWelcome back to The Firm Analyst! This is probably one of the most detailed podcasts I've done, so I hope you all enjoy it. We discussed the following topics:
(2:33) the FCA releasing Finalised Guidance discussing financial promotions in the context of social media;
(19:26) Santander's appointment of A&O and a range of firms to its legal panel, including a segment on how panels work; and
(38:30) Trowers & Hamlins' decision to open an office in Singapore, including a discussion of how law firms operate internationally.
Link to access on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/thefirmanalyst2024-04-141h 00The Firm AnalystS7EP2: Thames Water Going Under Water? Why Gold Hit a Recent High, and the 'Great Maturity Wall'Welcome back everyone to this episode of The Firm Analyst! In this episode, we discussed:
Thames Water's financial struggles and its parent company's recent default on its debt;
Why gold is a systemically important asset and why it was able to reach a new high last week; and
The 'Great Maturity Wall' and how firms like Aston Martin likely avoided an existential debt crisis through one of the debt capital markets' most relied on tools: the 'roll over'.
I hope you enjoy this episode and I look forward to seeing you...2024-04-0850 minThe Firm AnalystS7EP1: The 21st Century Law Firm: Navigating AI and Culture (Slaughter and May Innovation Competition)In this episode, I tackled the following question as part of my submission for Slaughter and May's Innovation Competition:
What are the cultural challenges with integrating generative AI into a law firm? What are the best ways for Slaughter and May to approach these challenges to maximise the successful integration of generative AI across the firm?2024-03-2555 minThe Firm AnalystS6EP4: Sorry...Who's SONIA? Dissecting A Facility AgreementIn this episode, we looked briefly at some of the main stories and deals happening this week, including Nationwide's bid for Virgin Money.
Following this, we took a deep dive into the world of banking and finance by dissecting a standard facility agreement and looking at its terms. This is a great opportunity to see whether finance law is for you.
I hope you enjoy this episode!
Link to access on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/thefirmanalyst2024-03-1155 minThe Firm AnalystS5EP3: M&S Taps Dentons in Planning Dispute, M&A Disputes to Increase, Says BRG and How Mischon is Teaming Up with NVIDIA to Help Start-upsThis was a really analytical episode and I hope that you are as excited to listen as I am excited to publish this episode. We covered the following stories:
Marks & Spencer, instructing Dentons, comes out victorious in a High Court appeal against a decision from the Secretary of State rejecting the retailer's planning application to redevelop a key store in Oxford Street.
The Berkley Research Group released its fifth annual M&A Disputes Report, which revealed that market participants expect disputes in this area to increase in number. We take a look...2024-03-0353 minThe Firm AnalystS6EP2: "Everything Went to Plan"- A Chat with an Islamic Finance Solicitor, Aziz DeenIn this episode, we were graced with the presence of Aziz Deen: an Islamic finance and commercial property solicitor at Foot Anstey LLP. After recounting some of the main stories of the week, I spoke to Aziz about his journey, the lifecycle of a deal and how he uses commercial awareness on a daily basis.
If you're pressed for time, feel free to skip to the 10-minute mark where the interview with Aziz officially begins.
I hope you enjoy this episode. Please be sure to share it with your...2024-02-2542 minThe Firm AnalystS6EP1: Currys Rejects Takeover Bid, UK Falls into Recession and TUI to Delist from London Stock ExchangeWelcome back everyone! It seems unreal saying it but we have successfully reached our sixth season of The Firm Analyst. Thank you so much for your support thus far.
In this episode, we discussed:
Currys PLC rejecting a takeover bid from activist hedge fund Elliot Investment Management and what this means for the company.
The UK officially falling into a recession and how this will affect the property, M&A and legal markets.
The motivations behind and implications of TUI's vote to delist itself from the LSE.
I hope...2024-02-1943 minThe Firm AnalystS5EP4: An Introduction to International Loan FinanceWelcome everyone to this deep dive episode of The Firm Analyst! In this episode, alongside taking stock of major stories to do with Meta's earnings, Tesla shareholder disputes and central bank ambivalence on interest rates, we took a closer look at syndicated lending. As these are one of the most systemically important markets in the world, we decided to look at the history of syndicated loans as a whole and how they are structured today.
I hope you find this episode useful! All the best with your ACs and other applications.2024-02-0554 minThe Firm AnalystS5EP3: It's the CMA...Again, BlackRock Bets on Infrastructure and What's the 'Beef' Stalling UK-Canada Trade Talks?Hello everyone! Welcome back to The Firm Analyst. This week, we bring you in-depth analysis on a range of important stories including:
the CMA opening a formal investigation into the Three x Vodafone merger, the fourth 'mega transaction' it has put under the microscope recently;
BlackRock bets on the infrastructure sector by purchasing Global Infrastructure Partners in the hopes of a boom in government projects; and
UK-Canada post-Brexit trade talks stall as Canada presses for UK-access for its hormone-treated beef and pork.
Probably some of the most fun I've had recording a podcast in...2024-01-2848 minThe Firm AnalystS5EP2: Labour–UK Is Open for Business, Consumer Spending Takes A Worrying Decline & Will Incoming Legislation Save Litigation Funding?Welcome back to this week's episode, I hope all of your applications are going well! Today we discussed:
Labour's plans to take the UK's business offering to a new level as the elections approach;
the government's intention to reverse the effects of the recent Supreme Court judgment in the case of PACCAR, which rendered many litigation funding agreements unenforceable; and
how consumer spending declines are bound to affect different sectors of the UK economy.
2024-01-2233 minThe Firm AnalystS5EP1: Linklaters Swipes Shearman's Global Head, Post Office Compensation and Corporation Tax Questions and How International Businesses Manage Unforeseen RiskIt's already been a very busy start to the year across the globe and The Firm Analyst is no exception. This week we delved into the following topics:
Linklaters' raid on Shearman &.
Sterling's M&A team in New York, including the lateral hire of one of their Global Heads;
how the Post Office's computation of compensation paid to wrongfully accused postmasters may lead to tax challenges; and
how businesses allocate contractual risk amidst events such as the Russia-Ukraine war, COVID-19 and more.
I hope you find this podcast useful and all the...2024-01-1442 minThe Firm AnalystS4EP4:A Year in Review–The Future of Law Firms in The UKThis episode aimed to address some of the main shifts we have seen in the legal market over the course of the year. Some of the biggest stories covered included:
the A&O Shearman merger;
major US firm Paul Weiss' entry into the UK market; and
how firms have coped with the recent transactional downturn.
This marks the last episode of this year! I hope that you have found all of our episodes useful and I look forward to seeing you in the next few weeks God willing.2023-12-3138 minThe Firm AnalystS4EP4: A Year in Review–ESG & Regulation Edition2023 was indeed a mixed bag for ESG. Some reports indicated a reduced return on ESG investments while there have also been significant strides in integrating ESG within a regulatory framework. This was the main focus of this podcast, where we discussed:
incoming FCA regulations targeting greenwashing and CMA action regarding the same;
COP28 and the UAE setting up a specialised $30 billion ESG fund ; and
how this increased interest in ESG is affecting the lateral hire market.
I hope you enjoy this penultimate episode of the year.2023-12-3118 minThe Firm AnalystS4EP4: A Year in Review–Competition & Corporate EditionThis year has seen some of the most significant M&A transactions, from the merger between Vodafone and Three, to the massive combination of Microsoft and Activision. In that light, we decided to discuss a range of stories spanning across competition, M&A and PE, including:
how PE funds are coping with a higher interest rate environment;
the CMA investigations into the Microsoft x Activision and Adobe x Figma mergers; and
the CMA raising questions about Microsoft's increasingly close relationship with OpenAI.
Enjoy the podcast!2023-12-3129 minThe Firm AnalystS4EP4: A Year in Review–Banking & Finance EditionAs crazy as it sounds, this is the final episode of The Firm Analyst this year. I was joined by Waheed Kalungi, a contracts paralegal at UserTesting Inc. and aspiring Trainee Solicitor. Together, we discussed a range of business stories and how they featured throughout the year.
As a lot has happened in 2023, we decided to split this massive two-hour long episode into a few parts, releasing one every few days. In this part, we discussed some of the biggest banking & finance stories of the year, which included:
the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and other...2023-12-2447 minThe Firm AnalystS4EP3: UK Stock Market Revival; London Metal Exchange Faces The Court of Appeal and Whether Safer Banks Means A Weaker ClimateWelcome to the second last episode of this year! I hope you've enjoyed the podcast this far and thank you immensely for helping us reach more than 1,000 views across all episodes.
In this episode, we discussed:
how a possible listing of Boots and SHEIN on the LSE could revive hopes in the UK stock markets;
the London Metal Exchange facing off with major hedge funds in the Court of Appeal in relation to the $3.9 billion in trades it cancelled during a surge in Nickel prices that took place on the exchange last year; and
how a...2023-12-1835 minThe Firm AnalystS4EP2: KPMG UK Swiss Merger, Microsoft v CMA – Round Two & Private Credit Catches BoE's EyeIn this episode of The Firm Analyst, we will be covering a range of exciting new stories including:
discussions of a possible merger between KPMG's UK and Swiss arms;
the CMA asking market participants to comment on the increasingly close partnership between Open AI and Microsoft; and
the Bank of England raising concerns about the vulnerability of the private credit market to an economic downturn.
Be sure to share this episode and I hope that you enjoy it.2023-12-1041 minThe Firm AnalystS4EP1: Employment Law Special with Kevin Poulter: Employment Partner - FreethsWelcome back to The Firm Analyst! In this episode, we switched things up. We brought on Kevin Poulter, a partner in Freeths' employment team to discuss a range of things, including:
Training Contract application and career tips;
the recent Supreme Court judgment in IWUGB v CAC where the employment status of Deliveroo riders was discussed; and
Sam Altman's termination and reinstatement as Open AI's CEO.
I hope you enjoy this episode! Thanks once again for your support throughout this year. 2023-12-0350 minThe Firm AnalystS3EP4: AI: Reinventing The Law Firm as We Know ItHello everyone! Welcome to this episode of The Firm Analyst where we do a deep dive into what the development of AI means for law firms today, what risks and opportunities it poses and how firms can approach this sector as a whole.
In particular, we looked at how law firms manage the risk of AI giving incorrect outputs and the regulatory, insurance and business development considerations that must be taken into account when introducing a new AI product to a firm.
2023-11-1940 minThe Firm AnalystS3EP3: Kirkland Raids Linklaters and Simpson Thacher, Britishvolt On The Brink and FCA To Crack Down On GreenwashingWelcome to the latest episode of The Firm Analyst after a brief pause due to me falling ill. Today we discussed:
Kirkland & Ellis making a range of lateral hires in order to rebuild its debt finance team after the departure of a range of partners and associates to Paul Weiss recently;
rumours that Britishvolt, the UK battery startup, may be trading while insolvent again; and
plans by the FCA to introduce new regulations on greenwashing.
I hope you enjoy this episode!2023-11-1234 minThe Firm AnalystS3EP2: Redundancy Contagion Spreads, PIF Issues Inaugural Islamic Bond and M&G To Close £585m UK FundHello network! Welcome to this episode where we discussed:
How an economic slowdown has caused mass redundancies across the Big Four accountancy firms and a range of UK law firms;
PIF’s inaugural Islamic bond issuance and why Islamic finance is becoming increasingly important in the international capital markets; and
M&G (a major global asset manager) closing its £585m UK retail property fund. 2023-10-2245 minThe Firm AnalystS3EP1: the war for ESG talent, FCA warns against 146+ Crypto firms & Wagamama's parent company receives Apollo bidWelcome back everyone! I'm excited to kick off this season of The Firm Analyst. In this episode, we discussed:
Travers and K&E losing top ESG partners to Freshfields and Paul Hastings respectively and how ESG talent is becoming increasingly sought after in the legal market;
the FCA bringing Cryptocurrencies within the financial promotions regulatory framework and warning against 146 firms within the first 24 hours of the regulation coming into force for alleged breaches; and
Apollo making a firm offer for Wagamama's parent company The Restaurant Group PLC, valuing its shares at £506 mn.
I hope y...2023-10-1538 minThe Firm AnalystS2EP4: Should Law Firms List On A Stock Exchange? A Deep Dive into DWF and Ince GroupWelcome back to the podcast! In the last episode of this season we look deeper into the business of law firms in today's markets. Here are some of the main questions we delved into during the podcast:
Why do law firms decide to list their shares on a stock market?
What are the benefits and challenges associated with a public listing?
What firms are currently listed and how have they performed?2023-10-0240 minThe Firm AnalystS2EP3: DWF vs BCLP on Tesco's Legal Panel, NAV Loans—The PE Deal Paramedic and Chelsea Taps Ares in $500 mn RaiseGood evening listeners! Welcome back to The Firm Analyst.
In this week's episode we discussed:
DWF's appointment to Tesco's real estate legal panel, challenging BCLP's ten-year-long run as Tesco's sole provider;
how PE firms are using Net Asset Value loans to breathe life into their portfolios given the current economic conditions; and
Chelsea's reasons behind raising $500 mn from alternative asset manager Ares Management.
I would highly recommend this podcast for those applying to BCLP...2023-09-2439 minThe Firm AnalystS2EP2: Banks Take A Dip Into Private Credit, Oil Prices Edge Up and UK Offshore Wind Programmes At Risk of Stalling.Hi listeners!
I hope you're excited for the newest episode of The Firm Analyst. In today's episode we discussed:
how banks are responding to the rise of private credit;
the recent hike in oil prices and how this has sparked fears of further interest rate rises; and
the UK government's offshore wind programme failing to attract bidders in its most recent auction.
Feel free to share the podcast and I hope that you will enjoy this episode!2023-09-1843 minThe Firm AnalystS2EP1: Property Prices Dip, CMS Considers Redundancies and US-China Tensions RiseHi everyone
I hope you all enjoyed our very first season of The Firm Analyst and that you are excited for Season 2. Today we will be discussing how interest rates have impacted both the real estate and M&A sectors and how US-China tensions are affecting investors across the globe, including the UK.
Thanks for tuning in and see you again next week God willing!2023-09-1130 minThe Firm AnalystEpisode 4: Battle For The USA–A&O Shearman Merger Case StudyWelcome to our first deep-dive into a commercial awareness topic. In this episode, I discuss:
why many UK-based and international firms are interested in the US;
a key history of attempted expansions into the US by certain firms;
how the 2018—2023 pay war started by US-headquartered firms impacted the UK legal market; and
reasons for and reactions to the A&O Shearman merger.
Thanks for tuning in and I hope you enjoy!2023-08-2854 minThe Firm AnalystEpisode 3: Paul Weiss swipes four from Kirkland, IPOs begin to slow and more.Hi everyone! The third episode of The Firm Analyst is officially out. So far we have nearly reached 100 listens across all episodes, so thank you to everyone for their support so far.
In this episode, we discussed:
how law firms help businesses raise money creatively when interest rates are high;
the recent IPO slump hitting Europe and high-growth companies favouring listing in the USA; and
Paul Weiss beginning its venture into practicing English law through
a range of lateral hires from Kirkland & Ellis.
I hope you enjoy the podcast, feel free to share...2023-08-2032 minThe Firm AnalystEpisode 2: Dentons splits from its China arm, Wilko goes into administration and moreWelcome to this week's episode where we will be focusing on a range of topics, namely:
Dentons splitting from its China arm (1:52);
AG's reported 18% turnover growth (12:32);
Wilko's recent appointment of administrators (25:42); and
how higher interest rates are affecting the securitisation market (39:03).
This podcast will be a bit longer than expected due to the depth covered in each topic, but feel free to scroll through to any story that interests you most. Enjoy!2023-08-1351 minThe Firm AnalystEpisode 1: The "End" of Litigation Funding, Flexible Working Reforms and More.Welcome to the first episode of The Firm Analyst! In this episode I discuss the recent PACCAR & Ors v CAT & Ors case and its effects on the litigation funding industry. We will also take a deep dive into some of the incoming flexible working reforms, Simpson Thacher's lateral hiring strategy and the recent BoE interest rate hike. I hope that you enjoy this episode and that this podcast will continue to support you on your journey to becoming a true firm analyst!
2023-08-0638 min
PanchayatWe Wuz Kangz And Kweenz!!!!!In this week’s episode I sit down with my brother from another mother, Adnan Shafi from the Pariah Nation Podcast as we channel our inner hotep. The conversation covers the history of African kingdoms and royalty, as well as the rich legacy African kingdoms have left not just on the continent but the world. Take a listen to Adnan explain the origin of the mythical El Dorado as I refute the claims of being from lost tribes, as we two KANGZ celebrate our history.2021-02-1255 min