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Data center growth is reshaping U.S. real estate: What does it mean for legal teams?

  • Posted October 26, 2026
Contents Share Key insights Data centers have become a major area of U.S. commercial real estate. Demand from AI, cloud computing and hyperscale operators is accelerating investment in digital infrastructure. JLL’s report, data center demand exceeds expectations in H1 2026 , shows how quickly that demand is growing. AI data centers and hyperscale data centers […]
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Legal readiness and enterprise value: what professional services firms must get right before investment or sale

  • Posted October 22, 2026
Contents Share Key insights Private equity investment continues to reshape the professional services market.   While much of the activity to date has focused on accountancy and financial advisory businesses, investors are increasingly looking at consulting, executive search, compliance, legal services and other specialist advisory firms. Recent transactions involving businesses such as Azets, Cooper Parry and […]
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Why risk management skills are increasingly critical for legal professionals 

  • Posted October 22, 2026
Contents Share Key insights The role of in-house legal teams has evolved significantly in recent years. Legal professionals are not just expected to advise after an issue arises. They are increasingly asked to anticipate potential problems, assess their impact and help organizations mitigate business risk.  This is backed by the latest data from our 2026 […]
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Why lawyers are leaving law firms for in-house technology companies

  • Posted October 20, 2026
Contents Share Key insights The legal profession is experiencing a notable shift. Changing workplace culture, personal and professional goals, and the enticing growth of technology companies are driving a move from private practice to in-house.  While moving from private practice to in-house is not new, the pace at which lawyers are gravitating towards high-growth technology […]
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The expanding remit for in-house legal (and the breaking point)

  • Posted October 19, 2026
Contents Share Key insights Over the past few years, the role of an in-house legal leader has expanded significantly, often taking on more non-traditional responsibilities and exerting greater influence at the executive level. This growing influence brings opportunities, but it also creates pressure. As new technologies gather pace and budgets remain constrained, the support available to […]
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UK and Ireland in-house legal recruitment market update Q4

  • Posted October 15, 2026
Contents Key insights Corporate and commercial, London Banking and financial services, London Regional UK Ireland Corporate and commercial, London Q3 saw the in-house legal market remain resilient, although hiring activity was more measured than in the first half of the year. Businesses continued to invest in legal talent where there was a clear business case, […]
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North America in-house legal market update Q4

  • Posted October 9, 2026
Contents Key insights As we head into Q4, energy stands out as an important area of demand for organizations hiring in-house legal professionals across North America. We are seeing opportunities across the sector, from traditional oil and gas businesses to renewables and infrastructure.  That demand is not limited to one established legal center. Hiring activity […]
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Southern Europe’s rise in mid-market PE and what it means for legal hiring

  • Posted October 9, 2026
Contents Share Key insights Southern Europe has emerged as one of the most attractive regions for mid-market private equity investment. Spain, Italy and Portugal are attracting growing interest from both domestic and international funds, driven by strong founder-owned businesses, succession opportunities and a growing number of companies entering periods of transformation and international expansion.  One of the […]
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AI for in-house legal teams: what works, what doesn’t and what’s next

  • Posted October 7, 2026
Contents Share Artificial intelligence has rapidly moved from an emerging technology to a strategic consideration for in-house legal teams. The conversation is no longer centred on whether lawyers should use AI, but on where it can deliver meaningful value, where caution is needed and how legal professionals can adapt as the technology evolves. At a […]
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Five capabilities that matter in a first General Counsel hire for life sciences

  • Posted October 7, 2026
Contents Share Key insights When a life sciences or pharmaceutical business is ready to make its first senior legal appointment, our in-house legal recruitment team helps leaders define the capabilities the role must cover before they go to market. A funding round, clinical milestone, licensing agreement or move towards commercialisation can all create pressure to […]
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Where are regional businesses struggling to hire lawyers?

  • Posted September 22, 2026
Contents Share Key insights The UK regional in-house legal market continues to evolve at pace. Over the last decade, businesses across Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and other regional centres have invested heavily in legal capability, creating increasingly sophisticated legal functions outside London.  While this growth has created exciting opportunities for lawyers, it has also intensified talent competition. Many employers are finding […]
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From General Counsel to CEO: how legal leaders can make the leap

  • Posted September 22, 2026
Contents Share Key insights Katherine Potter (Katie) has led a public company as CEO and served as General Counsel in listed and private equity-backed businesses. She explains why the move from legal adviser to business leader starts long before the title changes, and what ambitious GCs can do now to prepare for it. For many […]
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How tech and life sciences companies should hire legal leaders for growth

  • Posted September 4, 2026
Contents Share Key insights High-growth companies rarely need the same legal function for long.  A technology startup may initially need support with intellectual property and commercial contracts before enterprise growth, AI adoption or international expansion changes the legal brief. A life sciences company may move from fundraising and IP protection into clinical development, licensing and commercialization.  The challenge is recognising when […]
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What does a data centre lawyer do? Understanding one of the legal market’s most elusive skill sets

  • Posted September 3, 2026
Contents Share Key insights What is the remit of a data centre lawyer? It is a question we are being asked with increasing frequency by C-suite leaders preparing to make their first General Counsel hire, by existing in-house legal teams assessing where their capability gaps lie, and by lawyers themselves trying to understand how to […]
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Why more businesses are building in-house legal teams in UK regions

  • Posted September 2, 2026
Contents Share Key insights The UK’s in-house legal recruitment market has evolved significantly over the past decade. Businesses across Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and other major UK centres are building established legal functions, creating more choice over where organisations hire and where lawyers build their careers. This is not simply a shift away from London. It […]
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Building a legal team? Why an interim General Counsel could be your first hire

  • Posted September 2, 2026
Contents Share Key insights For many growing businesses, hiring General Counsel and Legal Directors is a significant milestone. The challenge is knowing exactly when the business is ready for a permanent legal leader, understanding the difference between a General Counsel or Chief Legal Officer, and what that role should ultimately look like. Rather than recruiting […]
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The talent advantage in private equity exits

  • Posted August 28, 2026
Contents Share Key insights At a recent forum hosted with a leading mid-market private equity fund, portfolio company leaders were asked to identify their two biggest priorities when preparing for an exit or IPO. The results were fascinating. The overwhelming focus was on balancing exit preparation with business-as-usual delivery. Understandably, management teams are under immense […]
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How in-house legal recruitment is changing in Toronto

  • Posted July 8, 2026
Contents Share Key insights Toronto remains one of Canada’s most active legal hiring markets, but the conversation has shifted. The biggest challenge facing employers is no longer simply finding legal talent. It is understanding what experienced in-house lawyers want from their next role and adapting hiring strategies accordingly. Across Canada, legal teams are taking on […]
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How European regulatory change is reshaping legal hiring in private equity

  • Posted July 7, 2026
Contents Key insights European private equity has always operated across borders, but the challenges facing legal teams are changing. While navigating multiple jurisdictions remains important, the bigger issue for many investors, portfolio companies and management teams is preparing for a wave of regulatory developments that will shape transactions, governance and value creation over the coming […]
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What data centre investment means for infrastructure lawyers

  • Posted July 3, 2026
Contents Key insights Over the past decade, infrastructure investment has undergone a quiet but profound transformation. Traditionally anchored in assets such as roads, ports, and utilities, infrastructure funds are now allocating significant capital to digital assets: most notably, data centres. This shift has been driven by the exponential growth of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, streaming […]
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European in-house legal market update Q3

  • Posted July 1, 2026
Contents Key insights Speaking with clients and candidates across Europe this quarter, there is a clear sense that in-house legal teams are operating in a more complex and more visible environment than even a year ago. Shifting regulation, geopolitical pressure and ongoing economic uncertainty are reshaping both hiring priorities and the role of legal within […]
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Public, private or PE-backed business: what’s the difference for a GC in Europe? 

  • Posted June 26, 2026
Contents Share Key insights   The title may stay the same, but the role of a general counsel can look very different depending on ownership structure. A GC operating within a listed multinational faces a very different set of expectations to one supporting a founder-led private business or a private equity-backed portfolio company.  Across Europe, these differences are becoming more pronounced as organisations […]
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Thinking around corners: a private equity GC’s view on anticipating risk

  • Posted June 25, 2026
Contents Key insights Nikki Newton sat down with Bryn Grassia Jones, General Counsel at Salica, to talk about the realities of operating as a GC in a VC and growth fund environment, and why the ability to anticipate risk, rather than simply react to it, has become one of the most important qualities in the […]
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What UK tech firms look for in in-house legal hires

  • Posted June 25, 2026
Contents Key insights The UK technology sector has evolved significantly over the past decade, and so too have expectations of in-house lawyers. While technical legal excellence remains important, the most successful technology companies are increasingly seeking lawyers who can serve as strategic business partners, support growth agendas, and navigate rapidly evolving regulatory frameworks. When hiring […]
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How to build a career in legal operations

  • Posted June 18, 2026
Contents Key insights Legal operations is one of the most interesting career paths in in-house legal today because it sits at the point where legal advice, business strategy, technology and process improvement all meet. For junior professionals, that makes it a particularly strong route into a long-term in-house legal career. You do not need to […]
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How Ontario’s pay transparency legislation is changing legal recruitment

  • Posted June 16, 2026
Contents Share Key insights Ontario’s new pay transparency requirements are set to change more than just job postings. For organizations investing in in-house legal recruitment, they are likely to influence hiring processes, candidate expectations and compensation conversations across the province.  Introduced through the Working for Workers Four Act (Bill 149), the legislation requires Ontario employers to include a salary range or range […]
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The modern GC: culture, conduct and the judgement no one trains you for

  • Posted June 11, 2026
Contents Key insights The role of the general counsel is evolving in ways that are not always captured in formal job descriptions. While much attention has been given to the expanding scope of the role and the increasing regulatory burden, the more fundamental shift is subtler. Many of the most challenging aspects of being a […]
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Stepping into a PE-backed business: a GC’s perspective

  • Posted May 15, 2026
Contents Key insights Georgia Morgan Wynne spoke to Kristin McFetridge, General Counsel at MVF Global, about the realities of stepping into a private equity-backed business and why success in the role has less to do with law, and more to do with judgment, pace and people. It’s rarely the legal work that’s the challenge For […]
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The art of the exit: A guide for general counsels in PE‑backed businesses

  • Posted April 24, 2026
Exits are among the most intense and consequential moments in the life of a private equity‑backed business. They compress timelines, amplify scrutiny and place legal judgement at the centre of decision‑making, often alongside high expectations from sponsors, management teams and advisers. For General Counsels (GCs), the exit process is rarely just a transaction. It’s a […]

Why 2026 is a turning point for Europe’s in-house legal teams

  • Posted March 25, 2026
Legal departments across Europe are balancing complex geopolitical pressures, rapid digital transformation and rising expectations around ESG, data protection and sustainability. At the same time, organisations are reshaping their operating models, and legal leaders are redefining what effective legal work looks like in an AI-driven environment. According to LinkedIn, continental Europe has nearly 900,000 in-house […]
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Why demand for employment lawyers in the UK and Europe is surging in 2025-2026

  • Posted March 23, 2026
Over the past nine to twelve months, demand for employment lawyers has increased markedly across both private practice and in‑house teams in the UK and Europe. This is not a short‑term spike driven by cyclical hiring. It reflects a broader structural shift in how organisations manage people risk, compliance and workforce change, a trend increasingly […]

The role of venture capital in North America’s energy transition – and the impact on legal hiring

  • Posted March 20, 2026
We’ve already discussed how the North American energy transition and AI driven infrastructure will reshape legal hiring, but what role does venture capital (VC) play in this scenario? VC has become a central force accelerating North America’s energy transition, transforming research breakthroughs into commercial energy solutions. Global clean‑energy investment reached record levels in 2024 and continued rising […]
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Stepping up: How heads of legal can progress into the general counsel role

  • Posted March 19, 2026
The transition from head of legal to general counsel (GC) has become an increasingly significant career step within organisations. While both roles require extensive legal expertise, the GC position carries a broader strategic remit, encompassing enterprise-wide risk management, governance oversight and senior leadership responsibilities. As organisations face heightened regulatory expectations, operational complexity and evolving commercial […]
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What UK interim in-house lawyers look for in day rates: expectations vs reality

  • Posted March 5, 2026
The interim legal market has evolved and grown significantly in the UK over the past 10 years, driven by shifting economic conditions, corporate transformation, digital and automation initiatives, headcount freezes and sustained demand for specialist in-house legal skills. Against this backdrop, one question consistently sits at the centre of conversations with interim in‑house lawyers when […]
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Hiring employment counsel in 2026: What financial services leaders need

  • Posted March 1, 2026
Financial services organisations, both listed and privately owned, are navigating one of the most active and complex deal environments seen in many years. M&A activity has accelerated, operating models are being re‑engineered and expectations on legal, people and governance teams have grown significantly. Consolidation continues across banking, insurance, asset and wealth management, fintech and payments, […]
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Why private equity investment into professional services is reshaping in‑house legal growth in 2026

  • Posted February 24, 2026
Hiring across legal teams in professional services accelerated through 2025, and early signs suggest that momentum is continuing into 2026. A central driver is the rise of private equity (PE) investment into legal, consulting and accounting platforms, which is changing how organisations scale, modernise and manage risk. Rather than viewing legal and advisory as static […]
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What does a legal operations professional do?

  • Posted January 24, 2026
Legal operations has become one of the most important functions within modern in‑house legal teams. As organisations scale, digitise and face increasing regulatory and commercial pressure, the expectations placed on legal teams have expanded considerably. Legal operations professionals help bridge this gap by enabling legal functions to work smarter, move faster and deliver more consistent […]
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AI adoption in legal functions across Europe and the impact of the EU AI Act

  • Posted January 23, 2026
Across Europe, artificial intelligence is moving rapidly from a theoretical discussion to a practical reality for in-house legal teams. From generative AI and automation to AI-powered legal tech platforms, organisations are reassessing how AI fits into the modern legal function and what this means for legal work, governance and talent.  The use of AI across in-house legal teams is being […]
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The changing expectations of the US in-house legal market

  • Posted December 8, 2025
The US in-house legal market is evolving as both employers and candidates adjust to new expectations, shifting priorities and growing internal capability needs. Conversations with Jon Coles and John Spinosa highlight how legal departments are responding to these pressures, what legal professionals value today and why international companies operating in the US are rethinking how […]

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General Counsel in media, entertainment and sport networking breakfast

  • Tue, 17 November 2026 8:30 am – 10:30 am
How are legal leaders in media navigating today’s shifting landscape, from regulatory pressures to evolving business models? We are excited to be running another one of our General Counsel breakfasts, designed specifically for legal leaders in media, entertainment and sport. Hosted in London’s West End by the Taylor Root in-house legal recruitment experts Davina Fisher, […]
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Legal leaders in fintech: The AI adoption challenge

  • Thu, 19 November 2026 8:30 am – 10:30 am
As AI becomes more embedded in legal and compliance functions, legal leaders face a challenge that goes beyond choosing the right technology. How do you select the right solutions, encourage meaningful adoption and ensure their use is ethical and legally sound, while managing expectations across the wider business? This discussion will explore the practical realities […]

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