Morning Briefing: Law firm aims to ‘transform the legal profession’

The chair of Dentons has set out some of the firm’s ambitions… Lawyers fight proposal to boost corporate litigation in New York… Minter Ellison moves to new Sydney location…

Dentons chair: “We want to transform the legal profession.”
The chair of Dentons has set out some of the firm’s ambitions which go further than being the world’s largest law firm. As Dentons announced the launch of a new global collaborative innovation platform called NextLaw Labs, chairman Joe Andrew stated: “We don't just want to be the world's largest law firm, we want to transform the legal profession, drive innovation in legal services and bring clients what they want with better quality, more responsiveness and greater value."
NextLaw Labs aims to create a suite of technology innovations by drawing on internal experience of legal processes and partnering with technology firms to develop genuinely effective tools.
 
Lawyers fight proposal to boost corporate litigation in New York
A proposal by lawmakers in New York State would force foreign companies that do business there to be under the jurisdiction of its courts even when actions take place abroad. Lawyers say it is contrary to a recent US Supreme Court ruling that jurisdiction would only be appropriate where a company is based or incorporated in the state. The proposal would include any business registered with the state. Lawyers with foreign clients are particularly opposed to the move warning that it may discourage foreign companies from doing business there. New York has long had a policy of increasing its share of corporate litigation, which is dominated by Delaware.
 
Minter Ellison moves to new Sydney location
Minter Ellison moved to a new office in Sydney on Monday. The firm is now operating from the top 8 levels of Governor Macquarie Tower in what chief executive Tony Harrington says is part of the firm’s policy of creating inspiring workplaces where its people are empowered to innovate and collaborate with each other and with clients. Innovations include electronic ‘sit to stand’ settings on desks and a community workspace called The Plaza including several collaboration zones. Similar design innovations will be rolled out in Perth, Brisbane and Canberra and Melbourne.
 
 

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