Law firms face challenges in the ‘talent business’

The co-managing partner of international law firm WilmerHale says that the investing in talent is crucial to the success of the business “because that’s what we sell to the marketplace.”
Bob Novick told The Washington Post that the firm is a “talent business, and that’s all we are,” but said that giving young lawyers real world professional experience was becoming harder as clients were reluctant to pay for lawyers with less than two years experience.
Meanwhile, a survey by specialist legal recruiter Robert Half reveals that two thirds of law firms say finding skilled talent it a challenge. A third of firms are expecting to increase headcount in the next 6 months and although many are only expecting to fill vacancies, none said they planned to reduce numbers.
 
Baker & McKenzie named best legal team
Baker & McKenzie – and Singapore member firm Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow – has been awarded at WealthBriefingAsia awards in Hong Kong and Singapore.
For the team in Singapore, collecting the ‘best legal team’ award has become a regular event; they have won for the past four years. Dawn Quek, head of the wealth management practice, won the ‘leading individual – advisor’ and ‘women in wealth management’ awards.
For the Hong Kong team, there was also an individual win; Richard Weisman picked up the ‘leading individual – advisor’ award.
 
Unified Patent Court could be delayed by Brexit warns law firm
The introduction of a Unified Patent Court covering 25 European jurisdictions, could be delayed if they UK votes to leave the European Union. That’s the warning from international patent law specialists EIP which has publicly given its backing to the Remain campaign. 
Following its analysis of the issues at stake, the firm believes that there are substantial benefits for IP rights holders if the UK stays in the EU but it says that leaving the EU would likely lead to an indefinite period of legal uncertainty. There could also be a loss of protection for some trademarks and design rights which are held as European patents.