<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/907018/open_sms">Send us a text</a>As 2025 draws to a close, it feels like 2025 has been an inflection point for the legal sector.While firm financials largely look good, fundamental changes are underway on both sides of the Atlantic.Technology, investment, mergers and even politics all shook the business of law this year.So for the final episode of The Lawyer Podcast in 2025, we take a look back at what has changed for the sector this year, and what it means for 2026.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/907018/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As 2025 draws to a close, it feels like 2025 has been an inflection point for the legal sector.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;While firm financials largely look good, fundamental changes are underway on both sides of the Atlantic.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Technology, investment, mergers and even politics all shook the business of law this year.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;So for the final episode of &lt;em&gt;The Lawyer Podcast&lt;/em&gt; in 2025, we take a look back at what has changed for the sector this year, and what it means for 2026.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us a text As 2025 draws to a close, it feels like 2025 has been an inflection point for the legal sector. While firm financials largely look good, fundamental changes are underway on both sides of the Atlantic. Technology, investment, mergers and even politics all shook the business of law this year. So for the final episode of The Lawyer Podcast in 2025, we take a look back at what has changed for the sector this year, and what it means for 2026. 

Why 2025 marked a turning point for the business of law

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/907018/open_sms">Send us a text</a>Unlike A&amp;O’s tie up with Shearman and Sterling, Ashurst’s announcement that it had agreed a merger did not come as a surprise.The firm had been in the market for a US-merger for more than two decades, yet its new partner, Perkins Coie, did still come as a bit of a surprise.The silver circle firm clearly needed to make its move, but was it the right one?Tune in to the new episode of The Lawyer Podcast as hosts Catrin Griffiths and Christian Smith are joined by Matt Byrne and Nikhil Raj Aggarwal discuss what the move might mean for the two firms, the wider market, and those firms leftover who are still looking for their own merger partner.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/907018/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Unlike A&amp;amp;O’s tie up with Shearman and Sterling, Ashurst’s announcement that it had agreed a merger did not come as a surprise.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The firm had been in the market for a US-merger for more than two decades, yet its new partner, Perkins Coie, did still come as a bit of a surprise.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The silver circle firm clearly needed to make its move, but was it the right one?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Tune in to the new episode of &lt;em&gt;The Lawyer Podcast&lt;/em&gt; as hosts Catrin Griffiths and Christian Smith are joined by Matt Byrne and Nikhil Raj Aggarwal discuss what the move might mean for the two firms, the wider market, and those firms leftover who are still looking for their own merger partner.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us a text Unlike A&amp;O’s tie up with Shearman and Sterling, Ashurst’s announcement that it had agreed a merger did not come as a surprise. The firm had been in the market for a US-merger for more than two decades, yet its new partner, Perkins Coie, did still come as a bit of a surprise. The silver circle firm clearly needed to make its move, but was it the right one? Tune in to the new episode of The Lawyer Podcast as hosts Catrin Griffiths and Christian Smith are joined by Matt Byrne ...

The unfiltered take on the Ashurst Perkins Coie merger

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/907018/open_sms">Send us a text</a>The Lawyer’s editor Catrin Griffiths and director of insight Matt Byrne are back from a fact-finding mission in New York, and merger mania is gripping the city’s lawyers.As firms seek scale, reach and private capital clients, some of the oldest firms in the Big Apple are pondering how a tie up could help their bottom line.And while private equity investment into firms is all the rage in the UK, in the US it is starting to gain traction as well.So in the new episode of The Lawyer Podcast, Catrin and Matt recount what they learned on their adventure across New York last week…

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/907018/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Lawyer’s&lt;/em&gt; editor Catrin Griffiths and director of insight Matt Byrne are back from a fact-finding mission in New York, and merger mania is gripping the city’s lawyers.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;As firms seek scale, reach and private capital clients, some of the oldest firms in the Big Apple are pondering how a tie up could help their bottom line.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;And while private equity investment into firms is all the rage in the UK, in the US it is starting to gain traction as well.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;So in the new episode of The Lawyer Podcast, Catrin and Matt recount what they learned on their adventure across New York last week…&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us a text The Lawyer’s editor Catrin Griffiths and director of insight Matt Byrne are back from a fact-finding mission in New York, and merger mania is gripping the city’s lawyers. As firms seek scale, reach and private capital clients, some of the oldest firms in the Big Apple are pondering how a tie up could help their bottom line. And while private equity investment into firms is all the rage in the UK, in the US it is starting to gain traction as well. So in the new episode of The La...

Merger mania hits New York

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/907018/open_sms">Send us a text</a>Tax rises for partnerships may be on the way in next month’s Budget – and potentially big ones at that.Many lawyers were left shocked after the news broke last week that the Government is considering adding the equivalent of employer’s national insurance onto partnerships.So on the new episode of The Lawyer Podcast, we ask what that might mean for a range of firms, whether it is a good idea (or just good politics), what firms might do about it, and what friend of the show and former Clifford Chance head of tax Dan Neidle thinks…You can read The Lawyer’s piece on the idea from 2022 here:<a href='https://www.thelawyer.com/the-treasury-could-tax-commercial-law-firms-an-extra-1bn-and-theyd-barely-notice/'>https://www.thelawyer.com/the-treasury-could-tax-commercial-law-firms-an-extra-1bn-and-theyd-barely-notice/</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/907018/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Tax rises for partnerships may be on the way in next month’s Budget – and potentially big ones at that.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Many lawyers were left shocked after the news broke last week that the Government is considering adding the equivalent of employer’s national insurance onto partnerships.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;So on the new episode of &lt;em&gt;The Lawyer Podcast&lt;/em&gt;, we ask what that might mean for a range of firms, whether it is a good idea (or just good politics), what firms might do about it, and what friend of the show and former Clifford Chance head of tax Dan Neidle thinks…&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;You can read &lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Lawyer’s&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt; piece on the idea from 2022 here:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.thelawyer.com/the-treasury-could-tax-commercial-law-firms-an-extra-1bn-and-theyd-barely-notice/'&gt;https://www.thelawyer.com/the-treasury-could-tax-commercial-law-firms-an-extra-1bn-and-theyd-barely-notice/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us a text Tax rises for partnerships may be on the way in next month’s Budget – and potentially big ones at that. Many lawyers were left shocked after the news broke last week that the Government is considering adding the equivalent of employer’s national insurance onto partnerships. So on the new episode of The Lawyer Podcast, we ask what that might mean for a range of firms, whether it is a good idea (or just good politics), what firms might do about it, and what friend of the show and...

Let's tax all the lawyers!

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/907018/open_sms">Send us a text</a>Private equity investment in law firms has accelerated in the past 12 months. Essentially every UK200 law firm in the country has been approached, and many have already accepted the opportunity. Now the question is whether firms at the top of the market might join in.But is it actually a good idea? Can law firms offer the rapid turnaround that private equity demands? Or is it just a chance for equity partners to cash in and retire, leaving behind them a mess for their firms?The Lawyer Podcast investigates.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/907018/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Private equity investment in law firms has accelerated in the past 12 months. Essentially every UK200 law firm in the country has been approached, and many have already accepted the opportunity. Now the question is whether firms at the top of the market might join in.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;But is it actually a good idea? Can law firms offer the rapid turnaround that private equity demands? Or is it just a chance for equity partners to cash in and retire, leaving behind them a mess for their firms?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Lawyer&lt;/em&gt; Podcast investigates.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us a text Private equity investment in law firms has accelerated in the past 12 months. Essentially every UK200 law firm in the country has been approached, and many have already accepted the opportunity. Now the question is whether firms at the top of the market might join in. But is it actually a good idea? Can law firms offer the rapid turnaround that private equity demands? Or is it just a chance for equity partners to cash in and retire, leaving behind them a mess for their firms? T...

Private equity: a poisoned chalice?

Hosted by editor Catrin Griffiths and litigation editor Christian Smith, every second Thursday The Lawyer Podcast brings you our take on the top stories, trends and views moving the legal market. For more news, analysis and data, go to www.thelawyer.com. The Lawyer Podcast can be contacted at podcast@thelawyer.com.

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