Counsel Culture: The Business of Law Podcast

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Counsel Culture is your weekly digest of the biggest news stories in the UK Legal Market, brought to you by Byfield. 

  1. FEB 6

    Happy Associates, Mega Paydays and the Magic Circle

    This week, Linzi is joined by Alex Novarese, former Legal Business Editor and Head of Content and Digital Marketing at HSF Kramer. The pair discuss the latest RollOnFriday Best Law Firms to Work At 2026 survey, which shows improving morale across the profession despite ongoing frustrations around pay, before turning to Taylor Wessing’s financials, where a £10.3m top-earner figure highlights widening partner pay gaps ahead of the firm’s approved transatlantic merger with Winston & Strawn. They also examine how the Magic Circle firms have performed in recent years, as traditional UK elites face sustained pressure from global competitors and shifting client demands. Thank you for Listening!

    21 min

  2. JAN 23

    Private Equity in Legal, European Alliances Unravel, and Faster Merger Clearances

    Linzi and Ben explore the growing role of private equity investment within the legal sector and what it could mean for the future shape and ownership of law firms. They also examine the unraveling of a decade-long alliance between four leading European firms, Gide Loyrette Nouel, Chiomenti, Gleiss Lutz and Cuatrecasas, spanning 27 offices and around 2,000 lawyers across the continent. The pair also discuss how the UK’s merger clearance process is being sped up with government backing and what it means for deal scrutiny, after the CMA blocked no mergers last year. Finally, they look at how some general counsel are being drawn into succession planning conversations, including the question of whether GCs should play a role in hiring their own successors, before turning to Osborne Clarke’s data-driven approach to sustainability and decarbonisation planning. Thank you for Listening!

    19 min

  3. JAN 15

    Georgina Bennett-Warner on the Strategy, Process and People Behind a Rebrand

    Linzi is joined by Georgina Bennett-Warner, Head of Marketing at Wedlake Bell, to unpack what it really takes to deliver a successful law firm rebrand - from recognising the early signs that your brand is no longer fit for purpose to managing the internal change that comes with it. They explore how Georgina and team built an inclusive branding committee spanning all levels of the firm, the tools and tactics that helped bring people along during the launch, and how Wedlake Bell balanced its heritage with a more modern identity. The conversation also looks at what “bedding in” the brand means in practice, how success is measured beyond the visuals, and what Georgina would do differently next time. Thank you for Listening!

    34 min

  4. 12/19/2025

    A Conversation with Kindleworth

    This week, Linzi was joined by Michael Estill and Sam Nicholls from Kindleworth to explore why more partners are leaving big law to launch boutique firms — and what it really takes to make a successful spin-out work. Drawing on Kindleworth’s experience supporting dozens of new firm launches, they unpack the motivations behind going independent and the realities partners need to confront before taking the leap. The conversation also looks at how to assess whether a spin-out is genuinely viable versus moving firms and how Kindleworth’s operational model differs from traditional big law support. The episode closes with a forward-looking discussion on platform firms and specialisation, and practical advice for lawyers who are “thinking about it” but haven’t yet made the move. Thank you for Listening!

    37 min

  5. 12/05/2025

    PE Expansion, Merger PR Challenges and AI Redefining Roles

    In this week’s episode, Linzi and Ben explore the rise of private equity investment in the legal industry and what it signals for the future of law firm ownership. They also break down A&O Shearman’s first post-merger accounts and discuss just how challenging it is to manage PR around major legal mergers. The pair also discuss Clifford Chance’s move to cut around 10% of its London business services roles, before turning to the 2025 Budget and the government’s decision to scrap planned national insurance increases for LLP Partners. Thank you for Listening!

    22 min

  6. 11/14/2025

    McDermott’s PE Play, Karp Heckled & Treasury Retreats

    In this week’s episode, Linzi and Ben unpack McDermott Will & Schulte’s exploration of outside private equity investment, and the rowdy reception Paul Weiss chair Brad Karp received while discussing the Trump deal at a New York Bar Foundation event. They also dive into news that the Treasury’s proposed tax move on partnerships may be softer than originally feared, and more.  Thank you for Listening!

    15 min

  7. 10/24/2025

    AI Law Firms Emerge, Regulators Step In and Transparency Takes the Stand

    In this week’s episode, Michael and Eleanor discuss AI law firm Garfield taking on a trainee in Channel 4’s latest experiment, the rise of a New York-based law firm operating fully remotely without associates and powered by AI, new moves toward greater tax regulation transparency, the FCA’s decision to take on responsibility for anti-money laundering in the legal sector, the court transparency pilot, and more.  Thank you for Listening!

    25 min

  8. 10/17/2025

    Law Firms Push Back, AI Transforms the C-Suite and Private Equity Expansion

    Exciting news! Our Associate Director, Linzi, will be hosting the podcast going forward, bringing insights and conversations from across the legal industry.  In this week’s episode, Linzi is joined by Joint Managing Director Ben to discuss law firms pushing back on the latest lawmaker letters, the impact that AI has had on big law’s C-Suite, Setfords receiving private equity backing and the impact it’s had, the latest ALM 200 results, and more.  If you'd like to read any of the stories mentioned in today's episode, the links are below:  https://www.thelawyer.com/not-heard-of-setfords-you-have-now/   https://www.law.com/2025/10/13/taylor-wessing-garrigues-and-europes-top-earners-win-big-with-bold-global-strategies/   https://www.law.com/2025/10/10/paul-weiss-kirkland-skadden-push-back-on-latest-democratic-lawmaker-letters/   https://www.law.com/2025/10/14/big-laws-c-suite-shifts-focus-as-ai-impact-spreads/   https://www.thelawyer.com/youre-not-ready-for-the-ipo-rebound/ Thank you for Listening!

    23 min
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Counsel Culture is your weekly digest of the biggest news stories in the UK Legal Market, brought to you by Byfield. 

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