In both law firms and other businesses, the conversation around organisational diversity is in many ways more fervent, active, and engaged than ever before. Prominent figures in the profession make bold declarations about their belief in the positive contribution increased diversity brings, and firm websites are not considered complete without a visible commitment to improve their inclusivity. It would seem that everyone is aware of the problem, and is vociferous about their attempts to tackle it. However, the numbers show that the needle is barely moving. The legal profession appears to be stuck at the point of discussion, and the measures that have thus far been implemented - which typically include token changes in company policy and written charters and agreements - can more resemble posturing than steps to achieve real change. The challenge, then, for any law firm which recognizes that diversity is a force for innovation and seeks to genuinely make a change, is finding those actions that do make an obvious and measurable difference. What can be done, and where does one find the practical advice needed to instigate the change? Packed with constructive guidance and compelling insight from industry experts and thought leaders, The Diversity Agenda: Lessons and Guidance from the Legal Profession seeks to provide the answer to these questions. Moving past the identification of an obvious problem, this book will instead offer effective solutions to those endeavoring to maximize their firm's potential through the benefits diversification can bring. The Diversity Agenda: Lessons and Guidance from the Legal Profession aims to supply a unique perspective from authors who have experienced institutional challenges and obstacles, providing proactive steps to take in order to negotiate them. Expert advice is also supplemented by real-world examples of pragmatic, effective and award-winning diversity initiatives that are being pioneered by both international and regional law firms.

The convergence of changes in the legal landscape - wider economic pressures, the growing implementation of legal technologies, the disrupting influence of alternative service providers and their competitive pricing offerings - mean that the corporatization of the law firm is well underway. The "business of law" is now more of a priority than ever before, with procurement and pricing professionals playing increasingly significant roles within firms and a growing focus towards the measurement and analysis of profit, rather than simply its generation, becoming apparent. With this becoming common practice, it is now essential for those at the helm of their firm's profitability to take a deep dive into its real fundamentals. The Future of Profitability Models and Analysis for Law Firms provides this kind of comprehensive exploration into the recent and revolutionary approaches firms are adopting in their pursuit of greater returns in this current period of renaissance for the law. Featuring contributions from field experts and thought leaders - including pricing directors, chief financial officers, and management consultants - combines trendspotting, exploratory intelligence with case studies and real-world examples of best practice to act as a launchpad for application and instruction.

The world of data, analytics, and technology is relatively unexplored in the legal arena, due to the traditionally conservative and risk-averse nature of the legal environment. However, we are approaching a reality in which data is the most precious resource of practically every single organization. Law firms should be no different. The buzz around intelligence functions and initiatives places constant emphasis on their immediate necessity; the narrative runs that firms need to invest both time and resources into their own competitive and business intelligence efforts, and complementing technologies and tools, to avoid being left behind. The fact that these disciplines are in their infancy - with their very definitions in flux and varying between different practices - does not make it any easier. The goalposts are constantly moving, and it is common for multiple BI and CI initiatives and practices to be distributed across the breadth of the firm, from the marketing and finance departments to the library. The challenge, then, when attempting to build robust intelligence functions within a law firm is not only to mature these efforts but also to facilitate collaboration and ensure they are centralized. The ABCs: Integrating artificial, business and competitive intelligence in the modern law firm acts as a practical roadmap for how to achieve exactly that, taking a deep dive into the developing disciplines of AI, BI, and CI and their potential synergies, featuring expert contributions from industry leaders covering a wide range of the most pressing issues - from how to make business development processes more systemic utilizing AI technologies, to real-world examples of competitive intelligence initiatives and their lifecycle.

The European Union Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive is the most sweeping AML legislation ever to have been introduced in Europe. It aims to strengthen the existing rules, prioritising the fight against tax avoidance, money laundering and terrorism financing by reinforcing the necessity of measures such as risk assessments, setting clear requirements about beneficial ownership, and expanding the definition of a politically exposed person. This second edition of Anti-money Laundering Compliance for Law Firms is intended as both handbook and guide, advising on practical implementation of the Directive's mandates and assisting European law firms in remaining compliant. It will also act as a best-practice toolkit for firms practising beyond Europe. Featuring contributions from a range of experts in the field - from barristers specialising in financial crime to compliance experts and consultants - this timely publication provides the latest intelligence on successful adherence to the Fourth Directive, along with an anticipatory exploration into the possible effects of the upcoming Fifth Directive and changes within the regulatory landscape.

We live in an information age. In both our personal and professional lives, we are consistently bombarded with data in various forms; through our interactions with technologies in our homes and workplaces, we are also constantly generating data. Information has arguably become the most valuable resource of all businesses. With the right data - and the appropriate tools for gathering and processing it - the key to success for any organization seems to be within easy reach. When correctly utilized, data analytics can contribute to the construction of meaningful information patterns, identifying opportunities to boost profitability, and improve product quality and service delivery. However, the essential problem lies in the sheer quantity of available data. With such a tsunami of information, it can be difficult to know where to start. This book aims to be a starting point for implementation.