Grant Thornton triples paternity leave offering as talent war continues October 5, 2022 Grant Thornton has tripled the length of its paid paternity leave offering from two to six weeks as the UK’s top accounting firms have increasingly turned to offering staff perks and benefits in their efforts to recruit and retain talent. The accounting firm will offer its staff six weeks of paid paternity leave from [...]
Goodwin to move staff from Hong Kong to set up in shop in Singapore October 4, 2022 Goodwin Procter has become the latest law firm to set up in Singapore, after outlining plans to relocate staff from Hong Kong. The Boston founded law firm’s new Singapore offices will become its second location in Asia, after Goodwin opened its Hong Kong office in 2008. The launch is set to see two Goodwin partners, [...]
FCA vows to take action against insurers falling short on business interruption claims October 4, 2022 The UK’s financial watchdog has warned insurers are falling short of its requirements in their handling of business interruption (BI) claims. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said it will “consider using all regulatory tools” it has available to ensure insurers meet its standards after a review carried out by the watchdog determined insurers have “fallen [...]
Criminals turn to cross-blockchain tools to hide billions in cryptocurrencies October 4, 2022 Criminals are using complex new blockchain technologies to hide and launder billions in ill gotten gains. At least $4bn (£3.6bn) worth of illicit crypto-assets has been laundered via various “cross-chain” technologies, that let both legitimate and illegitimate users move funds between blockchains, analytics firm Elliptic said. Decentralised exchanges (DEXs), cross-chain bridges, and coin-swap services are [...]
Gateley bolsters patent practice by snapping up biotech specialist law firm Symbiosis IP October 4, 2022 Gateley has acquired specialist biotech patent attorney firm Symbiosis for c.£2.5m as the listed law firm pushes forwards with plans to bolster its intellectual property (IP) offerings. The AIM-listed company’s acquisition comes just months after it snapped up Nottingham patent and trademark specialist Adamson Jones in January. The £2.5m deal will see Gateley pay £1.5m [...]
Deloitte to let UK staff cash in on pensions with new flexibility policy October 3, 2022 Deloitte is set to let its UK staff take their pensions contributions as cash payments on top of their salaries as part of a new “flexible pensions” policy announced by the firm today. The accounting firm today told 22,000 of its UK staff it will let them receive cash payments on top of their pay [...]
UK blocks Russia from buying professional services following annexation of Ukrainian regions October 3, 2022 The UK has placed new sanctions on Russia, blocking its citizens and businesses from purchasing an array of services from British firms, over the Kremlin’s decision to annex four regions of Ukraine. The new sanctions seek to further damage Russia’s economy by hindering the country’s access to IT consultancy, architectural, engineering, accounting, and commercial legal [...]
Hurricane Ian set to cost insurers £27-36bn October 3, 2022 The category 4 storm Hurricane Ian that hit the southwest coast of Florida earlier this month is set to cost insurers $30- 40bn (£27- £36bn), according to new analysis from S&P Global. However, US insurers are currently well positioned to absorb losses in having sufficient reserves to weather any financial hit, the ratings agency said [...]
Ashurst seeks to capitalise on consulting boom with launch of UK advice business October 3, 2022 City law firm Ashurst is set to expand its services offering by launching a UK consulting business. The Silver Circle firm plans to build on the successes it has had in Australia by launching a London based risk advisory business. Ashurst’s new consulting business will be led by a trio made up of current Ashurst [...]
Socially conscious insurer Lemonade makes first entry into UK market October 3, 2022 New York insuretech company Lemonade Inc today launched in the UK market with a view to disrupting Britain’s centuries-old insurance sector with its socially-conscious, AI-driven business model. The digital insurer aims to break the “cycle of distrust that plagues the insurance industry” with its pledge to cap its margins at 25 per cent by donating [...]
