GOING INHOUSE

Companies across Europe are spending less on external and reallocating resources to inhouse legal teams, according to research from Thomson Reuters. The study, involving interviews with 578 general counsels and 2,000 senior decision-makers, found that respondents in Europe spend just half of their legal budgets externally compared to 60% in the UK. It warned firms can no longer rely on overall expansion of demand for growth but said there are opportunities for firms ready to adapt and invest, with new demand driven by factors such as covid-19, Brexit and restructuring. 3 December 2020 'Abysmal' performance by HMRC following pledge to increase criminal prosecutions

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