Table of Contents

• EDITOR’S RAMBLE 🗣

• FEATURED REPORT 📰

• IN OTHER NEWS 🗞

• AROUND THE WEB 🌐

• STUFF THAT MIGHT HELP YOU 👌

EDITOR’S RAMBLE 🗣

Last week, I mentioned I was going to the LegalTechTalk conference.

And a lot of you asked for a summary of what went on.

So I sat at the front of every talk, and took notes (it felt like uni).

Here’s what I learnt:

1️⃣ Some law firms are buying tech companies — and it's paying off

Law firm Cleary Gottlieb didn't just license AI software — they bought an entire company (Springbok AI).

Here's what happened:

• The AI helped them turn complex data into clear visuals for court cases

• They started winning cases they couldn't win before

• Clients got faster results at a lower cost with better outcomes

The lesson: Instead of just using tech, some firms are owning it completely. What started as a tool became their secret weapon.

2️⃣ How lawyers work is badly outdated

Technology teams are shocked at how many emails lawyers get (200+ daily) and how little structure there is in day-to-day communication.

No Slack. No proper systems. Just overflowing inboxes.

Someone from the tech world can immediately see inefficiencies in how lawyers work.

3️⃣ Most legal work isn’t as unique as lawyers think

While lawyers like to say their work is too complex to automate, much of it follows repeatable structures.

That’s why alternative legal services are booming — they’re designed to handle predictable, process-heavy tasks with tech and data support.

4️⃣ Clients aren’t just interested in GenAI — they’re driving it

In-house legal teams are offering to co-develop GenAI tools and protocols with their firms. Some even want joint working documents on how they’ll use prompts together.

This is real collaboration.

5️⃣ The biggest blockers to innovation are internal

Firms know the benefits of tech. Clients are asking for it. But innovation still meets resistance.

The real roadblocks are inside:

• Old systems that nobody wants to replace

• Office power struggles between different departments

• "We've always done it this way" thinking

As one speaker put it: “There are many leaders in a firm — but not all pull in the same direction.”

- Idin

FEATURED REPORT 📰

🏀 Freshfields battles for UK hoops

What’s going on here?

The UK’s Super League Basketball Federation has taken the British Basketball Federation to court. They filed a case in London’s High Court this week.

They’re accusing the British Basketball Federation of three things:

1. Breaking competition law

2. Using their power unfairly (also known as abusing a dominant position)

3. Failing to meet their duties as the sport’s main governing body

In short, they believe the British Basketball Federation has acted unfairly and unlawfully.

Who is involved in the case?

There are a few key names in this case — and unless you’re a big basketball fan, you might not know them:

• 🏛 The British Basketball Federation (BBF): This is like the Football Association (the FA) in football. It’s the national body in charge of basketball. They run the men’s and women’s GB teams and keep an eye on how the leagues are run.

• 🏀 The Super League Basketball Federation (SLBF): This is like the Premier League. It runs the top-level men’s basketball league in Britain. It was created in 2024 when the old league collapsed due to money problems. The league is owned by the nine clubs that play in it.

• 💼 GBB League Limited: This is the new company trying to help grow the league. It’s owned by rich investors — including Sir Keith Mills — a businessman who helped organise the 2012 London Olympics. Think of it like if a group of investors and former football executives came together to launch a new version of the Premier League.

What started this dispute?

In 2024, Britain's top men's basketball league collapsed. The British Basketball League went bust because of money problems with its main investor, 777 Partners.

The Super League was created to replace it. The British Basketball Federation gave the Super League a temporary three-year licence.

In early 2025, the British Basketball Federation held a tender process for a new 15-year licence — GBB League Limited won.

The Super League didn’t take part — their lawyers said the tender process was unfair.

Now, the Super League is suing. They say the process was illegal and broke both UK competition law and international basketball rules.

Why can’t the Super League go it alone?

After losing the bid to run the league long-term, the Super League pulled out all nine of its clubs from the new GBB League. It also chose to break away from the British Basketball Federation’s control.

In response, the Federation:

• Ended the Super League’s short-term licence

• Refused to back the clubs when they needed help with visa sponsorships and entering European competitions

The Super League says this was unfair and anti-competitive. They claim it’s stopping them from running and growing the league — and from protecting the future of pro basketball in Britain.

What could happen next in court?

🟢 If the Super League wins: The court might find that the British Basketball Federation broke the rules in two ways:

1. The original three-year licence created a reasonable expectation that it would continue. The tender process broke this expectation.

2. Or the tender process itself was unfair. The British Basketball Federation didn't follow proper procedures when awarding the licence to GBB League.

If this happens, the Super League could get money for damages. The court might also force the British Basketball Federation to run the process again.

🔴 If the Super League loses: The court might find that the three-year licence gave no guarantee of renewal. The tender process was fair and transparent.

This would confirm the British Basketball Federation's authority. It would also confirm that GBB League deserves the licence. The Super League would stay unlicensed, and its clubs would remain banned from international competitions.

🟠 If the court finds a middle ground: The court might say the British Basketball Federation made mistakes but GBB League still deserves the licence.

The court could force the British Basketball Federation to improve how it runs things. The Super League might get some money for damages.

🤝 Settlement outside court: The two sides might reach a deal before the full hearing ends. One option could be joint governance for a transition season.

The British Basketball Federation might give the Super League recognition so its clubs can compete internationally, but GBB League would keep its licence.

Which law firms are involved?

Freshfields is acting for the Super League.

It’s not yet known which law firms are representing the the British Basketball Federation and GBB League.

How can you use this in your applications?

Writing about your motivation for a career in commercial law can feel forced — especially when you're trying to sound both passionate and professional.

To make your answer stand out, treat it like a story. Start from where your interest began and show how it led you to commercial law.

It’s more natural, more personal, and more convincing.

For example, let’s say you’re interested in sport. The Super League vs British Basketball Federation case gives you great material.

You could say something like:

This same approach works whatever your interests are.

Into fashion? Use the e.l.f. vs rhode beauty brand dispute. Into tech? Look at a recent competition case with Google or Amazon.

The key is to:

• Show a genuine connection

• Highlight what you learned about commercial law

• Explain why it appealed to you

This way, you’re not just saying what they want to hear — you’re telling a story that’s real, shows your personality, and proves you understand what the job involves.

IN OTHER NEWS 🗞

• 🍓 M&S’s new strawberry sandwich has sparked a tax debate. Normal sandwiches don’t get VAT because they’re considered basic food — the government doesn’t tax those. But this one’s made with sweet brioche and looks more like a treat, so it might count as confectionery instead, which gets 20% VAT.

• 🧘‍♀️ Lululemon is suing Costco for selling cheap lookalikes of its clothes. Lulu says Costco’s Kirkland brand is copying its $100 Scuba jackets and $128 ABC pants, and even using the same colour names. The brand wants a trial and for Costco to stop selling the items. But proving copycat products break the law isn’t easy — US trademark rules are quite vague. With ‘dupe culture’ picking up (thanks to TikTok) this might be a tough battle.

• 🕵️‍♂️ The FCA (the UK’s financial regulator) is worried about takeover news leaking to the press. Nearly 40% of recent M&A deals involving London-listed firms were reported before they were official. This triggered the share price jumps that suggest insider info is getting out. The FCA says some leaks may be strategic — like trying to scare off rival bidders — and they risk damaging market fairness and trust.

• 💼 HSF Kramer has raised newly qualified lawyer pay to £145,000 — a £10k rise. That puts it ahead of Ashurst, Hogan Lovells, and Macfarlanes, and just under the £150k Magic Circle firms offer. The move ramps up pressure on rivals, especially Slaughters, which recently said it wasn’t planning any pay rises. It looks like the salary wars for junior lawyers is heating up again.

AROUND THE WEB 🌐

• 🪟 Cool: This website lets you look out through another person’s window around the world

• 🕹️ Nostalgia: Play classic DOS games right in your browser

• 👑 Regal: A glass bridge will be built in London, in memory of Queen Elizabeth II, inspired by her wedding tiara 

  

STUFF THAT MIGHT HELP YOU 👌

• 📹️ Free application help: If you're applying to commercial law firms, check out my YouTube channel for actionable tips and an insight into the lifestyle of a commercial lawyer in London.