Search results for the "Industry Trends" category
May 1, 2013 - by Debbie Stephenson
In an effort to capture the economic benefit of the growing renewable energy sector, lawmakers have proposed new legislation that would allow clean energy producers to form Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs). MLPs are set up to allow companies to raise funds in the same way as a corporation does, and to pay taxes as a partnership. The MLP structure allows the business’s owners to pay tax on their individual tax returns, while providing the flexibility and opportunity to raise capital from smaller investors directly from the stock market.
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Apr 11, 2013 - by Debbie Stephenson
Despite five deals announced in February worth $91 billion, Q1 2013 was not a booming quarter for M&A activity. Though deal value was around 10 percent higher than Q1 2012, it was still 26 percent lower than Q1 2011. Deal volume was also down, with a mere 8,115 deals announced worldwide - the lowest since 2003.
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Apr 4, 2013 - by Debbie Stephenson
We often highlight articles that would be interesting and relevant to the Firmex community. We thought you might find the following PwC research report insightful, analysing the top mining deals of 2012 and the deal outlook for 2013.
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Mar 26, 2013 - by Virginia Heffernan
On March 5th, the PDAC convention in Toronto hosted a session on Financing in a Volatile Market, chaired by Daryl Hodges, President of Jennings Capital, and Marc Mills, VP of Investment Banking for National Bank Financial. Here are three lessons that emerged:
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Mar 20, 2013 - by Sumeet Shah
The reputation of the private equity industry is one that has undergone significant transformation in its relatively short history.
Corporate raiders, vultures and job killers are all terms to have haunted the industry, but was this ever a fair or accurate depiction? Or did private equity actually create jobs and, more importantly, better manage companies that contributed the US economy?
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Mar 18, 2013 - by Debbie Stephenson
Alternative fee arrangements (AFAs) are bringing significant changes to the legal profession. Clients are pushing for a combination of cost savings and cost certainty, and law firms are responding in a resounding way.
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Mar 12, 2013 - by Debbie Stephenson
We often highlight articles that would be interesting and relevant to the Firmex community. We thought you might find the following research results interesting, outlining M&A activity and financing in the oil and gas industry for Q4, 2012.
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Mar 5, 2013 - by Debbie Stephenson
We often highlight articles from our customers that would be interesting and relevant to the Firmex community. We hope you enjoy this comprehensive analysis from Blakes LLP on the key trends that have emerged in the legal industry and how they will impact your business.
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Feb 12, 2013 - by Jeffrey Brandt
Alterative fee arrangements (AFAs) seem to be consistently in the news. With clients demanding greater efficiencies and increasingly clamping down on legal fees, I'm often asked about technology's role in alternative fee arrangements. Clients want to know what the secret software or best technologies are to make AFAs a breeze. I'll let you in on a secret. There are none.
Some people are quite surprised when I won't champion technology as the total solution. Don't get me wrong, there are some great (and simple) technologies out there. But the best technology is a bad investment if you don't couple it with great processes and the right people. So what do I tell my clients when the technology/AFA subject arises?
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Feb 4, 2013 - by Debbie Stephenson
Despite enormous and increasing resources devoted to combating data breaches, security incidents in the enterprise continue to grow. Hackers are deploying some of the most sophisticated malware attacks ever seen, and law firms are a primary target.
Just last month it was reported that a Toronto-based law firm lost a six figure sum over the holidays after a virus gave hackers backdoor access into a bookkeeper’s computer. The hackers used a Trojan virus, replicating a web page of the law firm’s actual bank, and copying bank account passwords as the bookkeeper typed them in. This allowed the hackers full access to the account, including the ability to wire money to foreign countries shortly after deposits were made.
The level of sophistication of this scam was something never before seen in Ontario, and once again brings to light the vulnerability of law firm security. Legal practitioners need to be aware of what scams are currently making the rounds, to better protect themselves from malicious attacks.
