The Commercial Awareness Compass by AllAboutLaw
The Commercial Awareness Compass by AllAboutLaw helps you build your commercial awareness every week with a beginners, intermediate and advanced breakdown of a story from an expert lawyer and trainee solicitor host.
This story was taken from a live conversation a few months ago. If you don't want to wait for these conversations, head over to the Commercial Awareness Compass to get them straight to your inbox each week.
🚀 Boost your commercial awareness: https://www.allaboutlaw.co.uk/commercial-awareness-compass
Episodes
23 episodes
From GenAI to general counsel: how clients are driving law firm innovation | Commercial Awareness Compass #23
Corporate clients are no longer asking if law firms use AI, they’re demanding to know how. As clients begin measuring AI-readiness as a key scoring point, firms are under pressure to adopt tools that promise efficiency, value, and competitive e...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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26:34
Malware in aisle five: M&S cyber attack causes chaos | Commercial Awareness Compass #22
Easter brought more than chocolate eggs for M&S this year, as a cyber attack left stores without contactless payments, VPNs down, and legal teams in overdrive. From missed sales to GDPR duties, this episode unpacks how cyber attacks trigger...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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26:51
Cookie crumbles – Google's ad-tech throne wobbles | Commercial Awareness Compass #21
A US judge has ruled that Google’s online advertising empire is less fairground, more monopoly board, finding the tech giant guilty of anti-competitive practices across its ad-tech stack. With regulators circling on both sides of the Atlantic, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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26:13
A licence to thrill: inside Universal's £50bn UK theme park | Commercial Awareness Compass #20
Universal’s plan to build a 476-acre resort near Bedford isn’t just a playground for James Bond, wizards and dinosaurs, it’s a six-year case study in IP licensing, land assembly, environmental compliance and employment strategy. Behind the them...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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31:15
Cuthbert on trial: how supermarket IP wars make for legal drama | Commercial Awareness Compass #19
From Colin to Cuthbert, supermarket shelves have become a legal battleground over copycat products. That’s because disputes over logos, packaging and lookalike cakes are dragging major retailers like M&S, Aldi, Tesco and Lidl into court. Wi...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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27:36
Champagne super-probe: CMA investigates Ticketmaster over Oasis ticket sales | Commercial Awareness Compass #18
From Wonderwall to wallet woes, Ticketmaster’s handling of Oasis ticket sales has hit a sour note. That’s because the CMA is now investigating Ticketmaster following complaints about platinum pricing, unclear ticket categories and a lack of tra...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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27:02
Not so Forever 21: Is fast fashion losing its speed? | Commercial Awareness Compass #17
The world of restructuring and insolvency can be a fascinating but unforgiving space. Last week, it was fast fashion giant, Forever 21 who finally ran out of road, filing for bankruptcy and announcing the closure of its 350 U.S. stores. The com...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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27:35
From zero (hours) to hero: the government bill shaking up employment law | Commercial Awareness Compass #16
The new Employment Rights Bill is shaking things up in the workplace. Among the most significant changes is that zero-hour and agency workers may soon have the right to request contracts that match their working hours – after 12 weeks of consis...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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30:23
Unpacking Man United's new £2bn stadium: glamour meets law | Commercial Awareness Compass #15
Renowned football club Manchester United have confirmed ambitious plans for a new £2 billion stadium, aiming to build the largest sporting arena in the UK. Though touted as Britain’s answer to the French's Eiffel tower, some would argue the cur...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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27:03
AI vs musicians: UK government caught offbeat? | Commercial Awareness Compass #14
The UK government is striking a controversial chord with its proposed shift in copyright law, aiming to allow artificial intelligence (AI) developers to mine creative works by default unless creators explicitly opt out. Critics, including legen...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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27:01
Parking Fines, Contracts and Court Battles – The Business of Car Parks | Commercial Awareness Compass #13
A parking fine might seem like an everyday inconvenience, but for private parking operators, it’s a commercial and legal minefield. Every time a driver enters a private car park, they are automatically entering into a contract – even if they do...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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29:19
Apple's backdoor dilemma | Commercial Awareness Compass #12
The UK government is pressuring Apple to create a backdoor into iCloud, sparking a privacy vs. security standoff. But this isn't just about one tech giant – this fight over encryption, data access, and corporate trust has global implications. H...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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25:44
BAFTAs Spotlight: Sponsors, Scandals & Deals | Commercial Awareness Compass #11
The BAFTAs recently showcased film, fashion, and a roster of influential sponsors. Why do companies such as P&O Cruises invest heavily in an awards show? How do makeup brands, paparazzi rights, and star endorsements align under one legal fr...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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27:24
Heathrow’s Third Runway: Will Noise or Growth Win? | Commercial Awareness Compass #10
Heathrow Airport has a proposed third runway in the works, backed by the Chancellor’s pledge to bolster economic growth. Will it deliver faster global connections, or trigger disputes over noise pollution and environmental impact? How do local ...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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26:43
Meta’s Misinformation Gamble: Who’s Checking Now? | Commercial Awareness Compass #9
Meta is ending its third-party fact-checking programme in the United States, opting instead for user-led flagging of misinformation. Could a looser approach boost free speech, or open a floodgate of unchecked content? Platforms like Facebook an...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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27:46
Vodafone & Three: Inside a £15bn Merger | Commercial Awareness Compass #8
The spotlight is on the £15 billion merger between Vodafone and Three, recently approved by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Two smaller telecoms providers are combining forces in a market traditionally dominated by bigger players.<...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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26:00
US vs TikTok: The Next Legal Battle? | Commercial Awareness Compass #7
This potential TikTok ban in the United States raises serious questions beyond a simple block on a social media app. Politicians cite national security concerns, but does the real issue lie with data protection, marketing upheavals, or cross-bo...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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30:17
Snowfall Chaos: Contract Disputes or Acts of God? | Commercial Awareness Compass #6
Snowfall and freezing temperatures have captured headlines across the UK, causing widespread disruptions to travel, logistics, and day-to-day business operations. Runways have shut, rail lines have stalled, and delays have rippled through suppl...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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23:25
BBC's investigation on the Diary of a CEO | Commercial Awareness Compass #5
A high-profile podcast under fire for spreading unfounded health claims. A celebrity host accused of failing to challenge guests who insist that diets cure cancer. Could such unchecked claims spark new rules and potential legal action?
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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27:05
Class Action Storm: Apple & Microsoft in the Dock | Commercial Awareness Compass #4
Apple and Microsoft face formidable class action lawsuits in the UK. Apple stands accused of anti-competitive practices around its App Store commissions, while Microsoft faces claims of overcharging business customers tied to rival cloud platfo...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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21:45
Trump's return: What it means for UK law firms | Commercial Awareness Compass #3
Donald Trump has been re-elected as the 47th President of the United States, set to take office in January 2025. What does this mean for UK businesses and law firms?With Trump's penchant for deregulation and potential withdrawal from glo...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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27:52
The battle over Britain’s farms explained | Commercial Awareness Compass #2
Thousands of farmers recently descended upon Westminster, some arriving on tractors, to protest proposed inheritance tax changes—dubbed the 'Tractors Tax'. The Labour government's plan threatens to tax assets that were previously exempt, potent...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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30:47
Unpacking Ed Sheeran’s IP dispute | Commercial Awareness Compass #1
Ed Sheeran claims his vocals were used without his permission in the new Band Aid song. This raises questions about intellectual property rights and potential legal disputes. Key terms to understand include litigation, meaning a legal battle in...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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23:55
