Ben Edwards

Earth

Freelance journalist and editorial director @pensarmedia. Mostly write about financial markets, banking, investment and legal services. Ex-Dow Jones/WSJ.

Articles

Mapping AI's path in financial services: embracing embedded solutions

1 week ago | raconteur.net | Ben Edwards

With trust as your north star, AI can deliver impact Trust is a challenge in financial services and new technology can raise concerns – but the right approach to AI could transform customer relationships In a world where on-demand digital services have become part of everyday life, customers increasingly expect the same level of immediacy when it comes to companies managing their finances. But, for many people, financial services organisations are falling short.
Womble Bond Dickinson enters alliance with Brazilian firm Schmidt Valois

3 weeks ago | globallegalpost.com | Ben Edwards

Transatlantic law firm Womble Bond Dickinson is forming a strategic alliance with Brazilian law firm Schmidt Valois Miranda Ferreira & Agel to bolster its cross-border legal capabilities, particularly in the energy and natural resources sector. The tie-up will expand both firms’ global reach and establish referral relationships within their respective jurisdictions, as well as create professional development and exchange opportunities.
Latin American lawyers seek to embrace AI

4 weeks ago | globallegalpost.com | Ben Edwards

The advent of generative AI technology is prompting law firms and in-house legal departments to rethink how to deliver legal services – and Latin America is no exception. Given the hype around AI, it was no surprise that the final day of the IBA’s Latin America regional forum in Lima devoted two panel sessions to AI and legaltech, looking at it from both a law firm and general counsel perspective.
US financial services firm Ascensus hires senior WilmerHale counsel as CLO

1 month ago | globallegalpost.com | Ben Edwards

US financial services firm Ascensus has named Phillip Gillespie as its chief legal officer, replacing Joe Dansky who announced plans to depart last year. Gillespie joins from WilmerHale, where he was a senior counsel. At Ascensus, he will oversee all legal matters, as well as take on the chief risk and compliance officer roles. He will report directly to chair and CEO David Musto.
AOT Technologies Partners with Contextual.io to Advance Enterprise AI Orchestration and Agent Automation Solutions

2 months ago | einnews.com | Ben Edwards

AOT Technologies Partners with Contextual.io to Advance Enterprise AI Orchestration and Agent Automation Solutions AOT Technologies partners with Contextual.io to accelerate AI solution delivery using AI orchestration and automation.
DWF follows up on nine-partner raid on Hall & Wilcox by securing 53 additional team members

2 months ago | globallegalpost.com | Ben Edwards

UK firm DWF has significantly expanded its Australian insurance offering by following up on November's nine-partner raid on leading independent Hall & Wilcox by securing 53 members of their team. DWF announced back in November that it had hired nine insurance litigation partners from Hall & Wilcox, including team leaders Matt Curll and Rachael Arnold.
What impact is tax policy having on businesses’ decision making? - Raconteur

2 months ago | raconteur.net | Ben Edwards

Focus on cost reduction Businesses are facing a triple squeeze from higher National Insurance contributions, a rising minimum wage, increased compliance obligations and beefed-up workers’ rights. That combination is pushing cost-reduction strategies higher up the C-suite agenda.
AI’s growing impact on the office of the CFO

2 months ago | raconteur.net | Ben Edwards

AI has the potential to radically transform the finance function. From automating routine tasks to reducing the risk of data-entry errors, AI can help to reduce time spent on manual processes and allow CFOs and other finance professionals to focus on delivering strategic value for the business. “It just removes the clutter and cuts down the admin more than anything. It makes things much quicker,” says Nicola Johnson, CFO at Pulse Clean Energy.
The CFO balancing act: navigating leadership’s toughest role

2 months ago | raconteur.net | Ben Edwards

The job of the CFO is becoming increasingly complex. From growing ESG commitments to digital transformation programmes, a CFO’s remit is continually expanding and shifting from a traditional accounting role that safeguards the financial health of the business, to a more strategic function that must juggle competing and sometimes even conflicting priorities to drive growth.
Fortifying finance: benchmarking for future-proofed functions

Jan 23, 2025 | raconteur.net | Ben Edwards

Business benchmarking can help organisations diagnose areas where they need to change, but it’s also vital for effective transformation to build a clear and robust strategy. Here are five key steps CEOs and other senior leaders should consider before putting their transformation programmes into action. 01 Clear vision for change The starting point for any transformation process is having a clear vision of what the end goal will look like.