This Firm Analyst is a podcast hosted by Adnan Shafi, an incoming Trainee Solicitor at Foot Anstey LLP. The goal of the podcast is to demystify the world of commercial law and help aspiring and current Trainee Solicitors build their commercial awareness. Every week, Adnan discusses important developments in the economy while analysing how those developments affect law firms in the UK and beyond. His approach also includes directing listeners to key sources of information that are often overlooked by many. Tune in every Sunday to start your journey of becoming a firm analyst!
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April 19, 2026Episode 444 min
ASK Session 2: Sector Breakdown - Islamic Finance
Welcome back to The Firm Analyst everyone! Today, I've published the second aspiring solicitors knowledge or "ASK" session, focusing on breaking down the Islamic finance sector as a subset of commercial law. Several aspiring solicitors have asked me about the sector, so in this podcast I thought it best to lay out: (1) why law firms often take a sector approach; (2) what Islamic finance is and how it manifests in the legal world; and (3) what practice areas deal with the Islamic finance sector most often and how to get exposure to it as a lawyer. Enjoy!Link to access: https://linktr.ee/thefirmanalyst
April 5, 2026Episode 329 min
S17EP3: Iran War: One Month On - Inflation, CMA Investigations and Emerging Markets Debt Capital Markets Review
Welcome back to Season 17, everyone.Today we dive into the Middle East conflict's ripple effects on the global economy—including how the Strait of Hormuz's closure could spike inflation and interest rates.We also unpack a CMA probe into sudden domestic heating oil surges in the UK amid the war, plus its fallout for emerging market bond and Sukuk issuers.
March 8, 2026Episode 233 min
S17EP2: Developments in the Middle East - Analysing the Global Impact
Welcome back to The Firm Analyst, listeners. In this episode, we unpack the fast‑moving fallout from the latest escalation in the Middle East. After US–Israeli strikes on Iran and Iranian attacks across the Gulf, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global oil flows. Retaliatory strikes have also hammered regional civilian infrastructure and hit airports beyond the immediate conflict zone. We look at how a near‑20% jump in Brent, widening credit spreads and renewed dollar strength are feeding through to inflation, shipping, aviation routes and investor risk appetite. We then dig into what this means for M&A and financing deals, from material adverse change and force majeure clauses to business‑continuity planning for firms on the ground.It goes without saying, this is a truly unfortunate set of circumstances and my thoughts and prayers are with all those affected. As someone with ties to the Middle East as well, I pray that this can be resolved as quickly as possible and that peace will prevail.
February 15, 2026Episode 142 min
S17EP1: Debtor-Friendly Clauses Creep into US Leveraged Finance Documents and AI Lights Up Global Capital Markets ... Again
For aspiring solicitors interested international finance, this is the episode for you! Today we cover the recent introduction of what are called "you snooze you lose" clauses in the US leveraged finance markets and how they are impacting creditor voting mechanics. We also take a look at how Oracle, Alphabet and Yondr are tapping the global debt capital markets to raise close to $50 billion cumulatively to fund the future of AI infrastructure. And of course, a major thanks to all of our listeners to date, we have just surpassed 6,000 streams on all platforms!Link to access: https://linktr.ee/thefirmanalyst
January 25, 2026Episode 447 min
ASK Session 1: Real Estate Finance Case Study
Welcome back to The Firm Analyst! Have you ever wondered what goes on inside a law firm's real estate finance department? Well, today we find out by unpacking a real estate finance transaction from start to finish. From typical trainee tasks to deal structure, we take a deep dive into what makes this sector so fascinating. Join me on our very first aspiring solicitors knowledge or "ASK" session using this link: https://linktr.ee/thefirmanalyst
January 11, 202630 min
S16EP3: Debt Capital Markets in Overdrive; Post-Brexit EU-UK Relations; and Mining Mega Mergers
Welcome back to Season 16 of The Firm Analyst! In this episode, we looked at: why the debt capital markets are in overdrive, EU-UK alignment proposals and a proposed mega merger in the mining sector. DCM in Overdrive — US investment grade bond issuers raised an eye-watering $37 billion on the first Monday of 2026 after a record breaking 2025 for the global debt capital markets, and there appear to be no signs of slowing down. Tune in to find out why.EU-UK Post-Brexit Alignment — talk of a new EU-UK deal to reduce red tape for food and drink exporters has sparked controversy in Parliament, raising questions about post-Brexit UK-EU relations under Labour. We discuss what these and other developments mean for regional markets.How A $260 Billion Merger Could Rock the Mining Industry — join me as we discuss the rationale and structure behind the proposed tie up between mining giants Rio Tinto and Glencore.Link to the full episode https://linktr.ee/thefirmanalyst
December 30, 2025Episode 240 min
S16EP2: 2025 Commercial Awareness Review
🎙 Welcome back to Season 16 of The Firm Analyst! In this episode, we looked at three themes that dominated the headlines this year, including:🔥 AI Infrastructure Megadeals — McKinsey estimates that $5.2 trillion is required by 2030 to build enough data centres to keep pace with AI demand, leaving everyone wondering: where will this money come from? Among other things, we cover how Meta secured funding for its $28.79 billion Hyperion project and why AI infrastructure is likely to remain an important sector for commercial law firms for the foreseeable future.🌍 Global Trade and Fiscal Policy — we unpack how US “Liberation Day” tariffs sparked dollar weakness, contributing to record reverse Yankee bond issuance; UK budget uncertainty and its impacts on the market; and how France’s credit ratings downgrade hit CLO portfolio profile tests and borrowing conditions in the country. 💼 $4.5 Trillion M&A Frenzy — in this section we examine how tight credit spreads, rate cuts and the perception of a more relaxed relaxed regulatory environment led to the second best year for M&A since record keeping began, with 68 megadeals plastered across front pages this year. We also have a look at what is fueling international law firm mergers such as the proposed tie up between Ashurst and Perkins Coie and others. Link to the full episode 👉 https://linktr.ee/thefirmanalyst
December 8, 2025Episode 245 min
S16EP1: Apollo’s $745m ABF Deal with Virgin Atlantic; Inside the 2025 Autumn Budget; and Bank of England to Ease Capital Rules
🎙 Welcome back to Season 16 of The Firm Analyst!In this episode, we explored three major headlines shaking up finance, aviation, and UK fiscal policy:✈️ Apollo’s $745m ABF Deal with Virgin Atlantic — last month, Apollo provided Virgin Atlantic with $745 million in senior secured financing backed by the airline’s take‑off and landing slots at Heathrow Airport. We unpack why this security package makes the structure so unique.💷 Inside the 2025 Autumn Budget — with speculation swirling about major tax hikes, markets braced for volatility. Gilt yields remained volatile ahead of the announcement, only to retreat when investors welcomed new fiscal headroom of up to £22 billion. We cover the key takeaways: a reduced £12,000 Cash ISA cap for under‑65s, frozen income tax thresholds until 2031, a new 'mansion tax' and more. 🏦 Bank of England to Ease Capital Rules — for the first time since 2015, the Bank of England has decided that it will cut the amount of Tier 1 capital that banks are required to hold against their risk weighted assets from 14% to 13%, reflecting “the evolution of the banking system.” We consider how this change might impact banks' portfolios as well the the significant risk transfer and Additional Tier-1 bond markets.Link to the full episode 👉 https://linktr.ee/thefirmanalyst
November 13, 2025Episode 136 min
S16EP1: The AI Boom and How Law Firms Are Helping Accelerate It
After a bit of a season break, I am delighted to welcome you back to The Firm Analyst. We kick off season 16 with a guest appearance from Yusuf Serang, an incoming trainee solicitor at Fieldfisher, who is joining us to talk about the AI boom and how law firms are helping accelerate it. In particular, we discuss what is causing the AI boom, address arguments suggesting that a bubble is forming and walk through how various teams in a law firm are advising tech companies build and manage colossal data centers.Tune in here to find out more: https://linktr.ee/thefirmanalyst
October 19, 202542 min
S15EP4: Emerging Market Bonds and Sukuk Takeoff; EA - The Largest Leveraged Buyout in History; and UBS and Cantor Fitzgerald Renegotiate Hedge Fund Unit Purchase
Welcome back to Season 15 of The Firm Analyst! 🎙 In the final episode of this season, we discussed:🌍 Why emerging-market bonds and Sukuk are taking off — Kuwait, West African Development Bank, Majid Al Futtaim and other emerging markets issuers rush to raise billions from the international debt capital markets. Tune in to find out why and what's keeping international DCM lawyers busy.🎮 Electronic Arts to be taken private in $55 bn deal — A consortium comprising Silver Lake, PIF and Affinity Partners is taking EA private in the largest leveraged buyout in history. We unpack how specialist teams assist buyers in conducting due diligence by taking the change of control put option in EA's 2051 bonds as a case study. See more here: https://www.junkbondinvestor.com/p/the-most-interesting-trade-in-the .🏦 Cantor Fitzgerald & UBS O’Connor — We discuss how funds managed by O'Connor's exposure to the recently collapsed First Brands Group has caused Cantor Fitzgerald to seek a price renegotiation for the UBS hedge fund unit. We also spend time reflecting on how corporate lawyers help protect their clients from risks arising between exchange and completion in an acquisition transaction.Full breakdown here 👉 https://linktr.ee/thefirmanalystDISCLAIMER: The content discussed in this podcast does not constitute legal, financial or investment advice and these topics are discussed for information and educational purposes only. If in doubt, seek advice from an appropriately qualified individual.
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