In the latest episode of the fortnightly The Lawyer Podcast, editor Catrin Griffiths and litigation editor Christian Smith are back with the stories driving the UK legal market. Football's World Cup could be the most controversial in recent history and has shone a spotlight on the role of sport and business in Qatari nation-building. So what does it mean for those international firms operating in Qatar? International editor Alex Taylor joins the podcast to talk about what firms are doing in Doha and argues that, despite ESG, Saudi Arabia and fossil fuels still rule for Big Law. Cryptocurrency is one of the fastest growing legal spaces in the UK, so where will collapses of exchanges like FTX steer the market? Senior litigation reporter Adam Mawardi has everything you need to know. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn statement today warned of “unprecedented global headwinds.” Deputy news editor Jessica Boak joins the podcast to explain just how law firms are faring at the halfway point of the 2022/23 financial year. And finally, are transatlantic mergers back? After The Lawyer revealed last week that Dickson Minto held talks to merge with Fried Frank, Catrin and Horizon editor Katy Dowell discuss strategic rationale, cultural fit and why BCLP's five-year marriage still looks difficult. The Lawyer Podcast can be contacted at podcast@thelawyer.com  For more news, analysis and data, go to www.thelawyer.com