Big Tech, Big Spend

Hi ZipLawyer! It's 2025, let's get it.

Big Tech’s $125 Billion AI Spend

Turns out, AI is the new avocado toast—expensive, trendy, and everyone’s splurging. Between January and August 2024, Microsoft, Meta, Google, and Amazon blew a jaw-dropping $125 billion on AI infrastructure. That’s chips, data centres, and all the bells and whistles. Microsoft was the big spender with $46 billion, followed by Google at $33 billion, Meta at $27 billion, and Amazon at a modest $19 billion.

Russian Gas Deal ends

Gas pipelines have officially ghosted Europe. The deal that allowed Russian natural gas to transit through Ukranian pipelines expired Wednesday, cutting off one of the last energy lifelines to the EU. This pipeline once supplied 5% of EU imports, but now? It’s liquified natural gas (LNG) time, baby. Basically, natural gas cooled to -162°C so it can be shipped globally in tankers, rather than piped directly. It's pricier and logistically complex, but Europe has been stockpiling it since 2022. Ukraine, standing its ground, refused to extend the deal, leaving Slovakia, Moldova, and winter heaters across Europe feeling the chill.

China’s Comac Challenges Boeing and Airbus

Move over Boeing and Airbus; China’s got a new toy. The homegrown C919 jet is already cruising domestic skies and will now start international routes between Shanghai and Hong Kong. Ambitious plans to conquer Southeast Asia by 2026 and crack Europe are underway, but analysts say the C919 might not go global just yet. It’s like buying a flashy car but still borrowing your neighbour’s garage—Western components and certification hurdles loom large.

Linklaters Sells Process Agency Business

Linklaters is spring-cleaning its portfolio, selling Hackwood Secretaries Ltd. to Law Debenture Corp. PLC. Renamed LDCS Process Agent, the business handles legal admin for cross-border deals—perfect for Law Debenture, which is now flexing its expanded muscles. Meanwhile, Linklaters is all-in on big-ticket global transactions, especially in the cash-cow U.S. market.

Skyscanner vs Fly Scanner

Skyscanner, advised by Lewis Silkin, is suing its French rival Fly Scanner (10 points for creativity for that name), claiming trademark infringement and tricksy tactics. Apparently, Fly Scanner’s been piggybacking on Skyscanner’s name, advertising with keywords like “skyscanner” (subtle) and allegedly duping users into thinking they're the real deal. Skyscanner wants an injunction, domain ownership, and, presumably, some respect. Legal turbulence ahead.

Term of the Day: Maganomics

Maganomics: The economic policies associated with Donald Trump’s presidency, characterised by protectionist measures, such as tariffs and trade restrictions, coupled with deregulation and tax cuts.

Why is it today's term? Donald Trump’s return to the White House is like a wild card in the global economy—equal parts intrigue and uncertainty. His protectionist policies (think blanket tariffs and mass deportations) could give the U.S. economy a sugar rush of short-term growth, but economists warn of a looming global hangover. Manufacturing-heavy nations like Germany are expected to feel the pinch the most. For the UK, indirect impacts from weakened Eurozone growth remain a key risk.

🙋 Did you find this helpful? If so, please let us know by voting below!