The choice
THERE comes a time in everyone’s life when they are put to the moral test — when a stark choice has to be made between the self-serving and the self-sacrificing. And it happened to me last Thursday evening.
On the one hand there was the champagne, the good food, the glamorous location of the Grosvenor Hotel and the whoopee excitement of the Legal Business Awards. On the other was a lecture session hosted by Clifford Chance and organised by the Fabian Society to evaluate the UK’s commitment to Africa. With headline speakers including Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for International Development, and Max Lawson, senior policy officer, Oxfam, it would be a heavyweight, soul-searching occasion.
Given the recent revelations about corruption in Kenya, my ethical and professional obligations were clear. So the only question was, how could I wriggle out of them? There wasn’t time to consult Joe Joseph’s Modern Morals in times2 so I resorted to time-tested Jesuitical casuistry. Clifford Chance merited support for sponsoring the lectures. It was also shortlisted for Legal Business Awards in five categories — including Most Enterprising Law Firm of the Year. The most “honest” (note the word) way I could express my endorsement for its concern for Africa was by giving the firm my moral support at the Grosvenor. It was a fabulous evening.
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Cheap publicity
I AM not sure what to make of Simmons & Simmons’ announcement that it is jacking up its maintenance grants to its trainees on the Legal Practice Course to £7,500 — the highest of any firm in London.
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The claim accompanying the rise, made by Mark Dawkins, the managing partner, was: “We are sending out a strong message that Simmons & Simmons attracts and values the very best trainees.” But where is the logic in that? The firm may well be trying to “attract the very best”. But it doesn’t mean it is doing so. Obviously firms have to pay the going rate. But a few hundred quid more sounds a bit like a (pretty) cheap publicity stunt. Is that a good move?
Low intellect?
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INTELLECTUAL property is a big source of work in London. It’s smart and it appeals to some of the hippest people. So it is a little disappointing to report that not a single London law firm features in the Intellectual Property Hall of Fame inaugurated by Intellectual Asset Management magazine. The aim is to identify those who have established IP as one of the key business assets of the 21st century and it contains an interesting and eclectic bunch (including surprise entrants such as US Presidents Jefferson and Madison and French novelist Victor Hugo).
There are also plenty of lawyers — for example, Heinz Bardehle, a partner of the German law firm Bardehle Pagenberg, who had a long involvement in international patent harmonisation issues — but the City it seems has contributed nothing fundamental to IP’s development. How very unBritish. For more go to www.iam-magazine.com
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Brief encounter
IT IS Valentine’s Day and, given that law firms’ hot-desks are often hotbeds of romance, I must pass on this piece of reassurance from Karen Black, an employment law specialist at Boodle Hatfield: “Having a relationship with a colleague is, in itself, very unlikely to be a dismissible offence.” Just ensure it doesn’t cut into billable hours.
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edward.fennell@virgin.net