In terms of legal firepower the Tories outgun Labour today with almost fifty lawyers in the blue corner versus just over thirty in the red. Where they will be in terms of seats is, of course, only Legal Diary’s inspired guess. But if Jeremy Corbyn stumbles into Downing Street, then Sir Keir Starmer, the former head of the CPS, is one to watch — maybe the only lawyer (let alone politician) to have put up a coherent approach to the Brexit negotiations.
A host of possibilities
Come Tuesday the dust should have settled and the evaluation of what happens next — including Brexit negotiations — will have begun in earnest. Peter Snowdon of Norton Rose Fulbright, formerly of the Financial Services Authority and an expert on EU law, will be addressing the regular B4B meeting in Grant Thornton’s offices by the Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation. Andrew Hilton of CSFI is not ruling out a Labour/SNP/Lib Dem coalition — “Stranger things have happened” — but more immediately is looking for a new host for future get-togethers, because Grant Thornton will no longer have the facilities. Maybe a generous global law firm might step in?
Making waves at the Bar
Interesting to note that Malcolm Cree — the new chief executive of the Bar Council — was once a rear-admiral. His 35 years in the navy included a stint as director of transformation. Over the course of his career the navy was certainly transformed: in 1982 it had about 60 destroyers and frigates, now a mere 19. But it was appropriate that Andrew Langdon, QC, chairman of the Bar, should praise Cree’s navigation, saying that he “brings with him strong leadership skills, which will help the Bar Council navigate the complex environment in which the Bar’s professional body operates”. According to Langdon, the council is “reviewing [its] future direction”. Let’s hope the rear-admiral can lead from the front.
A political premium
As the nation goes to the polls, what would law and justice would look like under the different parties? The Brief Premium podcast hears from Anthony Speaight, QC, the chairman of research at the Society of Conservative Lawyers, John Cooper, QC, an adviser to the access to justice commission chaired by Lord Bach, the former Labour shadow attorney-general, and James Sandbach, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Suffolk Coastal and the policy secretary for Lib Dem Lawyers.