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21 February 2025 / Roger Smith
Issue: 8105 / Categories: Features , Rule of law , International justice
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George Soros & me

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On the frontlines of the rule of law: Roger Smith applauds the work of the Open Society Justice Initiative

Okay. The title of this piece is clickbait. I have never met George Soros. I do know that he is the Hungarian-born billionaire known sometimes as ‘the man who broke the Bank of England’ in homage to his humiliation of the pound in 1992. He is extremely rich, seemingly worth around $7bn. My contact with him has been indirect—through his Open Society Foundations and, in particular, the Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI) formed in 2003. This has had brilliant leadership until recently from a Georgian then based in Budapest, Zaza Namoradze (classical music lovers may recognise the name: his son, Nicolas, is an increasingly recognised classical pianist). OSJI, not well known in the UK, is an outstanding organisation which deserves more recognition for its work over the last two decades.

Facing two ways

OSJI combined a precise focus—the development of the rule of law in former socialist bloc countries—with an internationalist perspective

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Charles Russell Speechlys—James Paterson

Charles Russell Speechlys—James Paterson

Charles Russell Speechlys further bolsters Private Equity expertise with the appointment of James Paterson

Ellisons—Samuel Flower

Ellisons—Samuel Flower

Ellisons strengthens Rural Affairs team with senior appointment

Sidley—Carl Hotton

Sidley—Carl Hotton

Sidley adds insurance mergers and acquisitions partner to London office

NEWS
A deputy costs judge correctly exercised his discretion to allow late service rather than strike out the point of dispute, the Court of Appeal has held
Prince Harry, Baroness Doreen Lawrence and five others have lost their case against the publisher of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline, in Various Claimants v Associated Newspapers [2026] EWHC 1637 (KB)
Public confidence in the justice system is being undermined by a lack of accessible, useable data, magistrates have warned
The Sentencing Council has launched draft guidelines for facilitation and endangering another person during a sea crossing to the UK
Government proposals to make independent written legal advice a prerequisite for workplace non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) may prove unworkable, according to a senior employment lawyer
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