header-logo header-logo

18 January 2018 / David Greene
Issue: 7777 / Categories: Opinion
printer mail-detail

New year, new Lord Chancellor

nlj_7777_greene

David Greene hopes David Gauke is allowed to stay in the role long enough to make a difference

A new year; a new team at the Ministry of Justice. The great office of Lord Chancellor appears these days simply to be one stop for the train running up the ministerial track. David Lidington, the last incumbent, for just a few months, has gone on to other (perhaps greater) things which possibly he regrets since he appears to have the role as chief apologist for the Carillion problem.

We rather liked Lidington in comparison to previous incumbents. He seemed sensible and committed, with some knowledge and understanding of the job so it was disappointing to see him go. But hurrah, the King is Dead, Long Live the King, we have at last a lawyer as Lord Chancellor and hurrah hurrah because for the first time in the 1,400 year history of the office he’s a solicitor.

David Gauke was at Macfarlanes; hardly a high street legal aid firm, the business of which is daily fodder

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Sharpe Pritchard—Victoria Heald-Barraclough

Sharpe Pritchard—Victoria Heald-Barraclough

Magic Circle hire strengthens Sharpe Pritchard’s infrastructure finance capability

Lewis Silkin—Iskander Fernandez

Lewis Silkin—Iskander Fernandez

Lewis Silkin adds corporate crime specialist to growing dispute resolution team

Morr & Co—Michael Charalambous

Morr & Co—Michael Charalambous

Morr Co strengthens private client team with partner appointment

NEWS
Should every solicitor found to have acted dishonestly face automatic striking off? The answer, argues John Gould, chair of Russell-Cooke LLP in NLJ this week, is no 
Winning an arbitral award against a state is one thing; enforcing it is another
Can government success in court tell us whether the rule of law is healthy? 
Poorly drafted dispute resolution clauses can trigger litigation before the real dispute is even addressed
As cryptocurrency becomes mainstream, family lawyers are increasingly confronting the challenges it creates on divorce
back-to-top-scroll