header-logo header-logo

Crunch time

01 January 2009 / Gregory Mitchell
Issue: 7350+7351 / Categories: Opinion , Employment
printer mail-detail

Gregory Mitchell QC suggests who should be held to account for excess remuneration in the credit crunch

There has been a great deal of political and media interest in the issue of bonus payments in the UK and internationally. The chancellor of the exchequer was quoted at the last Labour Party conference as saying: “We need to look as well at the culture of huge bonuses which have distorted the way decisions are made. It’s essential that bonuses don’t result in people being encouraged to take on more and more risk without understanding the damage that might be done, not just to their bank, but to the rest of us in the wider economy.”
Central banks and governments all over the world are bailing out banks, financial institutions and other large companies with loans and working capital. The recipients of government assistance—under new management— are bound to review substantial payments made and the conduct of their former senior executives—in creating the circumstances where rescue was required.
The corporate casualty list is likely to lengthen. Many medium and

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

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Ceri Morgan, knowledge counsel at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, analyses the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank Ltd, which reshapes the law of fiduciary relationships and common law bribery
The boundaries of media access in family law are scrutinised by Nicholas Dobson in NLJ this week
Reflecting on personal experience, Professor Graham Zellick KC, Senior Master of the Bench and former Reader of the Middle Temple, questions the unchecked power of parliamentary privilege
Geoff Dover, managing director at Heirloom Fair Legal, sets out a blueprint for ethical litigation funding in the wake of high-profile law firm collapses
James Grice, head of innovation and AI at Lawfront, explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal sector
back-to-top-scroll