Luke McLeod-Roberts
Addleshaw Goddard has sparked a row with its decision to exhibit a photograph of East End gangsters the Kray twins in its offices.
The firm bought a selection of 36 prints by influential 1960s photographer David Bailey, including photos of Michael Caine, Mick Jagger and the Krays.
But the photos have divided opinion among staff, who are questioning whether a law firm is an appropriate setting for photos of notorious criminals.
A member of support staff complained that the Krays had been responsible for the death of someone they knew, but another employee reportedly said the twins were their “greatest heroes”.
Jane Hollinshead, the partner responsible for purchasing new art, said that law firm art should provoke discussion. “The idea is to create things that will make people talk,” she said. “I don’t want it to be corporate.”
The firm also uploaded the images on to its intranet together with background on who David Bailey is and his impact on photography.
Each of the firm’s national offices received a share of the photos. Despite the furore, Hollinshead was adamant that the works were not for sale because they were not intended as an investment.
Readers' comments (17)
Mary | 29-Sep-2008 11:07 am
Krays were scum
The Krays were scum and any law firm who has an employee who idolises them has an ethical problem.
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Anonymous | 29-Sep-2008 12:02 pm
Krays
how were they scum??
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Frankie | 29-Sep-2008 12:05 pm
Krays
The Kray twins might have been murderers and extortionists responsible for a litany of horrifying acts of violence, but they were also quite nice to their mum and were friends with Barbara Windsor, so it's swing and roundabouts, really.
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Criminal mastermind | 29-Sep-2008 12:07 pm
Answer
I think it was because they killed people, and beat people up and took people's stuff. Things like that.
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Frank the hat | 29-Sep-2008 12:10 pm
Gawd bless em
They luvved their muvva.
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Phil the Foot | 29-Sep-2008 1:03 pm
no one's questioned me since 1960
You could leave your doors unlo... etc etc etc
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Ray Twinns | 29-Sep-2008 1:21 pm
Greatest heroes
If I were in Addleshaws management, I'd keep an eye on that employee who described the Kray twins as his 'greatest heroes'. Definitely wouldn't let him administer the petty cash. Probably worth double-checking his expenses, too.
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B. Windsor | 29-Sep-2008 1:37 pm
They was heroes
The Kray twins was 'eroes. They was better than Mother Theresa. They should be knighted, and canonized, and a massive wreath with the words 'Ronnie' and 'Reggie' written in flowers should be paraded around London on a double decker bus pulled by harnessed members of the editorial teams of Nuts, Loaded and FHM magazines. Gawd bless em.
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Anonymous | 29-Sep-2008 1:40 pm
Krays
I could never tell which one was Grant and which one was Phil.
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Anonymous | 29-Sep-2008 1:51 pm
Jokes
Most of these comments did make me laugh, but in seriousness, the fact that the Krays were nasty criminals and shouldn't be celebrated should have been pointed out earlier. Good on whoever at the firm complained.
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