Ford rolls out first UK law panel

The 21-strong panel includes almost all UK firms which have handled work for Ford, plus the entire magic circle. Slaughters sneaked in despite having no previous relationship with Ford and Shearman & Sterling, which has a relationship with Ford in the US, was the only foreign firm on the list.

General counsel Michael Marecki called a meeting of all his firms last year and, according to one partner there, asked them to help him cut legal spend by 35 per cent.