Littlewoods names new legal chief

Retail giant Littlewoods has poached the head of legal from chemicals company Brunner Mond.

Neil Ogilvie replaced Paul Rew as Littlewoods' group legal director and company secretary this month.

The principal legal adviser for Littlewoods has traditionally been Dibb Lupton Alsop working from Liverpool, where Littlewoods is based.

Herbert Smith advises on litigation from London, and 19-partner Liverpool practice Cuff Roberts acts on property matters.

Ogilvie was unavailable for comment but it is understood that he has no immediate plans to change the firm's legal panel.

Michael Prince, Dibbs' Liverpool managing partner, says: "They have a small number of advisers who know them well. We have met the new company secretary. I have had some instruction from him."

Ogilvie's vacancy at Brunner Mond has been filled by Nick Fairclough who was previously a company secretary and head of legal at KwikSave.