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Not about Wacko Jacko

26 June 2009

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Try as we might, we couldn’t find much of a legal angle on Michael Jackson today, apart from the undoubted insurance implications of the axing of his tour.

So instead of writing about flawed eccentrics, we thought we’d muse about BLP’s decision to hire Allen & Overy leveraged finance partner Andrew Bamber.

As TheLawyer.com reports today, Bamber is joining BLP later this year.

This is what we call a vote of confidence in the upturn. A&O scaled back that team radically after a dramatic fall in leveraged finance work - especially after key client RBS closed its leveraged division.

But BLP sees an opportunity which complements its hire earlier this year of private equity star Raymond McKeeve. Notably, Bamber won’t be acting for lenders, but will handle sponsor-facing finance work.

Bamber and McKeeve are just the latest in a long line of top brass partners with finance kudos to join BLP that include Richard Hughes, Sydney Myers, Chris De Pury, Tamara Box and Paul Severs.

There has been much talk of tension at BLP Towers between the laterals and the home-growns, especially regarding their respective remuneration.

BLP management has argued that the investment is justified. Well-connected laterals bring in extra work, therefore spreading the love widely.

But the question is not just whether in the current dire market conditions the straight-talking Bamber and others will be able pick up work.

It’s how fast they can endear themselves to their colleagues.

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Also on TheLawyer.com: litigation funding in the balance; a Charles Russell partner is mesmerised by hang-gliders; and lawyers in Kiev do a spot of dad-dancing.

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Readers' comments (4)

  • Anonymous | 26-Jun-2009 3:12 pm

    Is it too much to ask for a little respect for the dead? Even the tabloids refrained from the "wacko jacko" tag in today's headlines.

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  • Anonymous | 26-Jun-2009 3:28 pm

    The press didn't use the Wacko tag because today they need to milk the crowd for most mawkish possible response. Why should our feelings about an albeit talented but deeply weird pop star be changed by the fact of his passing?

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  • Anonymous | 26-Jun-2009 7:14 pm

    How we express our personal feelings about anyone is a matter of personal choice. This is a glib, throwaway headline that serves no purpose except to demonstrate a basic lack of respect for the death of a human being. I would have hoped that a trade journal aimed at the legal profession would have slightly higher standards.

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  • Prue Van der Craats | 29-Jun-2009 12:25 pm

    As the above comment seems familiar with why the press refrains from using the tag - though needs to have it spelt our WHY there is respect in the world for people who have made a go of life.... but have passed - a pause in time to acknowledge that it is not an easy life especially when you are hounded under the spot light of the press who make a living from others who are prized by the public... thats show business... so I wonder why they have funerals or poetry or why do people even bother to write songs or stories... It is humanity and with ignorant journalist who obviously have no respect or humanity it is any wonder why the legal profession has a reputation for being ....

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