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Shoosmiths chief exec steps down in wake of trainee deferral row

Perhaps a GC's perspective would be helpful to the new management regime. The firm's profound lack of judgment as to how it handled its trainees has disqualified Shoosmiths from handling any work for me for at least the next few years, regardless of whom is now sitting in the CEO's chair. If this is the "business approach" that is taken towards any firm's most important asset - its people - I have no confidence that the firm will be to properly advise me on strategic issues. Shoosmiths might also take into account that we have a huge variety of choice as to whom we use, and most GCs will choose to deal with firms that maintain at least some balance of principles with their profits. Any firm that does not understand the long-term consequences of these types of short-sighted decisions - and in particular the negative impact upon the quality of any future trainees the firm eventually stoops so low as to employ affect, whom will presumably move on to be the lawyers actually handling client work and making important decisions - is on the road to oblivion.

25-May-2009

9:26 pm