THE FIRST woman office holder at the International Bar Association won a surprise election challenge for secretary general only to become embroiled in an embarrassing political row.

During the IBA conference in Berlin last week, a forum for managing partners organised by Dianna Kempe QC, who had just seen off an electoral challenge by Nutifafa Kuenyehia, was undermined by an existing committee.

More than 50 managing partners attended the forum to witness the internal wrangle when three members of an IBA general practice committee, including partner Michael Simmons of Finers, insisted that managing partnership affairs fell under its remit.

The managing partner of one major City firm described the affair as “incredibly childish”.