Letter from London

"Can I just mention?" ... Judges show their Arsenal tickets ... Netflix bends it with Beckham ... Giant US-UK law shop fusion ... AG gets the branding wrong ... Jail house blues ... Floyd Alexander-Hunt reports from Blighty 

Football is Life 

It's October and all anyone can talk about is the Beckham documentary on Netflix. If you haven't seen it, what are you doing with your life? 

Unless it's going to "work" (read: getting a facial) like Victoria Beckham then you have no excuse. Never have I cared so deeply about a soccer game that happened 25 years ago. 

Fittingly, football is relevant to the legal world. On Thursday, October 12, 2023, Justice Richard Jacobs admitted that he is an Arsenal FC season ticket holder at the start of an insurance trial in which Arsenal is a party. 

Jacobs asked counsel whether his status as a "gooner" would cause any issues for Arsenal or any of the other Premier League football clubs who are suing their insurers.

"Can I just mention that I am a season ticket holder. I have been a season holder for many, many years. I do not think that affects my ability to deal with the case."

Can I just mention that I have watched the Beckham documentary four times and that definitely affects my ability to deal with actual life.

Andrew Green KC, the barrister representing Arsenal, agreed to the judge staying on the case. After all, it turns out the barrister representing the insurers, Alistair Schaff KC, is also an Arsenal season ticket holder. 

Honestly who isn't!? David Beckham, that's who.  

Lawyers without borders 

In a major development, UK's Allen & Overy and US-based Shearman & Sterling have voted in favour of a merger, creating a colossal legal entity named A&O Shearman. 

The new firm will emerge as a legal giant on the global stage, with approximately 3,900 lawyers and boasting a combined gross revenue of £2.9 billion from the previous year. 

With 99% approval from partners at both firms, the merger is set to close in May 2024.

Accents aside, transatlantic mergers can be difficult to navigate - just look at Meghan and Harry's relationship. 

Yet, this merger has the potential to reshape the business models of Magic Circle firms and the legal industry on both sides. Here's hoping Oprah gets involved and does a tell-all interview. 

Attorney General's odd Brand warning

Prentis: a chilling attorney general

In the wake of extensive reporting following the broadcast of Russell Brand: In Plain Sight: Dispatches on September 16, 2023, the Attorney General, the Rt Hon Victoria Prentis KC MP, issued a stark warning regarding the potential consequences of publishing materials that might prejudice any forthcoming criminal investigation or prosecution. 

Apparently, publishing such materials could constitute a contempt of court. This legal admonition extends not only to traditional media outlets and publishers but also to social media users. 

What seemed particularly bizarre to journalists around the nation is that the statement was released despite the absence of any active legal proceedings or arrests involving Brand. 

Journalists and legal experts have raised concerns that the Attorney General's warning may have a chilling effect on reporting given that there is no active criminal case. 

Jailhouse block

Crims in overcrowded pokey

After covering Prison Break in last month's column, it seems Packed To The Rafters is the flavour of this month given England and Wales are facing a crisis of over-crowding in prisons. 

The slammers are so chockers that judges are being asked to avoid jail sentences for criminals. 

The overcrowding of prisons has reached breaking point, prompting a series of unprecedented measures and judicial guidance. 

Judges have been advised to delay the sentencing of convicted criminals currently on bail due to the severe lack of space and the prison population climbing beyond 88,000. 

The government has considered various solutions, including the construction of rapid deployment cells, releasing inmates early, and extending electronic tagging programs. 

The "go to jail" tile on the monopoly board has been replaced with "wait to go to jail". 

The challenges in the UK's prison system have been exacerbated by a backlog in courts attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic and a barristers' strike. 

The English are going French when it comes to strikes as a national sport. Next month, bed bugs.