Clifford Chance’s (CC’s) former managing partner Peter Cornell has revealed that he feared for the future of the global giant during the ‘Padding-gate’ associate memo scandal that engulfed its New York arm in October 2002.

In an interview with Legal Week, Cornell, who recently announced his decision to leave the magic circle firm, speaks candidly of just how concerned he was about the controversy that blew up over claims by associates that high billing targets encouraged padding.