Historically the key motive for law firm partners to take up non-executive directorships has been to cement their individual and firms’ relationships with their clients. Although it is discouraged by most of the top firms – mindful of the damaging publicity it can attract when companies run into trouble – until recently the practice has been relatively uncontroversial.
But you only have to witness the dramatic falls in shares across the world, fuelled by a confidence crisis in the US about the way businesses are run, to appreciate that corporate governance is in the spotlight.
