The US’ fast-expanding governance advisory industry looks set to gain a new lease of life as US lawyers and boardrooms begin to digest the unprecedented 25-year sentence last week handed down to former WorldCom chief Bernard Ebbers.

In a move that has sent shock-waves through the US business community, on 13 July the former WorldCom chief executive was sentenced to 25 years in jail for his part the $11bn (£6.29bn) fraud perpetrated by the telecoms giant.