Pinsents partner rejected by MPs as chair of Equality Commission
Parliamentary committees say appointment of Pinsent Masons partner would be conflict of interest and decline to endorse him
April 20, 2016 at 08:55 AM
3 minute read
Two parliamentary select committees have declined to approve the government's nomination of a Pinsent Masons partner as chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
David Isaac, head of advanced manufacturing and technology at Pinsents, was put forward by the government as its preferred candidate for the role.
In a joint letter yesterday (19 April) to Secretary of State for Education Nicky Morgan, Labour MP Harriet Harman and Conservative MP Maria Miller, chairs of the Joint Committee on Human Rights and the Women and Equalities Committee respectively, declined to recommend Isaac for the post, citing potential conflicts of interest.
The letter says: "Isaac's appointment, in conjunction with his continuance as a senior equity partner of a law firm, which conducts a significant amount of business with the government, would constitute a serious potential conflict of interest."
The letter also notes that Pinsents acts for clients on a wide array of matters that could conflict with the work of the commission, particularly employment or public procurement issues.
It adds that even if he were not involved in such advice "he would, as an equity partner, continue to profit financially from such involvement by his colleagues in Pinsent Masons and would thus have a financial vested interest".
The letter also highlights the potential difficulties that could be caused by his being subject to "professional obligations including confidentiality and a fiduciary duty of loyalty towards his clients".
In an earlier letter to the committees the EHRC's chief executive Rebecca Hilsenrath set out a number of ways in which the conflicts might be avoided – primarily through Issac removing himself from discussions of Pinsents' clients.
But Miller and Harman's letter said: "We find it difficult to see how this matter might be resolved if Mr Isaac wishes to continue as an equity partner at Pinsent Masons while in the role of chair of the EHRC."
The committees therefore did not recommend that Isaacs be appointed to the role, although the Secretary of State retains the power to make the final decision on the appointment.
A Government spokesperson said: "We are pleased the Committees have recognised that David Isaac is a good candidate, as have other prominent figures from the human rights and legal community, including Lord Lester and Lucy Scott-Moncreiff. We will, of course, look at all issues raised by the Committees, and expect to respond very soon."
A spokesperson for Pinsent Masons said: "It would be inappropriate for us to comment upon an on-going appointment process."
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