Thomas Reid, future Comcast GC

In-house moves:

Newcastle Building Society has hired Addleshaw Goddard's financial mutuals' team leader, partner Adam Bennett, as a non-executive director. Bennett spent 36 years with Addleshaws, where his clients included the Building Societies Association. He advised on the last major rewrite of the BSA Model Rules for Building Societies.

The Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC) has reshuffled its board. Founder Steve Harmon, vice-president and general counsel of Elevate Services and deputy general counsel at Cisco Systems, is stepping down. Joining the board is Jason Barnwell, Microsoft assistant general counsel of legal business, operations and strategy; Mike Haven, Gap senior director, assistant general counsel and head of legal operations; and Jamal Stockton, Fidelity Investments head of legal innovation and digital enablement.

Comcast has hired Davis Polk & Wardwell managing partner Thomas J. Reid as its general counsel. Reid will become senior executive vice-president, general counsel and secretary for the U.S.-based telecommunications conglomerate. He became a partner at Davis Polk in 1995, left to be a managing director in the investment banking division of Morgan Stanley in 2000, and rejoined the law firm partnership in 2003.

Macmillan Cancer Support is looking for a new head of legal, following Victoria Benson's departure at the end of last year. Jayne Harvey will be acting head of legal until a permanent replacement is found. She has been at the company since last May, having formerly been general counsel at Brand Events. Benson is now chief operating officer at the single parent charity Gingerbread.

In-house updates:

WeWork is to assemble its first formal legal panel. The workspace-sharing company hired Sarah Nelson Smith as its general counsel at the end of last year and the review will overhaul the current ad hoc relationships with various law firms across Europe, Israel and Australia. She  conducted a similar review at her previous company, Yum! Brands.

Networkrail has halved its legal panel to a roster made up of three law firms: Dentons, Addleshaw Goddard and Eversheds Sutherland. They will act as the railway giant's external legal advisers for the next five years. The tender process began in July last year, led by group general counsel Stuart Kelly.

Digital bank Monzo has named James Sullivan as its new head of its 14-strong legal team. He has worked in-house in funds and technology startups and served as the non-executive director for NCM Fund Services. He took up the role last month, when Simmons & Simmons corporate lawyer Andrew Macklin finished his interim term as part of Simmons' flexible resourcing business Adaptive.

West Bromwich Albion Football Club has announced the death of club director, general counsel and secretary Simon Carrington, aged 34, after a battle with cancer. Messages of condolence have been expressed across social media and the club's website. Director of Football Administration Richard Garlick said Carrington was "loyal, humble and hugely respected by his peers". As a mark of respect, the players wore black armbands for their latest Sky Bet Championship fixture.

In case you missed it: 

  • Law firms are advising their clients to use England and Wales as their chosen jurisdiction for dispute resolution in case of a no-deal Brexit.
  • DLA Piper has been added to the roster of firms advising on the long-running Crossrail project.
  • The debate over the billable hour has been heightened, with some arguing it is detrimental to women's careers.
  • Sixty-five U.K. and European GCs have signed a letter calling on law firms to improve diversity.
  • Zurich Insurance has unveiled the firms on its seven-strong legal panel.