Sir Keir Starmer, shadow secretary of state for exiting the European Union

Eversheds Sutherland's limited liability partnership (LLP) engaged MP and Doughty Street Chambers QC Sir Keir Starmer to provide legal advice at its Leeds office earlier this year.

Sir Keir, who is the shadow secretary of state for exiting the European Union, was paid more than £8,000 by the firm for his advice.

The LLP paid out two instalments of £2,826 and £5,334 for approximately 30 hours of work in June, according to a register of MPs' financial interests.

The register also revealed that Eversheds Sutherland paid David Davis MP, the former secretary of state for exiting the European Union, £16,000 to speak at the firm's annual leaders' dinner in Dublin in March.

Eversheds declined to comment on the nature of Starmer's legal advice, citing confidentiality reaons. It also declined to state whether the advice sought from Starmer was within his capacity as a shadow minister or barrister. It did not respond to request for comment regarding the payment to Davis.

Two years ago, Starmer held talks with U.K. top 50 firm Mishcon de Reya about taking up a legal advisory role with the firm, which broke down after criticism.

Mishcon first hired Starmer in 2014 as a part-time dispute resolution consultant.

He had regular contact with the firm after becoming an MP in 2015. Starmer's declaration of interests shows that he last worked with Mishcon in February 2017, when he received just over £7,000 for legal advice given to the firm.

Before entering politics, Starmer was a human rights lawyer and co-founded Doughty Street Chambers in 1990. He was called to the bar in 1987 and appointed to Queen's Counsel in 2002. In 2008, he was appointed director of public prosecutions and head of the Crown Prosecution Service, a role he remained in until 2013.

Davis declined to comment. Starmer was approached for comment.