The Mayor of London’s decision not to invite City lawyers on to his high-level economic crisis group has drawn criticism from the City of London Law Society.

The new group, which is tasked with helping London through the downturn, will meet regularly to discuss the effects of the current economic malaise on London – and specifically, on competitiveness in London’s financial services sector.

But the Mayor’s office said no specific representative from the legal sector would be sought.

City of London Law Society chairman David McIntosh said: ‘It is surprising that there is no representation from the legal sector given the massive role that lawyers play in enabling businesses to function.

‘A carefully chosen senior commercial lawyer would have a window into City financial activity, and in my view would add value to any such committee,’ he added.

The City of London Corporation last week said that it expected employment in business services to decline in 2009, for the first time in seven years.

Mayor Boris Johnson (pictured) and minister for London Tony McNulty will chair the group, which will be attended by other members of the business community, government ministers, and representatives from the City of London Corporation and the London Development Agency. Johnson said the group would have the ‘ear’ of Whitehall.

McNulty said: ‘London needs to be assured that we will do all we can to work together to make sure the capital’s economy responds to the downturn in as effective a way as possible. I will make sure that its focus is action – not just yet another talking shop.’

The move comes weeks after a similar body was set up to advise the Chancellor of the Exchequer on challenges facing the professional services sector (see [2008] Gazette, 18 September, p6).