Dame Shirley ditches firm

'HOMES FOR VOTES': former Westminster City Council chief switches solicitors for Euro battle

Dame Shirley Porter, the former leader of Westminster City Council, has replaced her long-standing solicitors as she goes to Europe to avoid a record 26 million penalty over the 1980s 'homes for votes' scandal.

Following a beauty parade, Dame Shirley has selected central London firm Jeffrey Green Russell to replace City practice Nicholson Graham & Jones and former Nicholsons partner Alan Langleben, who is now at fellow London firm Rochman Landau but has continued to work as a consultant on the case.

A spokesman for Dame Shirley told the Gazette: 'We decided that we needed different skills and a new outlook going forward.'

The move follows the House of Lords decision late last year to overturn a 1999 Court of Appeal ruling and reinstate the 26 million penalty for promoting the sale of council houses during the 1980s.

Mark Spragg, a partner at Jeffrey Green Russell, is now spearheading an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights on several grounds, including the unfair and disproportionate nature of the surcharge - especially as no personal gain was involved - the powers used by the then district auditor to investigate the affair, and infringements of Dame Shirley's right to a fair trial.

Mr Spragg said he was confident of success.

'It is always difficult to slate the House of Lords, but we have to say that they got it wrong.'

Nicholsons, which continues to act only in relation to costs issues surrounding the House of Lords hearing, declined to comment.

Dame Shirley initially instructed Brecher & Co, run by long-time friend David Brecher.

It merged into Nicholsons in 1995, where Mr Brecher is still a consultant.

She was advised by Mr Langleben, who moved with Mr Brecher to Nicholsons, since 1990.

When he left in 2000 to join Rochman Landau, he was retained by his former firm as a consultant specifically on the case.

Mr Langleben would only say that he had been disappointed by the House of Lords ruling.

Neil Rose