Clifford Chance partner Tim Herrington has been appointed chairman of the Financial Services Authority's regulatory decisions committee.

The 24-strong committee meets statutory demands that the authority's decision making is conducted separately from its investigation and recommendation functions. It decides on, among others, disciplinary actions and refusals of applications for authorisation.


Mr Herrington, who joined Clifford Chance as a trainee in 1976, was appointed for a four-year term following an open competition. He said: 'I was very attracted to the idea of a new challenge. This will require me to balance all sorts of interests in coming to a fair decision. It is essential to ensure public confidence in the decision-making process.'


Mr Herrington said he would avoid conflicts of interest by not hearing matters involving his former clients where he has prior relevant knowledge.


He added: 'I do not yet know whether I will return to private practice at the end of my term, but it is unlikely. I had already cut down to three days a week at Clifford Chance.'