On March 9 this year Blake Dawson announced on its website that partner David Williamson had been appointed Chief Legal Counsel at BHP. In that announcement, the following comments were made by influential Blake Dawson partners:

Chairman, Mary Padbury, welcomed his appointment and said: “We are thrilled for David and very proud of him.  This is tremendous recognition of his legal, interpersonal and leadership skills, his experience and industry knowledge and the regard with which he is held at BHP Billiton.  We wish him every success.”

Managing Partner, John Carrington, said: “We will miss David but we are delighted for him.  He has made an outstanding contribution to the life and success of the firm.  He leaves a powerful legacy.  He is a wonderful friend and colleague to many at the firm.”

These kind words may, however, mask a deeper concern that Williamson’s departure could see the exit of the firm’s most important client. We recently received the following comments from an anonymous Blake Dawson spy:

BE VERY AFRAID OF CHANGE

I was surprised to see FS has not yet commented on the move of ex-Blake Dawson partner David Williamson to the role of general counsel ar BHP. What do consider the implications of this development will be on the firm? I can tell you that inside Blakes - where I work - there is high anxiety that with Williamson gone, the vast amount of BHP work undertaken by Blakes might leave with him. Williamson was the key liaison with BHP and it is, in my opinion, unclear who will now take that mantle. I understand that there is history in Australia of partners who rise to general counsel reallocating work away from their former firm. Who is to say this wont happen to Blakes?

We’re certainly not in a position to say, although we too have heard of precedents in which newly appointed General Counsel direct work away from their former firms.

And while we cannot comment on the likelihood that BHP will remain a major client of Blakes, we certainly can comment on the likelihood that until the dust settles on this issue, junior lawyers can probably expect pay conditions to remain tight. This will come as bad news to the anonymous Blakes spy who sent us the following comments last night:

Blake Dawson first year lawyers did not get a pay rise on admission last year and are on the same wage as the new graduates who are not admitted and have no legal experience. This is despite the fact that the firm benefited from the lawyers charge out rates increasing upon their admission, and the billable targets increasing for the lawyers.

The injustice! Is it time to fight for your rights?

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