David Corker comments on the delayed appointment of the SFO’s new director in The Times and The Times Law Brief

The appointment of Lisa Osofsky as the new director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has been held up for almost six weeks as security agencies conduct enhanced vetting of the American lawyer.

The Times says the consensus view is that a significant glitch has cropped up in the vetting process for Ms Osofsky, which is simply bureaucratic.

A fortnight ago it emerged that the former director will join the elite City firm Slaughter and May. But there is a potential glitch there as well. The firm acts for clients facing SFO investigations.

David Corker, a partner at Corker Binning, is more relaxed about Green’s new role. “I don’t see the conflict point as a long-term issue.” He says the main benefit to Slaughters will be international. “US firms will gravitate to Slaughter and May with referrals because the English firm does not have a presence in the US and will not be seen by them as a threat.”

Read the full articles in The Times and The Times Law Brief, behind paywalls.