Chelsea FC-mad Clive O’Connell ejected from global law firm partnership
The London office of Goldberg Segalla has sensationally terminated the partnership of Clive O’Connell, the Chelsea FC-mad corporate lawyer who referred to Liverpool fans in a YouTube rant as, among other things, “scum scouse idiots”.
And the firm has also used YouTube to deliver its message.
O’Connell’s comments were picked up by Legal Cheek after appearing on the video sharing site and Twitter before reaching the mainstream media.
Goldberg Segalla initially backed the lawyer, describing him as “a caring colleague and consummate gentleman [whose] passion got the best of him”.
So this video — uploaded this morning — featuring the firm’s managing partner, Richard Cohen, stripping O’Connell of his partner status comes as something of a surprise.
Here is the full transcript of Cohen’s statement:
My name is Rick Cohen and I am the managing partner of Goldberg Segalla. I personally recruit every lawyer in this firm. I tell each of them that this firm is special because every lawyer who joins Goldberg Segalla must not only be excellent at what he or she does, but he or she MUST be an EVEN BETTER human being. Our core values require that anyone affiliated with Goldberg Segalla demonstrate respect for clients, courts, colleagues, and our communities. Respect, tolerance, kindness, diversity, and charity — these are not mere words or amorphous concepts to us. We are true to these values. Clive O’Connell’s comments are entirely inconsistent with our ethos. His words are offensive, plain and simple. His conduct does not reflect the standards to which we hold ourselves. For these reasons, we have terminated our partnership with Mr. O’Connell effective immediately. We are extremely proud of the respectful and giving culture that we have built within our firm. We are committed to maintaining it for ourselves, our clients, and the communities in which we are a part.