US firm Goldberg Segalla has parted ways with London insurance partner Clive O’Connell after he was filmed recently delivering an anti-Liverpool rant following a match at Stamford Bridge.
During an interview with an online sports channel following Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat to Liverpool on 31 October, O’Connell called Liverpool fans ‘Scouse scum’ and ‘nasty, horrible people’.
The 240-lawyer firm has responded by terminating O’Connell’s contract with immediate effect.
Managing partner Rick Cohen, in a minute-long statement posted on YouTube said: ‘Clive O’Connell’s comments are entirely inconsistent with our ethos. His words are offensive, plain and simple. His conduct doesn’t rise to the standard to which we hold ourselves and 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 worked hard to build, and are committed to maintaining it.’
O’Connell has practised reinsurance law since qualifying as a solicitor in 1982. His experience includes representing clients in reinsurance disputes over $100m and multi-jurisdictional issues, and acting for clients in the UK, US and France.
jaishree.kalia@legalease.co.uk