Cameron: No contact with DLA while in office
There are “clear guardrails” in place to ensure that Lord David Cameron’s new role as a consultant to global law firm DLA Piper will not involve contact with the UK government, he has told a watchdog.
The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA), which oversees the government’s business appointment rules for former ministers, has imposed various conditions on his work to ensure that the former prime minister does not exploit knowledge gained in his role as foreign secretary until last year’s election.
In his application to ACOBA, Lord Cameron said his part-time role would be to provide “strategic and geopolitical advice” to DLA’s leadership team with “a particular emphasis on global risk”.
He would also “assist in convening and attending meetings to strengthen relationships with key firm partners and clients, and attending/participating at events for the firm”.
The committee’s advice letter in return recorded: “You confirmed your role will not involve contact with the UK government and stated that there are clear guardrails put in place in the role to ensure this.”
DLA has contracted with the UK government providing legal advisory services, including advising the Foreign Office on the UK government’s participation in the Innovative Finance Facility for Climate in Asia and the Pacific. DLA has also represented the Foreign Office in the ongoing Covid-19 inquiry.
But officials confirmed that Lord Cameron did not meet with DLA, and was not involved in any policy, regulatory or commercial decisions specific to the law firm, so “the risk that this role could be seen as a reward for decisions made in office is low”.
The Foreign Office also told ACOBA that it was not aware of any specific information he had access to that would offer “any particular unfair advantage” to DLA Piper.
Nonetheless, to address the risk associated with DLA Piper’s “unknown” clients, the committee imposed a condition preventing Lord Cameron from advising on “any matters that you had a material role in developing or determining, or where you had a relationship with the relevant client in your role as foreign secretary”.
It said the remaining risks could be mitigated by a series of conditions which seek to prevent him from making improper use of privileged information, contacts and influence to the unfair advantage of DLA Piper.
These include, for two years from his last day in ministerial office (5 July 2024), not becoming personally involved in lobbying the UK government or any of its arm’s length bodies on behalf of DLA, not helping it bid for work from the government, nor making use, “directly or indirectly”, of contacts in the government “to influence policy, secure business/funding or otherwise unfairly advantage” the law firm and its clients.
ACOBA also reminded Lord Cameron that, as a member of the House of Lords, he was prevented from any paid lobbying.
Frank Ryan, DLA Piper’s global co-CEO, said: “Lord Cameron brings a unique perspective to advising the firm on the evolving global landscape.
“His appointment as consultant further positions us to counsel clients on navigating challenges and seizing opportunity wherever they do business.”
Charles Severs, the other co-CEO, added: “Lord Cameron’s vast experience in global leadership and policymaking will be a tremendous asset to our leadership team. His insights will significantly enhance our ability to deliver exceptional legal services to our clients worldwide.”
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