Sheriff Elect Alderman Greg Jones KC has used his speech to the Company of Entrepreneurs to reaffirm his shrieval platform that the Rule of Law is essential to enterprise in the City of London.
 
Speaking just a week ahead of his admission as a Sheriff of the City, Alderman Jones illustrated how bad law and poor legal advice can lead to avoidable losses for business and entrepreneurs. He has made it a commitment to promote London’s legal and professional services during his year of office.
 
“My colleague David Chalk and I will be promoting not only the rule of law (which means more than the independence of the judiciary – it includes access to legal advice at a reasonable affordable cost, speedy judgments and transparency) but also promoting that essential link between legal services and business.”
 
Acknowledging that the primary role of the Sheriffs is to support the Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Jones pledged his loyalty to the City’s highest elected office and looked forward with optimism to serving both the current Lord Mayor, Aderman Michael Mannelli, and his likely successor, Alderman Alastair King. Alderman King, in particular, as both a qualified solicitor and the Senior Warden of the Company of Entrepreneurs, is well-placed to advocate actively for both business and the law.
 
Alderman Jones said “Legal services are crucial to the operation of business. Business needs to know it can conduct its affairs in a safe and secure legal environment. Whilst business may never need to resort to the courts, just knowing that that that secure, transparent, and fair system is available here in the City of London provides the greatest global sandbox for creative ideas and businesses to flourish.”
 
“David [Chalk, the Non-Aldermanic Sheriff Elect] and I want to make the so-called "City side" of the Old Bailey a forum for promoting the relationship of legal services the rule of law as a foundation for City commerce.”
 
NOTES: The office of Sheriff predates that of the Lord Mayor, and is an essential part of the independently-elected governance of the City of London. Sheriffs support the Lord Mayor from the Old Bailey, where they play an important role in promoting the City of London’s professional and financial services – including law. The Sheriffs Elect have featured in Joshua Rosenberg’s first podcast published here.
 

Photos © Z Rabikowska