BoE appoints new legal chief

The Bank of England (BoE) has announced that Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer corporate partner Graham Nicholson will be added to its legal team at the start of next year.

The Bank of England (BoE) has announced that Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer corporate partner Graham Nicholson will be added to its legal team at the start of next year.

Mr Nicholson will become the BoE chief legal adviser and adviser to the governor of the Bank of England, replacing Dame Juliet Wheldon.

Speaking about the move, Guy Morton, joint senior partner at Freshfields, said: "Graham has made an exceptional contribution to the firm over many years, both in terms of client work and firm management.

"We thank him for his tireless efforts and are delighted that he has now been appointed to this very important role."

Mr Nicholson will be familiar with providing advice for the BoE as his work at Freshfields included instructing the Bank on the nationalisation of Bradford and Bingley.

Earlier last month governor Mervyn King was forced to write to the chancellor Alistair Darling once again to explain to the government why the target of two per cent inflation was not met, although many analysts now believe the retail prices index is set for a slide following serious concerns of a recession.