EDITOR'S LETTER

WELCOME TO THE SUMMER EDITION OF CITY SOLICITOR MAGAZINE.

Do the Right Thing, Spike Lee’s 1989 classic, is one of my favourite films to revisit. It reminds me that doing the right thing is rarely simple. Sometimes, we don’t know what the right thing is. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to do it.

In this issue, we explore professional ethics through multiple lenses. Colin Passmore, Chair of the CLLS and a long-standing authority on privilege, joins Professor Richard Moorhead, whose research focuses on ethics in the legal profession. Is unethical conduct a rare breach or a broader concern? Views differ, but one point is clear: we need stronger ethical education and more regular reflection throughout our careers.

We also look beyond law to explore ethics in sport, a world where ideals of fairness are widely preached but not always practised. Paul Canoville, Chelsea FC’s first Black player, endured relentless abuse yet helped pave the way for future generations. William Rook, of the Centre for Sport and Human Rights, argues that codes of conduct are not enough unless grounded in universal human rights principles.

Looking ahead, the 2026 World Cup will, for the first time, require human rights reporting as part of the host city bid process. It is a hopeful step, though one complicated by the tournament’s cross-border format, hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. How these differing legal and political frameworks interplay may pose new ethical challenges.

We pay tribute to Dorothy Livingston, one of our most distinguished and longest-serving members, whose career has long exemplified the values this issue explores.

And, if the subject of ethics has left you in need of something lighter, we reflect on the Company’s Annual Banquet at Mansion House, a tradition dating back to 1909. Barbara Mills KC, Chair of the Bar Council, delivered a keynote on wellbeing, urging us to consider how we care for ourselves in order to sustain long, meaningful careers. Lighter still, this month’s SIP column turns to non-alcoholic wines, a growing market and a welcome option for those looking to toast the end of the day, alcohol-free.

In case you’ve missed some of the incredible restaurants and bars our journalist Maroulla Paul has reviewed over the years, we’ve created a Google list so you can save, share, and keep track of them all. We are adding new finds all the time so this is really your ultimate go to for the best places. This has been a popular request—so here it is:

Link to Google list > https://maps.app.goo.gl/QhyCoUyV8Rf8af4c7?g_st=i

Ethics are often shaped in the small moments—how we show up, what we ignore, and the choices we make every day.

The question is: are we still trying to do the right thing? 

Salome Coker

Editor

mail@citysolicitors.org.uk