A Bird & Bird lawyer is set for a spanking after the firm lost one of the biggest negligence claims of the year.

Bird & Bird was instructed by Hong Kong property company Orientfield in 2010 to buy a blinged-up seven bedroom mansion in St John's Wood, north west London. But a Bird & Bird lawyer in the real estate practice failed to send Orientfield a planning report which showed that the house would be adversely affected by a substantial development planned nearby.

None the wiser, Orientfield paid a £2.5 million deposit for the £25 million house. When it discovered that its temple of bling might be ruined by a new and bigger carbuncle down the street, it pulled out of the deal, losing half its deposit in the process. The company subsequently sued Bird & Bird in the High Court, where the firm argued unsuccessfully that it was under no duty to provide the report. Judge Mark Pelling QC disagreed, and has ordered 2Birds to pay its former client £1.8 million in damages plus interest.

A spokesman for Bird & Bird said, “We are disappointed with the result but we’re discussing with our insurers the possibility of an appeal”. While Wedlake Bell partner David Golten, who acted for Orientfield, finger-wagged: "clients rightly expect and should have professional advisors who act diligently to protect their interests".

But the sellers should be grateful to 2Bird: not only did they keep £1.25 million of the deposit, but they saw the value of their grotto rocket when it was sold last year to Elisabeth Murdoch for £38.5 million. Take a tour of the mansion on RollOnFriday, because the only other way you'll see it is by becoming an au pair.


Because whoever lives here probably can afford to make five other people watch them sleep.


liberace

 

If you let your eyes relax, the dining room resolves into an image of Liberace throwing up rubies.


Visitors are invited to prop their bikes against the priceless marble lion.


The chill-out lounge, where too many guests have realised these are sex people Lynn.

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