Barrister's dog obtains an MBA - and other animal stories
05 February 2010
The judgment in the long running Sky -v- EDS case was handed down this week, to the delight of Herbert Smith and its clients BSkyB. And while the commercial and legal ramifications of the £200m award will run for years, astute legal commentators were drawn immediately to the pivotal issue of the dog with the MBA.

During the proceedings, it was alleged that a managing director at EDS had a dodgy MBA, apparently from a college in the British Virgin Islands, but actually obtained through the internet. The point was ably demonstrated by Mark Howard QC who obtained a similar degree from the same college for his pet dog Lulu. As Mr Justice Ramsey noted: "Without any difficulty the dog was able to obtain a degree certificate and transcripts which were in identical form to those later produced by Joe Galloway - but with marks which, in fact, were better than those given to him".

Well what would you expect from the pet of Her Majesty's Counsel?

Meanwhile, in other animal news, Switzerland is to hold a referendum in March on whether domestic animals should be entitled to legal representation. Lawyer Antoine Goetschel said "humans accused of animal cruelty can hire a lawyer or get one assigned but animals can't, which is where I come in." The country has already passed a law prohibiting pet owners from keeping goldfish and guinea pigs in solitary confinement, and has changed its constitution to protect the "dignity" of plants.
 

Antoine Goetschel with some clients

 
Rigid animal protection laws are also in place across the border in Germany. Organisers of the German version of TV show "I'm a Celebrity..." face prosecution over the death of three goldfish after they were squashed live on TV.