Leading law firm’s married boss quits over sex texts to woman he never met
The chairman of the world’s wealthiest law firm has resigned over sexual ‘communications’ with a woman he has never met.
US company Latham & Watkins said London-based Bill Voge’s ‘lapses in personal judgement’ had made his position ‘untenable’.
The married lawyer, 61, is said to have exchanged text messages with an unidentified woman. Although the conversations had no impact on Mr Voge’s firm, the managing partner’s ‘subsequent conduct’ meant he had to resign.
Mr Voge was until recently a board member of the New Canaan Society, an American organisation of men who, according to its website, ‘gather together to encourage each other in friendship and faith and to support each other to be better husbands, fathers, and men’.
The contents of Mr Voge’s texts have not been disclosed, nor have the details of his subsequent behaviour which led to his resignation. A statement from Latham & Watkins said: ‘Mr Voge tendered his resignation after making a series of voluntary disclosures to the firm’s executive committee relating to his personal conduct.
‘[This] involved the exchange of communications of a sexual nature with a woman whom he has never met in person and who had no connection to the firm. Mr Voge’s conduct did not involve the firm, any of its clients, or its personnel ... [but he] engaged in subsequent conduct relating to this matter that, while not unlawful, the executive committee concluded was not befitting the leader of the firm.’
Mr Voge, who had been with the company for 35 years, said: ‘I made a personal mistake for which I bear considerable fault and humiliation. I deeply
‘Not befitting the leader of the firm’
regret my lapse of judgment and I am sorry for the distress and embarrassment I have caused my family, friends and colleagues.’ he added that he had ‘let down our firm and its people, all of whom I so deeply cherish and respect’.
Latham & Watkins is generally considered to be the wealthiest law firm in the world. The company’s partners are understood to earn on average more than £2million a year.
Last month it was said to have been the first firm to break the $3billion (£2.14billion) annual revenue barrier.
Mr Voge made his name in the fields of energy and finance. The American worked in San Diego and New York before moving to London. he took over as the firm’s boss four years ago.