The firms - Herbert Smith Freehills, Clyde & Co and Reed Smith (through its assumption of Richards Butler) - are identified by The Daily Mail. But, as the newspaper says, 'there is no evidence that those named knowingly employed the rogue detectives in criminal activity on their behalf'. Pressure has been mounting to release the names of businesses - including law firms and banks - which are linked to the UK hacking inquiry. So far public investigations have focused only on the activities of newspapers. One London-based lawyer, Mark Lewis, who represents victims of hacking, said: 'Consistency demands that the same rules apply to all, whether you run a newspaper, a pharmaceutical company or a law firm.' Some MPs at Westminster have pressed for the names of businesses to be released.
Other businesses named by The Daily Mail include accountant Deloitte, Credit Suisse and Chase Manhattan - but, similarly, there is no suggestion that they knowingly employed any investigator with the aim of flouting the law.
Email your news and story ideas to: [email protected]
