A prominent New York financier, J. Ezra Merkin, whose private clients lost more than $2 billion in the collapse of Bernard L. Madoff’s Ponzi Scheme, has been accused of fraud and deception in a civil lawsuit filed this week by the New York attorney general, Andrew M.Cuomo, The New York Times has reported. The lawsuit has been filed under state charity and securities laws. 

White & Case to forge African links

It’s out of Africa for a selection of London lawyers who White & Case is relocating as part of a push into the continent. Members of the Western Europe offices visited the firm’s Johannesburg office last week to consolidate plans. The firm hopes to win work kin Angola, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria and Uganda. 

US Attorney show to have Aussie lead

Australian actress Melissa George has started filming the pilot show for a US television drama called US Attorney. The blonde actress is believed to be playing the role of Susan, opposite American director Michael Lange in the New York-based show. Apparently there are not enough legal dramas already.