A number of attendees described the meeting as unclear about its purpose. Mr Gove reportedly expressed his concerns over the emergence of a two-tier justice system and a funding gap faced by the MoJ as a result of Treasury constraints, though the tax levy was not clearly articulated. 

Prior briefing

However, among the firms in attendance, which included all of the Magic Circle and a raft of US firms, it is generally believed that the MoJ deliberately briefed The Times ahead of the meeting on the possibility that it would try to impose a one per cent levy on the 100 largest law firms.

Anger among City firms

The levy, reportedly meant to generate funds to invest in the courts and replace a controversial criminal court charge on guilty defendants, has been the cause of much consternation among City firms. A number of those at the meeting argued that it would be unworkable and a highly unconventional attempt to impose an additional tax on one industry. Several senior lawyers have also expressed a belief that Mr Gove is using the threat of a levy to press law firms to increase their pro bono commitments. Source: Legal Business