Martin Paisner
Martin Paisner (born 1 September 1943) is a partner at Berwin Leighton Paisner, a company which traces part of its origins to a firm set up by in 1932 by Paisner’s father, Leslie Paisner, which represented major clients Penguin Books, Great Universal Stores and Forte Holdings in the 1940s and 1950s. The company is a result of the 2001 merger between Berwin Leighton and Paisner & Co. [1]
Contents
Education
Paisner was educated at St Paul’s School, London 1956-1961 between the ages of 13 and 18, then spent a year at the Sorbonne, Paris 1961-1962. He gained an MA Worcester College, University of Oxford 1962-1965 and then an LLM at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA 1966-1967.[2]
Family
Paisner’s father, Leslie Paisner, founded Paisner & Co, which eventually became Leighton Berwin Paisner, when he retired he passed on his charitable trust to Martin and LBP to Martin’s brother Harold.
Harold is the managing partner of Berwin Leighton Paisner, president of Ben-Gurion University and chairman of the Institute for Jewish Policy Research.
Harold's son (Martin's nephew), Jonathan Paisner, is also a trained lawyer. He has worked at Leighton Berwin Paisner, Shore Capital Group and Puma Investments and currently works at Mathias Gentle Page Hassan, NetScientific and LMN Capital Partners.
Career
Paisner qualified as a solicitor in January 1970 and became a partner at Paisner & Co in 1972. In 1976, when his father, Leslie Paisner, the founder of Paisner & Co, retired the Paisner brothers took on extra responsibility with Martin appointed head of his father’s trusts practice and Harold becoming managing partner of Berwin Leighton Paisner. [3] Paisner specializes in charity law and private client practice, and, according to the firm, has been 'instrumental in developing the firm’s acknowledged role as a leading adviser to charities.'[4]
In April 2015, former MD Neville Eisenberg will replace Paisner as senior partner of BLP. Paisner is understood to not be leaving the firm and will be taking up a new role but as of March 2015 the new role has not been announced.[5]
Controversies
Tony Blair
In 2002 Paisner was revealed as one of the two trustees of the blind trust set up by Tony Blair and Cherie Blair, with Martin Kaye an accountant at BDO Stoy Hayward who has written for the think tank, Demos, named as the other. The trust was set up by the former prime minister and his wife to protect them from conflicting interests in their private financial affairs. Berwin Leighton Paisner have been involved in more than 100 government contracts, signifying a potential conflict of interest for Paisner. He denied any involvement in the firm’s government work and that he could not discuss the trust, saying “You’re trespassing on matters that I don’t feel it’s right for me to comment on at all”, “these are professional matters”. Lord Levy, Blair’s key party fundraiser and a member of the prime minister’s inner circle, helped raise money for the blind trust, and is said to be close to both Blair and Paisner having all met in through the charity Jewish Care. The details on the two trustees were revealed by Tim Stanley, a spokesman for Edward Ware Homes, the property company that sold two flats in Bristol to the trust in the incident dubbed ‘Cheriegate’, said the two trustees of the flats were listed as Martin Kaye and Martin David Paisner, something that was confirmed by Lloyds TSB bank.[6]
Valentine Rare Books
In 2007 it was announced Martin was being sued by Valentine Rare Books for £400,000 in relation to an alleged breach of contract relating to a £2million book collection. Valentine Rare Books claims it was given a 17% share of the collection in 2003, when Paisner instructed the company to sell the books. However, after selling some of the books and dedicating time to find buyers for the collection, Valentine Rare Books claimed Paisner then restricted it from making further sales and disputed the company’s ownership. The company claim Paisner stifled its business, causing serious financial loss.[7][8]
New Era housing estate
The Weizmann Institute Foundation and Shaare Zedek, two companies on the board of which Paisner sits, were caught up in controversy, when they sold their 15% stakes in the New Era estate in London to a Mayfair based investor Westbrook Partners. The new owner was reportedly planning on tripling the rent, a move that will probably lead to the eviction of the current occupants. Comedian and political activist Russell Brand got behind the campaign for the occupants of the New Era estate to not be evicted from their homes. When asked about the situation, Paisner said, “Had we [the trustees of The Weizmann Institute Foundation] had control it is of course possible that we might have our interest differently, but regrettably that was not the position”. He also said there was no way they could have found out prior to selling and they were doing what was best for the foundation.[9]
Israel Advocacy
In October 2015, Paisner signed a letter in The Guardian along with more than 150 people drawn from the arts and politics. The letter launched Culture for Coexistence, an organisation that opposes the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.[10]
Philanthropy
Paisner is involved in many charities, having taken over his father’s trust practices. The majority of the charities Paisner is affiliated with help the Jewish community and have a Zionist point of view, including; The Adrienne and Leslie Sussman Charitable Trust, The Barnett and Sylvia Shine No 1 Charitable Trust, The Bluston Charitable Trust, British Friends of the Jerusalem Foundation, European Jewish Publication Society, Harvey Rosenblatt Charitable Trust, Holocaust Educational Trust, Janet Wolfson De Botton Charitable Trust, Kesztenbaum Family Charitable Trust, Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation, Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies, Peltz Trust, Phillips and Rubens Charitable Trust, Shaare Zedek (UK), Stella and Alexander Margulies Charitable Trust, Stuart Young Foundation, Weizmann Institute Foundation and Yoni Jesner Foundation.
Charities
Affiliations
| Company name | Dissolved? | Role | Date of Appointment | Date of resignation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Townsley Family Investments Limited | No | Director | 16/06/2005 | - |
| Metcalf Properties Limited | Yes - 2003 | Director | 22/08/1996 | 2003 |
| The British Library Trust | No | Director | 09/02/2012 | - |
| Romanoff Fund for Russia (UK) | No | Director | 03/05/1994 | 23/10/1996 |
| Nameco (No.412) Limited | No | Director | 24/02/2009 | - |
| Bluston Securities Limited | No | Director and Secretary | 17/06/1992 | - |
| Barnet City Academy | No | Director | 13/10/2004 | 15/10/2008 |
| Samford University (USA) Trust Limited | Yes | Secretary director | 31/12/1991 | N/A |
| Kitecross Limited | Yes – 07/09/1999 | Director | 02/10/1998 | 07/09/1999 |
| Eagle Management Company Limited | No | Secretary | 17/09/2003 | 14/02/2013 |
| Consumer Trustees Limited | No | Director | 08/04/1998 | 18/06/2002 |
| Sendgrove Limited | Yes – 27/11/2001 | Director and Secretary | 30/06/1993 | 27/11/2001 |
| Hadassah Medical Relief Association UK | No | Director | 29/11/1995 | - |
| Trident Investment Company | No | Director | 28/10/1992 | 29/01/1998 |
| Hooke Park Educational Trust | No | Director | 31/03/1992 | 07/03/1994 |
| Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies | No | Director and Secretary | 07/06/1991 | - |
| PCO 217 Limited | Yes – 13/07/2010 | Director | 05/08/1999 | 13/07/2010 |
| Shaare Zedek UK | No | Director | 14/12/2010 | - |
| Oxford Synagogue & Jewish CentreLimited | No | Director | 05/05/1992 | 30/04/2004 |
| Family Trustee Company Limited | Yes – 22/01/2013 | Director | 28/03/1991 | 22/01/2013 |
| Ebury Investments Limited | No | Director | 24/11/1998 | - |
| Stamag Trustee Company Limited | No | Director | 12/03/1998 | |
| Kinsdale Investments Limited | Yes | Director and secretary | 22/06/1992 | |
| 74 Portland Place Limited | Yes – 26/04/2011 | Director | 13/09/1992 | 26/04/2011 |
| Petermore Limited | Yes | Director | 21/08/1991 | |
| J.&B.Ashley Limited | No | Director | 13/09/2011 | - |
| Royal Free Cancerkin Breast Cancer Trust | No | Director | 29/12/2000 | - |
| European Jewish Publication Society | No | Director | 15/12/1994 | - |
| Paimag Trustee Company Limited | Yes – 21/08/2001 | Director | 20/03/1998 | 21/08/2001 |
| Gelmag Trustee Company Limited | No | Director | 12/03/1998 | - |
| Starmain Limited | Yes – 22/10/1996 | Director | 10/04/1991 | 22/10/1996 |
| Inlandglide Limited | Yes – 10/02/1998 | Director | 31/03/1991 | 10/02/1998 |
| Inter-Action Social Enterprise Trust Limited | No | Director | 21/05/1992 | 07/06/1996 |
| Jewish Literary Trust Limited | No | Director | 01/09/1991 | 02/08/1994 |
| Ebury Investments Limited | No | Secretary | 24/11/1998 | 29/01/1999 |
| Lemag Trustee Company Limited | No | Director | 12/03/1998 | - |
| Backing Jewish Youth | Yes – 22/10/2002 | Director | 14/08/1995 | 22/10/2002 |
| Bluston Securities (Bordon) Limited | No | Secretary | 20/04/2009 | |
| Lhotse LLP | No | Director | 27/09/2012 | - |
| Holocaust Educational Trust | No | Director | 27/04/2001 | - |
| PCO 206 Limited | No | Director | 09/10/1998 | - |
| Studio Arts Centers International U.K | Yes – 15/02/2000 | Director | 30/01/1993 | 15/02/2000 |
| Trident Investment Holding Company Limited | Yes – 22/12/1998 | Director | 28/10/1998 | 22/12/1998 |
| New Israel Fund | No | Director | 01/09/2008 | 20/11/2009 |
| Jerusalem Foundation Trustees Limited | No | Director and Secretary | 20/03/2007 | - |
| 74 Portland Place Residents Limited | Yes – 07/02/2006 | Director | 30/03/1993 | 07/02/2006 |
| The Leadership Trust (Trading) Limited | Yes – 4/09/2012 | Director | 12/08/1997 | 28/06/1998 |
| Cinderhall Properties Limited | Yes – 20/08/2008 | Director | 16/10/2001 | 20/10/2001 |
| Herts Industrial Construction Limited | Yes – 27/08/2008 | Secretary | 17/9/2003 | 27/08/2008 |
| Oakminster Properties Limited | Yes – 25/12/2009 | Director | 26/02/1991 | 25/12/2009 |
| Jerusalem Trustees Limited | Yes – 05/01/2006 | Director | 21/10/2008 | 05/01/2006 |
| Majestic Properties (London) Limited | No | Director | 13/09/2011 | - |
| The Weizmann Institute Foundation | No | Director | 15/02/1980 | - |
| Tal Nominees Limited | Yes – 02/07/2002 | Director | 26/01/2000 | 02/07/2002 |
| Aimward Limited | No | Director | 08/09/1998 | 23/11/2001 |
| UK Friends of the Peres Institute for Peace | No | Director and Secretary | 25/03/1997 | 31/03/2011 |
| Tower Bridge Fiduciary Limited | No | Director | 13/08/2014 | - |
| Teresa Limited | Yes – 07/09/1999 | Director | 12/01/1998 | 07/09/1999 |
| Woolf Institute | No | Director | 08/03/2007 | - |
| W F Nominees Limited | Yes – 12/06/2007 | Director | 08/09/1999 | 12/06/2007 |
| Fortplot Limited | Yes – 28/09/2004 | Secretary | 17/09/2003 | 28/09/2004 |
| PCO 160 Limited | Yes – 03/08/2004 | Director | 08/11/1999 | 02/08/2004 |
| BNAI Brith Foundation Limited | Yes – 01/02/2011 | Director | 31/12/1990 | 16/01/1996 |
| Fairholme Estates (Holdings) Limited | No | Director | 18/02/1991 | - |
| Trust Construction Company Limited | No | Secretary | 17/09/2003 | - |
| Minderbay Limited | Yes – 20/06/2000 | Director | 26/02/1991 | 20/06/2000 |
| J.B. Rubens Charity Trustees Limited | Yes – 12/09/2006 | Director | 07/03/1993 | 12/09/2006 |
| Bluston Securities (Bordon) Limited | No | Director | 20/04/2009 | - |
| Paco Nominees Limited | Yes – 01/03/2011 | Director | 22/07/1999 | 01/03/2011 |
| Pelmon Limited | Yes – 13/10/2009 | Director | 17/07/2008 | 13/10/2009 |
| Barker Group Limited | No | Secretary | 17/09/2003 | - |
| Holne Chase Trustee Company Limited | No | Director | 07/03/1993 | - |
| Institute for Strategic Dialogue | No | Director | 30/04/2008 | 18/05/2010 |
| Weizmann Trading Company Limited | No | Director | 16/12/2009 | - |
| The Covenant & Conversation Trust | No | Director | 04/06/2013 | - |
| Copac Nominees Limited | Yes – 01/03/2011 | Director | 22/07/1999 | 01/03/2011 |
| Industrial Developments (Herts) Limited | No | Director | 17/09/2003 | - |
| Jewish Care Community Foundation | No | Director | 21/06/1995 | 23/06/2004 |
| Wohl Nominees Limited | No | Director | 13/12/2007 | - |
| Piltwon Services Limited | Yes – 22/03/2011 | Director | 06/12/2007 | 22/03/2011 |
| Tikva Corp | No | Vice president/trustee | ||
| Redbourne Avenue LLP | No | LLP designated member | 27/05/2014 | - |
Other roles
- Honorary council member, Royal Court Theatre, London.[15]
- Vice president, Jewish Care.[15]
- Honorary Member of the council, NSPCC .[15]
- Member of the board, The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Inc.[15]
- Chairman, Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute – a think tank partnership between the US based Jewish Distribution Committee Inc and the Israeli Government dealing primarily with social welfare, health and educational issues.[15]
Notes
- ↑ BLP Law About BLP, accessed 3 June 2015.
- ↑ Woolf Institute Martin Paisner, accessed 28 November 2014.
- ↑ Suzi Ring Starting out strong ’Legal Week’’, 29 September 2011, accessed 23 November 2014.
- ↑ BLP Law Martin Paisner, accessed 18 November 2014.
- ↑ Tom Moore Succeeding Paisner: Eisenberg to become senior partner at BLP when managing partner term ends Legal Business, 26 March 2015, accessed 27 March 2015.
- ↑ Nicholas Hellen, David Leppard and Robert Winnett Blair trusts sparks new crony row Sunday Times, 15 December 2002, accessed 1 December 2014.
- ↑ David Jetuah Law firm tax partner facing £400,000 law suit Accountancy age, 22 February 2007, accessed 1 December 2014.
- ↑ Claire Ruckin BLP’s Paisner faces £400k rare book court battle Legal Week, 22 February 2007, accessed 24 December 2014.
- ↑ Robert Booth Families facing eviction from New Era estate outraged at landlord’s mansion Guardian, 26 November 2014, accessed 5 December 2014.
- ↑ Harriet Sherwood, 'Star authors call for Israeli-Palestinian dialogue rather than boycotts', The Guardian, 22 October 2015, accessed 23 October 2015
- ↑ Greer Fay Cashman, A flying start for Binyenei Ha'uma The Jerusalem Post, 5 December 2008, Pg. 24., accessed 3 June 2015.
- ↑ The Peltz Trust [Trustees' Annual report for the year ended 5 April 2006], accessed 3 June 2015.
- ↑ Open Corporates Martin Paisner, accessed 3 June 2015.
- ↑ Endole Martin David Paisner, accessed 4 June 2015.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 Peter Cruddas Foundation Paisner Biography, accessed 3 June 2015.
