Arnold Goodman, Baron Goodman

Arnold Goodman, Baron Goodman, CH, QC (1913–1995), was a British lawyer and political advisor.

Lord Goodman was educated at University College London and Downing College, Cambridge. He became a leading London lawyer as Senior Partner in the law firm Goodman, Derrick & Co. He was solicitor and advisor to politicians such as Harold Wilson.

Goodman was chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain from 1965 until 1972, succeeded by Lord Gibson. As chair of the Arts Council, Goodman managed the organisation's 'golden age' with the establishing of the South Bank Centre and adoption of the only UK government bill for the Arts while the Council began regular funding for a number of galleries and theatre companies in the English regions. He was also Chairman of British Lion Films, the Committee of Inquiry into Charity Law, the Committee on London Orchestras, the Housing Corporation, the National Building Agency the Newspaper Proprietors' Association, and The Observer Trust, as well as being Director of the Royal Opera House and Sadler's Wells, Governor of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and President of the Theatrical Advisory Committee. He was a Senior Fellow of the Royal College of Art and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Art. He was created a Life peer as Baron Goodman, of the City of Westminster in 1965 and Companion of Honour in 1972.

Later in his career, Lord Goodman was Master of University College, Oxford, succeeding Lord Redcliffe-Maud in 1976. He retired from the post in 1986 and died on 12 May 1995. Harold Wilson (by then Lord Wilson of Rievaulx), Honorary Fellow of University College since 1963, died only twelve days later on 24 May.

[edit] Criticisms

After his death one of his wealthy clients, Lord Portman, alleged that Goodman stole funds worth £10 million from his family's trust over a 30-year period. However, Lord Portman did not verify his claim.
Goodman was often portrayed by Private Eye as a sinister 'power behind the throne' exerting huge influence on the British establishment.

Preceded by Lord Cottesloe	Chair of the Arts Council of Great Britain 1965–1972	Succeeded by Lord Gibson
Preceded by John Redcliffe-Maud	Master of University College, Oxford 1976–1986	Succeeded by Kingman Brewster