The former Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, is to join a top American law firm, The Times has learned.

Tony Blair’s former flatmate is to become senior counsel with the US firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as the mainstay of a portfolio of jobs combining the law and charitable or public sector work.

His move, a big coup for the firm, is expected to be announced today.

Lord Falconer said he was “very, very happy” with his new career, which has taken a year to sort out since he was sacked by Gordon Brown to make way for Jack Straw as Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary. He said: “I can’t be an advocate in the English courts because I am barred from doing so, having been Lord Chancellor.

“But I will do advisory work, advising on litigation, corporate transactions and public law.”

But he would be able to undertake advocacy in arbitration work, he said. The position had been cleared with the Lord Chief Justice, he added.

Lord Falconer, who has been in dispute with the Government over his pension (he declined to comment on whether the matter was resolved) would not reveal his salary.

But it is likely to be at least £800,000 a year and probably more, giving him a chance to catch up with lost earnings since he left a lucrative career as a top-earning commercial Queen’s Counsel to join Mr Blair’s Government in 1997.

The job will occupy him for about two thirds of his week. He has also taken on three public sector or charitable positions: the chairman ship of the City Development Company for Newcastle and Gateshead; chairmanship of Amicus Horizon Housing Association and chairmanship of the John Smith Trust, an unpaid position.

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher is a global US laws firm with 900 lawyers across 15 countries.

Lord Falconer’s move echoes that of the former Attorney-General, Lord Goldsmith, QC, who last September joined another top American law firm today to lead its European litigation practice.

Lord Goldsmith, who retired from Government in June after six years, went to Debevoise & Plimpton.

He will take on a wide range of work involving litigation, investigations, arbitration and public internatonal law.

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