dejarlo todo atado y bien atado

23:40 Jun 14, 2020 

this is a truly interesting 1

19:34 Jun 14, 2020 

Will do!

18:04 Jun 14, 2020 

vamos :)

18:03 Jun 14, 2020 

many ways to say this of course but yours keeps the Spanish working

18:00 Jun 14, 2020 

I think you should post it Carol

17:56 Jun 14, 2020 

but ok

17:55 Jun 14, 2020 

with the caveat that in English mafia slang it means "betrayed"

17:53 Jun 14, 2020 

"stitched up" is on the button... covers all aspects

17:01 Jun 14, 2020 

Yes. "Stitched up" does convey the idea of having arranged matters to ensure a given outcome even when the "arranger" is no longer directly involved.

14:54 Jun 14, 2020 

I'd feel tempted to suggest something like "properly stitched up" or "well and truly stitched up". Also fits in with the "atado" idea.
Although I do realise this could be read as putting words into somebody's mouth - which is never the aim of the translator, however tempting this may be!

14:54 Jun 14, 2020 

His beef is not really with the guy who recused himself, but with other members of the selection committee who did not (but he claims should have for a variety of reasons). I'm hesitant to suggest that the complainant thinks that the former chair set it up for the successful candidate to win. He doesn't say that anywhere and I didn't want to say it too overtly if he doesn't do it either. However, now that Andy has explained the origin of the expression, it seems like he is suggesting that the former chair had a deliberate hand in ensuring the successful candidate was successful...

14:49 Jun 14, 2020 

Well, that makes it a lot more sinister and clearly implies collusion. A Spanish colleague I consulted didn't mention Franco at all, and said it meant what I wrote in my question (leaving everything wrapped up and done). Any suggestions for a rendition that would communicate what you describe? I'll need to keep thinking about in light of this info. Thanks again.

14:46 Jun 14, 2020 

I'm confused why you're so hesitant to put negative-sounding words into the person's mouth (or words to that effect!) - after all, he/she is described as the "complainant" more than once, so surely what they have to say is unlikely to be flattering or even really neutral...?

14:42 Jun 14, 2020 

Wow, I'm impressed - at last some light on the subject!
This suggests something more sinister, like "once and for all", "inexorably"...

13:43 Jun 14, 2020 

Slightly surprised no one's mentioned this, but the reason this phrase appears in Spanish (and not Catalan) is that the author of the phrase was Franco.
It's one of the best known phrases in Spanish, due to Franco using it to describe how he had resolved the issue of the continuation of his regime, in a Christmas speech from 1969 in reference to Juan Carlos I.
It's nothing to due with neatness or bows or anything cute

It's a sinister reference to his having ensured the dictatorship would continue even after his death (or absence, much like the Chair in this case continues to hold sway even though no longer involved).

12:54 Jun 14, 2020 

Thank you, Carol. My client is the legal services department of the university, so they won't be able to speak to the intention of the author. Leaving no loose ends fits in with the register of the text and sounds pretty impartial. Leaving nothing to chance sounds to me a little like these people conspired to make sure the candidate of their choice was hired, but the author never exactly goes that far. Thanks again!

12:04 Jun 14, 2020 

My trusty Robert says simply "leaving no loose ends", which ties in pretty well with your 2nd and 3rd proposals - either of which seems fine and clear to me! I prefer "leaving nothing to chance", or something along those lines.
Regarding implications of conspiracy, it seems to me that the whole passage implies this, but agree you need to err on the safe side. If you really aren't sure about this, perhaps ask the client how they see it..? They should know what the actual intentions of the author were, and whether there could be any comeback if you mis/overinterpreted this - whichever way.