Washington DC-based international law firm Hogan & Hartson has been pushing out the boat around the globe to celebrate its centenary (founder Frank Hogan reputedly advised the renowned bear-hunting US president Teddy Roosevelt). In London last week, firm chairman J Warren Gorrell Jr hosted a glittering event beneath the glass ceiling atop Sir Norman Foster's building at 30 St Mary Axe, better known as the 'gherkin'. So overwhelmed with the momentous nature of the event was Mr Gorrell that he sprinkled his speech repeatedly with an impressive collection of law firm 'culture' superlatives &150; 'teamwork' (at least five times), 'collegiality' (at least three times) and 'excellence' and 'integrity' at least twice each. He also forged new ground as far as Obiter was concerned, with the expression &150; employed four times &150; 'when business intersects with government'. As impressive as the venue and the speech were, the most striking element of the evening was the fact that H&H corporate partner Hywel Jones (see picture) doubled as one of the string players in the quartet providing the sophisticated music for the evening. Now that is worthwhile pro bono work.