City firm Barlow Lyde & Gilbert is on a bit of high at the moment, having seen off the self-anointed leaders of the litigation attack dog pack, Herbert Smith, as it acted for Ernst & Young in the tumultuous Equitable Life case. To celebrate news of the drop-hands settlement, Barlows threw an impromptu bash last week for friends, supporters and hacks in a private room in London's Groucho Club. Out of curiosity, Obiter queried how many of the firm's own partners were or had been members of the Equitable. Some shifting of feet and muttering followed, but no clear answer emerged, but we were assured that any partners acting for E&Y who might have been members would have divested themselves of any interest. And although one very senior member of the firm gave this reminder that not all members of the Equitable were professionals: the management sent a practice-wide e-mail announcing its glorious success in the case. 'I'm extremely pleased for the firm,' responded one secretary, rather sarcastically, 'but what about my sodding pension?!' Presumably, she was in receipt of a large box of chocolates and stacks of flowers, posited Obiter. 'We spoke to her,' replied the senior Barlows source.