Times might be a bit turbulent for the legal profession &150; what with a major Bill looming that will set out its future shape and regulation &150; but at least there is still some stability in the form of Royal invitations. Law Society President Kevin Martin was the only senior representative from a lawyers' body to attend the state banquet in honour of the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, hosted by HM the Q at Buck House last week. Chancery Lane says this is a reflection of its recent lobbying work with the Brazilian bar promoting English and Welsh legal services. When he took office in 2003, Lula became Brazil's first socialist president for more than a quarter-century. His views on the Clementi reforms remain unknown, but with Brazil clearly a potentially large market for international legal services, it is to be hoped he enjoyed his meal at London's leading manor house, and that he remains well disposed towards English and Welsh lawyers.