For general counsel, the hours spent poring over legal bills is probably not the highlight of the job. But, every now and again, a rare gem may be uncovered – something that cracks a smile or even draws a snigger.

At the C5 forum on reducing legal costs, bemused corporate counsel from around the world regaled each other with memories of some decidedly dodgy invoices from their panel law firms: ‘One firm tried to bill me for post-it notes. They must have thought I was some sort of stationery cupboard,’ said one.

Another counsel had similar problems: ‘I had one bill for 36,000 sheets of photocopied paper, at 25 cents per sheet. That’s $9,000. For paper copies for their own lawyers, for use around their office! No way was that one getting signed off.’

And dubious bills are not limited to charges for office supplies: ‘One partner claimed a return taxi fee between his office and the intellectual property bureau, in order to register one of our new patents. I complained immediately – he could have got there on the metro.’

Solicitors beware: buy your own stationery and take the bus.

If you are an in-house lawyer and you have tales of entertaining legal bills, Obiter would like to know.

Submissions to the usual address please: obiter@lawsociety.org.uk.