A fight broke out last week at the swish St Katharine's Dock venue for the annual Times newspaper night lawyers' bash. Well, not really, but for a moment it looked like the real thing. As the mixture of media specialist solicitors and barristers tucked into the high-quality selection of canapés and free-flowing booze, attention focused on a stocky chap and a feisty blonde as they appeared to be trading blows. Far from rushing to intervene, many of the guests formed an impromptu ring and Obiter was tempted to open a book on the result. Rather disappointingly, it turned out that the male participant was solicitor-turned-writer Alex Wade and that the female lawyer was... ever the gentleman, Obiter will protect her identity and dignity &150; apart from saying that she stated she had recently been taking lessons and Mr Wade seemed impressed with her style. He should know. Mr Wade is a keen supporter of the pugilistic arts, having last year published Wrecking Machine, a book all about white-collar chaps who yearn to box. Look out for the paperback version this spring, he informs us.