There was plenty of animated talk after a seminar on the forthcoming age discrimination legislation hosted by bean counters Smith & Williamson recently. In particular, the prospect that professional firms might indulge in a 'night of the long knives' style cull of older partners ahead of the October 2006 implementation date - and as a result hope to avoid getting sued - received plenty of comment. One delegate was reported to have said that they had four partners at their firm up for the boot - sorry, who could be asked to leave. The delegate said the firm's management had already made up its mind about three, but the fourth was now definitely going as well.