Move aside, Sir Jimmy Saville - Obiter can make things happen for solicitors. Last month, we mentioned the scarf sent to us as a Christmas gift by City firm Lewis Silkin (see [2006] Gazette, 15 December, 6). We were anxious about the firm's name being emblazoned upon it, fearing that casual observers might think the wearer was called Lewis Silkin.


A search of Law Society records identified Rory Silkin, an assistant at Bond Pearce in Southampton, as the only member of the profession who could justifiably sport the scarf, as one of his middle names is 'Lewis'. We even encouraged the firm to send him one to mark the coincidence.



Well, Mr Silkin has now been in touch to explain that it is no coincidence that he shares a moniker with the law firm. 'Both of us were named for my grandfather, the late Lord Silkin of Peckham, who founded the firm with my father in 1950,' he explains. 'I'm grateful for your article. As a result, Lewis Silkin sent me a scarf, so many thanks.'



We are pleased to have been of service and brought the Silkin dynasty that bit closer together.