Readers beware - you may never see your firm in the same light again after hearing this from Laura Empson, professor at Cass Business School. Empson told the Law Society's Law Management Section conference last week that most law firms can be put into one of several categories. Do any of them seem familiar? First there are the Three Musketeers - brilliant, maverick individuals who win fabulous victories against impossible odds, then enjoy going out drinking afterwards. Firms like this shouldn't get too big because, as Empson notes, 'there isn't a movie called the 300 Musketeers'. Then there is the 'pirate ship' law firm - an unruly, greedy bunch all out for themselves - and quick to make under-performing crew members walk the plank. Then there is Henry V and his knights at Agincourt - a disciplined lot who place great faith in their leader, but are likely to surrender if the king is killed (or takes early retirement). Finally, you have the gladiators - highly trained fighters who submit to stringent management control because of the gains to be made, but with no commitment to the organisation they work for. Highly popular with the Roman ladies - who, Empson notes, will pay a fair price to spend an evening in their company - they lack personal freedom, but can achieve celebrity status and make the most of their short-lived and highly lucrative careers. There is another way to describe this particular category, Empson says - investment bankers.