Clifford Chance is well known for having planted its flag in more locations than virtually any law firm in the world, but this is a new departure even by their standards. Partners Michael Bates, Alan Inglis and Mark Stewart have just returned from a polar ice cap expedition, and they lugged a Clifford Chance flag along to the North Pole to crown their achievements. The trio were part of a group of eight City professionals (including the co-founder of Orange) who have raised more than £1 million for charity from their ten-day unsupported expedition from the 89th parallel to the geographic North Pole. Temperatures were as low as -20C. Each group member had to drag a sleigh containing their share of equipment, provisions and personal items, which presumably included client files for the lawyers, as partners at top City firms have to be available at all times nowadays. Mr Stewart said: 'We are happy to be back and extremely pleased to have taken part in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and especially to raise so much money for charity. We encountered some tough moments where the weather really tested our character. At one point, on day five, we were two miles further back from the Pole than at day three.' The lawyers were raising money for two small children's charities, The Place2Be and Keech Cottage Children's Hospice.