When an email headed 'Everest Triumph for Travers Smith' popped into the in-box, Obiter immediately assumed it meant that the City firm had advised a private equity house on a buyout of the double-glazing specialist. But no, it had absolutely nothing to do with the company that made Derbyshire farmer Ted Moult - 'you only fit double glazing once, so fit the best, fit Everest' - famous.


The reality was altogether more exciting. Two senior assistants at Travers Smith, Russ Lamb in employment and Sam Kay in corporate, earlier this month successfully scaled Mount Everest by the southeast ridge (the same route as Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953). The expedition was in aid of The Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust, with Messrs Kay and Lamb aiming to raise £29,035, or a pound for every foot to the summit). They are currently well on their way, with donations of £16,101 to date. If you would like to help them reach - and indeed exceed - their target, go to www.traverssmith.com/everest.html. The two plucky lawyers also did their chances of partnership no harm, by lugging some essential marketing gear all the way to the top.