City firm Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has signed up England and Wasps rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio on a three-year deal to provide motivational and team-building tips for its lawyers and clients.

Mr Dallaglio has already appeared at the firm's annual partners' conference, where he gave hints on inspiring staff and working as a team, focusing on the similarities in achieving peak performance in sport and business.

BLP is now set to work with Mr Dallaglio on his return from England's tour of Australia and New Zealand, with a view to setting up a programme of motivational talks for its staff and clients, including a residential course which will focus on physical, emotional and mental fitness.

A BLP spokeswoman explained: 'We want to look at achieving best performance in ways other than going down the traditional training route.'

Managing partner Neville Eisenberg said the firm was pleased to have a good role model on board.

'[Mr Dallaglio's] involvement with the firm has created great excitement and will, I am sure, inspire the firm to achieve even greater levels of performance,' he added.

Paula Rohan