Licence to bill

The competition for the most difficult service of court documents has acquired something of an edge at City firm Macfarlanes.

Head of litigation Willie Manners started it off in the firm's litigation newsletter earlier this year with the tale of being faced by the recipient, a burly Scandanavian, wrapped in nothing more than a towel.

Mr Manners threw the papers at him (because the writ had to touch the man) and then ran hoping that the defendant's modesty would secure his escape (see [2000] Gazette, 27 January, 12).

In the latest newsletter, apparently 'keen not to be outdone', assistant Steve Murrell cheekily tries to outdo his boss by recounting the service of a judgment on a defendant in Spain.

Having spent two days wilting in a car outside her house, Mr Murrell was jerked into action by the woman's sudden appearance at the wheel of her car slipping on to the busy streets of Madrid.

After a half-hour chase 'at some pretty hairy speeds', he caught up with her in a multi-storey car park.

Obiter understands Mr Murrell is now pinning his hopes on replacing Pierce Brosnan when he hangs up his 007 licence to kill.

Perhaps in the meantime he could be given a licence to bill?