THE BEST AWARDS EVER

Woody Allen, in his classic film of the mid-seventies Annie Hall, expressed a dim view of prize-giving ceremonies.

In a desperate attempt to save his flagging relationship, Allen's died-in-the-wool New Yorker character is forced to fly to Hollywood where he finds Annie preparing to shoot off to a fashionable music awards.

'They give awards for everything in this town,' he moans.

'Best fascist dictator...

Adolf Hitler.' London lawyers would be forgiven for taking a similar view of the plethora of awards currently being dished out by legal publications.

The latest was a series of prizes from the publishers of the Chambers Directory for 'best lawyer this...' and 'best law firm that...' Scooping the prize for 'best commercial law barrister' was Jonathan Sumption QC, who superbly managed to confirm the Bar's position at the erudite end of the profession.

Unable to attend himself, Mr Sumption sent his clerk along who informed us that by his lack of attendance, we had been spared a version of My Way sung in medieval French.

Presumably, Mr Sumption's submissions to the court are made in something resembling modern English, although you never know.