Over the moon

It is good to know that - unlike lawyers in Nottingham - some City solicitors still have a sense of perspective and humility about their work.

After Travers Smith Braithwaite was named legal adviser of the year at the 2003 Private Equity Awards - ahead of Ashurst Morris Crisp, Clifford Chance and SJ Berwin - partner Mark Soundy exclaimed: 'We were delighted just to find ourselves in such good company on the shortlist.

But winning it was almost as big a thrill as Ipswich Town beating Arsenal in the 1978 FA Cup final.

Roll on the next 25 years.' Thank goodness for the key word 'almost'.