It is often the case that lawyers are better at giving advice than taking it.

Witness the banking and finance group at ASB Law.

Apparently, the south-east firm has spent the whole of the last year pulling together this crack team of specialists to meet the demands of the region's businesses for sound advice on financial issues.

But then, no sooner had the roulette tables come out at the team's launch party, than the stampede was on.

At least there were banking clients on hand, ready to dispense wisdom on how to cope with mountains of debt.

Pictured (from left) are: Gary Player, Ian Wilson, Jonathan Sacks, Jonathan Grant, and Marcel Bradbury.

(This article refers to images that appear in the printed edition [2004] Gazette, 26 February, page 12)