Pride of Japan

The World Cup PR battle has been well and truly engaged, Obiter is depressed to report.

Last month, we predicted that Southampton firm Paris Smith & Randall would be just the first of many firms to trumpet client hospitality for the England v Argentina match on 7 June (see [2002] Gazette, 14 March, 13), and we were right.

The latest is Lichfield firm Keely Beedham, which has hired a giant television screen in a nearby hotel to entertain 100 clients, and put together this exciting publicity shot to boot.

We suspect managing partner Daniel Keane (pictured being fed rice with senior partner John Parkes behind him) is living up to his surname a bit too much when he claims: 'We believe David [Beckham] needs all the help he can get and we promise him that the partners, staff and clients of Keely Beedham will be right behind him on the day.' But at least he is showing some enthusiasm.

The killjoys at west country firm Bevan Ashford last week sent out a dire warning to employers about the dangers of staff arriving at work drunk after watching early morning World Cup matches in the pub.