Staying on top

Midlands firm Hadens knows the way to our heart - flattery.

We can do no better than to quote from its letter: 'The partners at Hadens of Walsall, Darlaston, Lichfield and Cannock take a tough line when it comes to making sure their staff keep abreast of developments in the law: a day out of the office strolling around the countryside failed to stop their staff indulging in their favourite pastime of reading the Gazette - witness four of them pausing to scan the pages at the top of Scafell Pike in the middle of the firm's successful Three Peaks Challenge recently.' Two teams from the firm raised more than 5,000 for the Staffordshire County Air Ambulance by walking the three highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales in under 24 hours.

Pictured are (clockwise from top) the gorgeous, hugely intelligent and tremendously discerning Simon Taylor, Nicky Bachu, Charlotte Stern and Phil Bury.