THIS MAN IS NEITHER A DULLARD...It must have been something of a boost for Macfarlanes solicitor Geoff Steward when a judge ruled that not only was the City lawyer not a dullard, but he was also not conniving to boot.

The firm's litigation newsletter reports that some time ago, Mr Steward and his partner-in-charge gave evidence on behalf of a client who was accused of contempt of court.

They bravely prepared a closing speech for leading counsel which claimed that for their client to be in contempt, the partner must have been misguided and Mr Steward must have been a conniving dullard.

In finding for their client, the judge confirmed Mr Steward's unconniving, lively nature.

'It was a great relief to have judicial endorsement,' Mr Steward tells Obiter.

...NOR DOES HE LACK IMAGINATION Macfarlanes' Geoff Steward now has further proof that he is not a dullard.

Fed up with the tedium of his daily commute to the City from Brighton, Mr Steward decided to put the time to good use and has written a children's book, 'The Lost Grandad', which has just been published.

It's about a boy who has lost his imagination and whose grandfather helps him find it.

So is he the next JK Rowling? G Steward replies with heartfelt emotion: 'I sincerely hope so.'