Daily Diary

Putting on the glitz

Posted 2/10/2006 by legalweekblogs.com SU

The Commerce & Industry Group’s recent annual dinner added further to the Everest-sized pile of evidence that European general counsel are fast gaining ground on their Yankee counterparts in the glitz and glamour stakes.

The Carlton Tower Hotel in swanky Knightsbridge was the venue as 350 senior in-house counsel gathered to clink glasses and debate the finer points of legal procurement.

The event was a far cry from gatherings of yesteryear, when (legend has it) a dozen company secretaries would huddle in a Little Chef somewhere off the A628 before ransacking the mini-bar at the nearby Travelodge.

However, the plight of one legal head showed that in-house hardships persist in some dark corners of the country.

“I’m getting the sleeper train back to Scotland tonight,” slurred one in-houser as he declined a final glass of champagne for the road. “I’ve got a 10am meeting with the finance director.”