Daily Diary

Be alarmed. Be very, very alarmed

Posted 14/05/2007 by The Daily Diary

Mobile phone company and sometime law firm LG was last week packing paralegals into cardboard boxes and filling partners with styrofoam before its big office move to swanky new premises in More London, where ‘elite’ City rival Norton Rose will shortly follow.

However, both firms should remember that old maxim about the best laid (floor)plans going awry. The Diary has marveled open-mouthed at the solar-powered ergonomic paradise that is the new Allen & Overy (A&O) HQ – yet even the magic circle firm has experienced a few problems with its sparkly new home.

Diary spies report how the firm is currently being plagued by a rogue firm alarm, which causes fee earners, secretaries and even switchboard operators to evacuate the building on a near-daily basis.

Callers are therefore frequently met with a recorded message saying the entire firm is currently unavailable – a refreshing change for The Diary from simply being that told the only person who can help is away.

No smoke without ire: A&O managers gear up for more associate fire-fighting