Daily Diary

City chief's cattle battle

Posted 29/08/2007 by The Daily Diary

With news breaking last week that Freshfields will face its second retirement-themed face-off with a former partner in December, it was refreshing for The Diary to hear from the City chief of another major firm whose retirement plans don’t involve taking his former colleagues to court.

The firm’s managing partner is planning to return to his Scottish roots when he calls it a day herding lawyers by relocating to the Highlands to breed novelty cattle. The Belted Galloway cow (pictured - hopefully) is remarkable for its distinctive markings resembling – you guessed – a white belt around the cow. Makes a change from the white-shoe aspirations of some at his firm, at least.

For now, the partner is having to satisfy himself with weekend trips to the Highlands, where he gazes longingly at his clan leader’s own herd. He is not yet sure which is going to be harder work – managing the London office of an international law firm or being a cattle-farmer… but, rather modestly, he suspects the latter.

Makes a change from milking clients, anyway