Daily Diary

Silent partners

Posted 13/09/2007 by The Daily Diary

The best lawyers are – so the consultants tell us – those who manage their contacts best. A valuable tip is to always update your contacts database when a partner switches firm, goes in-house, leaves the profession… or dies. Folks at top Helsinki law firm Castren & Snellman were somewhat surprised recently to take a call from a Parisian lawyer asking to speak to Mr Castren.

“He’s dead,” it was politely explained, “and has been since the 19th century.”

Demonstrating the kind of practical thinking that makes lawyers so admired in the world of business, the French lawyer than asked for Mr Snellman instead.

“He’s dead too,” came the inevitable reply, “…for about as long as Mr Castren.”

The Frenchman lawyer promptly hung up in shame. In his defense, however, anyone who has spent a significant time in the company of lawyers from that part of the world will appreciate that it is not always so easy to distinguish between whose souls are already in Valhalla and those who are not yet, ahem, Finnished.