Daily Diary

Raging biller

Posted 14/11/2007 by The Daily Diary

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer seems to have acquired an unfortunate habit of late of getting its name in the national press for stories it might well prefer not to see in print at all. While it has yet to experience its own ‘Yumgate’ moment (or even a more modest ‘Ketchupgate’), the firm’s PR team must currently be feeling like it’s done 12 rounds with Joe Calzaghe.

The latest headline-grabbing haymaker comes from former Freshfields fee earner Laura Saperstein, whose svelte-but-deadly form has been gracing various media outlets due to her unlikely career change from lawyer to boxer.

“I was amazed by the skill and fitness… and how toned their bodies were,” Laura told reporters last week, although The Diary is unsure whether she was taking about her fellow boxers or ex-bosses Guy and Konstantin. “It looked like dancing with violence to me. I thought it was beautiful to watch.”

While the firm might publicly welcome a Fleet Street alumnus making her way in a male-dominated sport, the sight of a former fee earner squaring up to the camera wearing nothing but hot-pink lycra hot-pants and skimpy crop-top (see below) might be taking things that one step too far.

Either way, Saperstein next dons the gloves on 18 November at Tooting Leisure Centre, under her yet-to-be-trademarked ring identity of Boxergirl.

Sadly, Freshfields’ next primetime bout – originally scheduled for December against big-hitting Lois ‘The Iron Pensioner’ Moore – has been cancelled.