Daily Diary

Lord’s of the manor

Posted 26/05/2008 by The Daily Diary

The Saturday of the first Test of the summer at Lord’s is always a good time to catch up with old friends and colleagues. So imagine Maurice Allen’s delight, mere weeks into his new career at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, to find that he had time to share a cup of tea with his former White & Case mates in the Mound Stand shortly before play started against the Kiwis on the third day.

Allen and zany sidekick Mike Goetz found themselves just a few executive boxes along from their former firm – although with so many rainmakers around it was no wonder the day’s play a virtual washout thanks to classic British summertime weather. Still, at least Allen and Goetz has had plenty of time on their hands to dish the dirt on their new Fleet Street digs.

Pinch-hitters from Baker & McKenzie and Slaughter and May were also huddled under umbrellas (or behind thick, tinted glass, anyway) not far away, as were banking types from UBS and Goldman Sachs.

With just 40 minutes play possible due to the weather, plebs in the main stands thankfully were able to claim partial refunds on their £65 admission fee. Whether Freshfields will be looking for a partial refund on its own big-ticket investment in the months ahead remains to be seen.