Ashes to Ashes

The UK’s finest law firms are enjoying something of a renaissance right now. Unfortunately, that success does not seem to be rubbing off on the England cricket team.

Such was the anticipation in the run-up to the first Test that one Legal Week hack took Thursday off so he could sleep in, having stayed up all night to watch the first day’s play. He only made it to mid-way through the second session. Indeed, the series could not have got off to a worse start. No doubt all those Aussie lawyers slaving away in London are feeling distinctly chipper today.

It is a far cry from the heady days of September 2005, when Herbert Smith corporate partner Greg Mulley “only” received 47 emails from gloating English colleagues inviting him to watch the victory parade (see The Diary, Ashes Special).

While Mulley was gracious in defeat, he did make a point of encouraging the Brits to enjoy the experience of holding the Ashes while they could. Well, the clock, it would seem, is ticking away relentlessly. Let’s hope the series isn’t dead by Christmas, for the sake of all those lawyers planning to sneak off to catch the Sydney Test.

john.malpas@legalweek.com