Being ‘disappointed’ and having people ‘fail to heed’ us is something Obiter can fairly reliably get at home. But, thanks to last week’s budget, we know we are not alone. Starting on Wednesday and on into Thursday, Obiter’s BlackBerry was fairly buzzing with the ups and downs being enjoyed by solicitors and their spokes-folk as they responded to the chancellor’s 2012 statement.

And what a rollercoaster ride they had. Obiter’s near-neighbour Mishcon de Reya had a more exciting time than most, finding changes to residential property to be ‘nothing less than seismic’. However, less earth shifted for Move with Us director Robin King, who simply found the same change ‘refreshing’.

Bristows partner Miranda Cass toyed with our emotions somewhat, finding ‘something to smile about’ for basic rate taxpayers, but thought a sterner tax avoidance regime combined with cuts in HMRC staff ‘does not make for a happy combination’.

Up in the north-west, Farleys’ Debbie King opined ‘there was very little in it for SME businesses to get excited about’. Not so, countered Alex Barnes from Irwin Mitchell’s Brum office: ‘Ultimately, the budget 2012 is good for business.’