It is said you can gauge the magnitude of a City law firm’s self-esteem by the size of its atrium when you walk through the door (‘we’re so good we can afford all that vacant premium office space’).

But for Allen & Overy this is clearly not enough. Last week’s press party at Bishops Square assumed a bucolic theme, featuring astroturf and foliage in the lifts for the spiritual elevation of baffled hacks as they ascended. A&O knows its audience too – Obiter counted at least three trays of drinks before one actually got to the location of the event, which brings a whole new meaning to the concept of ‘pre-loading’.

We’ll be back next year.

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