Controversy surrounded the third annual The Lawyer Cup, part of The London Triathlon. At first it looked like a surprise victory for the in-house legal team from Amazon, until it transpired that the same team was also entered in the IT Cup and the team members were probably not even lawyers.
Team Amazon’s consequent disqualification allowed last year’s winner, Linklaters, to sneak into a podium finish – and very pleased they were too. Not quite as pleased, though, as former Linklaters lawyer Robert Datnow, whose Farrer & Co team edged past 39 Essex Street (with some help from the Treasury Solicitor’s team) in second place to secure overall victory.
Farrers finished an impressive seventh overall in the Olympic Team competition and were the first mixed team home. Clearly out to impress client the British Olympic Association, which the firm is advising on London’s bid, Farrers did have a secret weapon in trainee Alex Kelham. Kelham has just a little bit of previous swimming experience, having competed at the European, Commonwealth and World Championships in the 200m and 400m freestyle.
Not much hope, then, for the planned (still very much in the developmental stage) team from The Lawyer next year.