Maclay Murray & Spens’ figures are slightly skewed by the bolt-on of London boutique City Law Partnership, which bumps up its number of corporate laterals in 2004-05 to six. Maclays’ corporate department has grown more by laterals than organically. Over three years the Scottish firm has appointed 11 corporate partners, but has made only two internal promotions in that group.

By contrast, real estate is more geared to internal promotions. It has promoted four over three years and hired two laterals. Three of that total of six were made up as internal promotions in 2005-06.