The great San Francisco mirth quaker

Tulkinghorn recently attended a do at party central, the Gherkin, thrown to celebrate Philadelphia-based Duane Morris's recent merger with San Francisco firm Hancock Rothert Bunshoft.

The great man found himself discussing the firm's policy on recruitment, which is apparently modelled on its Quaker-inherited, consensus-based approach to decision-making.

According to one of the lawyers in the room, Duane Morris has what it calls its 'no jerks' policy in the US. "In London it's 'no ass-holes'," he explained helpfully. Tulkinghorn was too polite to comment.