Thespians play leading roles in law firm pitches

Professional actors are the latest front line weapon in the war to win new clients, with several law firms using thespians to coach or even play the part of lawyers in pitches.
Regional insurance giant Weightmans admits that it has used actors as role playing "extras' during beauty parades for new work.
Several other firms are getting luvvie coaching on how to impress potential clients.
Maynard Leigh, a group of former actors who run a consultancy company, are already helping Bevan Ashford and the London office of US firm Covington & Burling.
A spokesman for the company says: "We teach professional people theatrical techniques, which can radically improve a presentation, and we also film people making their pitch so that we can analyse their performance on video afterwards."
Sarah Hall, marketing manager for Bevan Ashford said: "Consultants will coach us on presenting our speeches, and run us through a rehearsal for the presentation as if it's for real."