Tulkinghorn: 'A' for corp, 'F' for corpses

That was the conclusion Tulkinghorn reached recently after a bunch of lawyers from the firm’s litigation group dressed up in period costume, donned fake moustaches and attempted to fathom the identity of a ruthless killer during a murder mystery night.

Litigation partner John Reynolds was in the thick of the action, playing solicitor Justin Case (cue groans) while other notable mentions go to partner John Higham QC playing one ‘Albert Fortescue’ and associate Bryony Cain, filling the murderous shoes of ‘Molly Hatchett’.

Reynolds, who revealed the night had been organised by Cain and fellow litigation associate Sandie Ferrans as a way of letting off steam following an “unbelievably busy year when the group has been busting a gut”, said he disputed the event organiser’s contention that nobody had correctly guessed the identity of the murderer.

“I think I came up with a much better theory,” insisted Reynolds.

The host of the evening, John Aston of Big Monty Productions, disputed this, though did admit that the White & Case lot had entirely entered into the spirit of the evening.

“They’d all learned their lines, looked fantastic and played their parts brilliantly,” said Aston. “John Reynolds could even have been a real solicitor.”

Aston confirmed however that Reynolds & Co had utterly failed to solve the crime of who had shot dead their highly talented but sadly short-lived vacation scheme student Alana Shine. For the record, Higham turned out to be the murderer.

Clearly the future of the global legal market is in safe hands.

Racy precis

True to the current climate of all things sporting, Tulkinghorn recently took off his tie and did battle with lawyers, clients and guests at the launch of the Olympic-themed Athletes House event at Eversheds.

As you’d expect in such a high-powered room on the warmest day of the year, competition was heated. An eye was almost lost in a furious table tennis rally and a cycling challenge resulted in serious chafing until Centaur Media head of legal Ian Roberts took the prize. Tulkinghorn came third with a textbook golf drive straighter than a sober magic circle partner. Sadly, as golf isn’t an Olympic sport until 2016, Tulkinghorn left without a bronze medal. Or even a London 2012 key-ring.

Shame. For as all lawyers would agree, it’s not about the taking part but the winning that counts.

Hair Tyler score

Staying with sport, Tulkinghorn can now reveal the real competitive imperative behind CMS’ desire, outlined in last week’s feature, to be seen as big, bad and possibly even beautiful enough to attract a US firm. Camerons’ senior partner Dick Tyler was, back in the day, something of a sporting legend. In fact Tyler was one of only five people who scored a try against the New Zealand All Blacks on the team’s 1978 Tour of Britain and Ireland.

Tyler was playing for Cambridge University along with Wragge & Co’s Ian Metcalfe. Cambridge lost the game 32-12 while Tyler, who apparently sported long blond locks back then, went on to find an mega network but lose his hair.

Hey, even top lawyers can’t have everything.