Travers Smith head of financial services Margaret Chamberlain is held in awe by many of her colleagues – even by senior partner Alastair Douglas.

On Hogmanay Douglas likes to stroll down Snow Hill outside Travers’ office playing his bagpipes. Chamberlain, meanwhile, likes to work in silence.

He started to play Auld Lang Syne, or whatever it is one plays on these occasions, and was a couple of lines in when Margaret leaned over the balcony and informed him that he ought to put a sock in it.

It literally took the wind out of him, poor chap. He had to walk back into the office with bagpipes and pride severely deflated.