From the monthly archives:

January 2008

Senior Partners

by jolyonpatten on January 28, 2008

I heard that a Senior Partner of a leading City practice avers to his colleagues that the reason he gets in at 10.30am and leaves at 4pm is because “the season ticket is cheaper” at that time. Hmm. That’s a firm on the up-and-up, I’d say, though I confess to some admiration for the tenacity [...]

New Silks

by jolyonpatten on January 22, 2008

Today is the fun day when the list of new Silks comes out.  This time round I only know two, so congratulations to James Eadie QC and to Nick Lavender QC, with whom I was at Bar School (a long time ago).

Willis to take over Marsh?

by jolyonpatten on January 18, 2008

Rumour has it that Willis are sounding out MMC on the prospects of a (reverse) takeover.  Willis has a market cap of $5.3bn compared to Marsh’s $14.3bn, so it’s comparatively a David and Goliath affair.Willis’ price went up a little; Marsh’s spiked, too.I wonder what AON think.

How to solve problems

by jolyonpatten on January 17, 2008

This problem-solving algorithm from Richard Feynman is one of my favourite–pithy but not wholly inaccurate: Write down the problem. Think very hard. Write down the solution. You could sometimes wish that people would apply it, couldn’t you.

New Year, New Look

by jolyonpatten on January 17, 2008

Greetings, readers. I’m bringing a new style to RR for the new season, not least to mark a break with last year which was one of the worst on record, not just for me but for almost everyone I know. And in a peculiar variety of ways. Further, this year is the Year [...]