Small world
The world is full of coincidences as Joel Simon, managing partner of Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker found out at a school picnic with his daughter Olivia recently. While introducing himself to Mrs Ball, the mother of his daughter’s friend (also called Olivia) she said: “I understand you are a lawyer with a West Coast US firm, so is my husband.” Simon racked his brains…Olivia Ball…Olivia Ball…and then the penny dropped. The family was none other than that of Nomura bigwig Steven Ball, who recently joined Gibson Dunn & Crutcher as a partner, but who was once linked with Paul Hastings.
Pressing times
The Diary has heard of cases when disreputable types have given newspapers and magazines back-handers in order to get publicity. But we haven’t heard of people expecting the media to pay them to give their stories coverage… until now.
The other day we received a press release from Lewis Silkin. The trouble was, they neglected to put a stamp on the envelope. So, for the privilege of learning the gripping news that Lewis Silkin acted for London-listed Groupe Chez Gerard in its disposal of four restaurants, we had to pay the Post Office’s ‘revenue protection’ department 39 pence.
