The Diary is tempted to resurrect our stingiest law firm of the year awards after hearing reports that to mark the 100th anniversary of the Berrymans part of Berrymans Lace Mawer, the firm presented staff with, er, maroon biros.

Although they will, no doubt, come in handy for the recording of even more billable hours for the firm’s next 100 years, we could not resist the temptation to compare the gesture with those cash rich philanthropists at US firm Weil Gotshal & Manges.