While not exactly secretive, partners at the elite New York firm Davis Polk & Wardwell are rarely seen bragging about their achievements. Neither are they particularly comfortable discussing internal goings on at their firms.

Still, The Diary was a little taken aback when, during a get-together over a cappuccino and cake in the ever-trendy Starbucks, a Davis Polk partner leaned over and very seriously asked: “You aren’t hiding a tape recorder in your bag, are you?”