While many attribute Hammonds’ stunning recovery to become the UK’s second most profitable national firm beginning with an ‘H’ to the messianic leadership of managing partner Peter Crossley, the real answer lies in the unrelenting hard graft of its few remaining partners.

Indeed, the firm’s recovery plan, which is understood to have taken at least an hour to draw up, recommends a return to the 22-hour working day and features guidelines on how to beat the most out of your assistant.