Some firms have a more relaxed attitude than others to the hiring (and even firing) of new partners. However, while the relaxed approach might go down well with the open-shirt, Friday dress-down brigade, it does not always work to a firm’s advantage.

Intelligence reaches The Diary of how one ‘international’ outfit nearly missed out on hiring a team of partners from a City competitor after hosting a cocktail party to celebrate their arrival – before their resignations had even been submitted.