Launched from a garage by two students, Google has grown to become the internet’s biggest success story. Michelle Madsen talks to European general counsel Nigel Jones about the paradox at his company’s heart

Judging by its unofficial jeans and t-shirt uniform, colourful logo and offices packed with games and pets, you could be fooled into thinking that the world’s biggest internet company still sees itself as an extension of a college common room. But under the seemingly casual exterior lies a very serious company indeed.