It’s not every day The Diary has cause to give thanks for lawyers’ largesse. After all, even the occasional ‘freebie’ lunch is usually on the understanding that your correspondent sneaks a complimentary line or two into a story about how the firm has just laid off 40 support staff with only a curt email for thanks.

This week, however, your correspondent’s normally stony heart was touched by none other than Weil Gotshal & Manges London chief Mike Francies.