An associate at Squire Patton Boggs has written a restaurant guide for lawyers. Recognising the harsh realities of the profession it includes a chapter on eating alone.

Brum-based solicitor Anita Shanghavi's "Birmingham Foodie's Guide" categorises 26 eateries according to the particular requirements of lawyers. The result is sections including "Fast Breakfast" (Yorks Bakery Cafe, Faculty), "Working Lunch" (Gusto, Zen Metro), "Impressive Lunch" (Opus, Lasan) and "Dinner On Your Own" (find solitary SPB lawyers at Fumo and Indian Brewery).

In her email to the Birmingham office attaching the guide, real estate lawyer Shanghavi explained, "When we meet an existing, new or potential client or intermediary, one of the first things we ask or are asked is “where would you like to meet?” This is an important question and the choice made can leave an impression (good or bad) on the other person". She decided to arm the rubes by producing a guide "in answer to that question (and also because I love food)".

  A buzzing atmosphere only slightly degraded by the sixteen SPB lawyers downing ravioli on separate tables.

A recipient who sounds like they will make use of the "Takeaway Lunch" section (Anderson & Hill, Peel & Stone), but not "Brunch" (Damascena, Boston Tea Party) told RollOnFriday, "this person has way too much time on their hands". Perhaps they will decide over a "Mid-Morning Coffee" (200 Degrees, Urban) that it's a nice thing to do which doubles as an ingenious way to tick the business development box.
 
And someone in serious need of a "Pre-Dinner Aperetif" (Loki Wine, The Botanist) said the author "seems to think it's important to teach everyone how to suck eggs". Presumably staff whose culinary knowhow starts at the Tesco Meal Deal and ends at Pret will be more appreciative.
 
Tip Off ROF

Comments

Anonymous 07 July 17 10:51

What a petty thing to be annoyed about. I think this looks like pretty useful, can ROF wrangle copies?

Jamie Hamilton 07 July 17 10:59

It does look useful. We have a copy, but it's SPB property. You'll have to nick one from the office lobby.

Anonymous 08 July 17 01:05

The first partner I worked for said "clients cannot tell average advice from brilliant advice. We win and lose by our biscuits and our restaurant recommendations". He also invented a practice area that now employs probably 4000 lawyers world wide, so he was good at noticing what others miss.

Well done Anita, you've completely taken control of something most of the substandards fail to brush up against.