This may go towards explaining Clifford Chance's almost pathological desire to be first. The salary hikes, the move to Canary Wharf - no other firm is as acutely aware of first mover advantage. City salary hikes dominated the news from Easter onwards. London managing partner Peter Charlton's insistence on raising assistant solicitor pay from 33,000 to 42,000 shaped an entire market as firm after firm followed suit. Now, the London practice accounts for some 43 per cent.
European coverage is particularly strong.
A pivotal year, then, for Clifford Chance. Give the man a gong, for goodness' sake. It was a neat public relations moment. There are two obvious conclusions to be drawn. First, that Linklaters is doing extremely well.