Cut and thrust

Launching today is a web-based ideas forum for legal professionals to discuss the issues of the hour. Swordplay, managed by Spada, the professional services PR agency, is dedicated to “news, views and insight for the professional and corporate community”.

Gavin Ingham Brooke, Spada’s MD, says Swordplay will have the feel of a combative 18th-century coffee house where wits and brains can express opinions robustly in a congenial environment. It will even be carrying “White Papers” and challenging think pieces for legal business. Significantly, the first contributor to start off Swordplay will be Rod Dadak, the Lewis Silkin partner who advises on libel, slander and malicious falsehood, although I’m not sure whether his role is to stop bad behaviour or encourage it. Find out: www.spada.co.uk/swordplay

Hotspots

Mayfair was the haunt of many 18th-century swordsmen but these days guests’ swords must be left at reception at Sketch, the celebrity venue, in Conduit Street, W1. And not only swords but bags, too, as several of us scribblers found when we arrived at Nabarro’s lively party there last week.

The big question vexing Nabarro’s partners — in between bouts of bafflingly delicious food — was whether Sketch was still hot enough to pass the Nabarro coolness test. “Of course, it was the hottest place in town at the turn of the year,” they whispered worriedly, “but maybe its temperature has cooled a degree or two now it’s summer.”

Of course, it’s good to be cool as well as hot. That is why one could eat Wimpy-style hamburgers and hotdogs with mustard — something I have never, ever done before at a legal party — and say: “No worries — I’m cool about it.” I must say that it felt a pretty hot thing to say when the smartest people there were, by a long way, the Sketch staff, all Vogue suits, supercilious looks and no English. Cool or what?

Offside?

My congratulations go to Marco Materazzi, the Italian footballer playing for his country in Euro 2008, for a magnificent result on Monday morning. Advised by Steven Heffer, of Collyer Bristow, he received an apology from The Sun over a series of allegations that he had used “vile racist” language to get Zinédine Zidane, the French star, sent off in the World Cup Final two years ago. Whether this landmark victory made up for the humiliation of being beaten 3-0 by Holland on Monday evening I’m not sure. But his lawyer thought it was a good day at the office anyway.

Setting standards

It didn’t take Tony Angel, recently retired as Linklaters’ managing partner, too long to get back in the saddle. This week he was announced as executive managing director and head of the rating agency Standard & Poor’s Europe, Middle East and Africa business. Watch out for fireworks.

edward.fennell@yahoo.co.uk

Times Recommends

• Linklaters trounces rivals as UK's biggest firm
• Clifford Chance profits plunge 37 per cent
• Casual drinkers hit by spread of 'dry' zones