Visitors to Hogan Lovells’ London offices can look forward to meeting a new member of the team, who is making a big splash. It’s the latest iteration of HL’s iconic rubber duck, more impressive than ever. The tradition dates back several years to when some unnamed individual deposited a paddling of ducks (yes, that’s right, Diary looked up the collective noun) in the firm’s lobby water feature. At the recent partners conference in Monaco, a larger-than-life version was suitably suited and booted, perfect for the casino – from where it migrated to its permanent home in London. Now that’s one huge legal bill any client will be happy to see.
The fine art of Grosvenor
Kudos to Grosvenor for sponsoring the arts, but the particular artist it’s supporting might be less inclined to give praise. The Duke of Westminster’s property company has stepped outside its zone into Kensington to sponsor an exhibition at the V&A, but its subject is Frida Kahlo – a painter best known for her communist beliefs and distaste of the landowning gentry. Kahlo’s distinct lack of love for an estate such as Grosvenor hasn’t impacted its affections for her though, stating as it does: “With this exhibition, an exceptional individual can help us understand the ways in which culture, identity, art and fashion interact. We have a vision to see our London estate in Mayfair and Belgravia become more active, more open and more integrated – a more popular place that reflects changing needs.” Is that the sound of Kahlo turning in her grave?
A hotel with reservations
On a tour of the BBC Television Centre, Diary was given a brief glimpse of Soho House, which has taken three floors and opened a boutique hotel. Perhaps due to the success of the hotel, which has seen a remarkable 98% occupancy since launch, Soho House has taken it upon itself to launch a “screening process” to vet those staying because, we were told, it was not attracting “the right kind of people”. Diary, feeling somewhat out of place in London’s hipster scene, took that as a subtle hint not to try and book a room.
Beige watch
Now here’s a new one on us, courtesy of Homes England chief executive Nick Walkley. His recent “phrase of the week” on Twitter? “Beige weight”. That, apparently, is “the standardised project documentation that threatens to slow organisational change down, dominating management time and discussion”. We don’t know about you, but Diary has a bit of beige weight it didn’t quite manage to shift in time for summer…
Calling all villains…
If you are a supervillain looking for the ideal secret HQ from which to hatch plots while stroking a cat, Knight Frank has you covered. Little Pipe Cay, a “jewel within the archipelago of the Exumas island chain” in the Central Bahamas, has been the cinematic backdrop for Pirates of the Caribbean and several Bond films. Edward de Mallet Morgan, head of KF’s Caribbean desk, says: “Little Pipe Cay is what dreams are made of.” And what will those dreams cost you? A mere $85m (£64m).
Words of wisdom
We’ve all heard the odd bit of motivational nonsense in the workplace, in the interests of making us the best we can be. But here’s a particularly special one, from an unnamed source: “The difference between try and triumph, is just a bit of ‘oomph’.” You’re welcome.
Did we read that right?
Diary, in its avid reading of the Letwin Review, was left in genuine doubt over whether one passage is a Freudian slip, left over from an earlier draft, or reads as fully intended. On delivering homes in high pressure areas, the text runs: “Reliance exclusively on smaller sites requires local authorities in their local plans to pick a multitude of small fights – whereas many planners and councillors have told us that it is often far easier to pick a few, larger fights…” We leave it to readers (perhaps based on their own experiences of the planning process) to decide whether “fights” should have read “sites”, or if Letwin means exactly what he says. Either way, it was only a draft review…
