London, OCT 2022

Social Program:

What a wonderful AGM! A good part of the participants had arrived already on Thursday and were fascinated by the newly renovated area around Kings Cross. Amos, our architectural guide, told us, that it is the biggest construction site in Europe. Not only the new but in particular the renovated brick-stone buildings, partly added with new structure were incredible. It goes without saying that the cocktails at a one of the most trendy bars and the dinner in Granary Square, within the building of the arts university were extraordinary. 

On Friday morning – for some after a a very short night, thanks to the Hard Rock Café Bar… –  we enjoyed a guided tour through the Inner Temple, which is one of the four inns, hosting the barrister education structure. Jacquline Fenton, our tour guide, welcomed us in a beautifully furnished hall with tea and coffee. Afterwards we learned a lot about the Temple Church, which became famous recently due to the book the ‘The Da Vinci Code’ and the movie which was shot on location there. The Reverend Robin Wright, was a real character of his own and gave us some very lively insights into the history of the Church and of the Knights Templar  but also of his engagement as an actor in the said movie. After a British lunch of classic fish and chips in the hall of the Middle Temple Inn, we received a lecture about blockchain and its consequences to the law from Josh O’Neill and Edward Crossley,  two young barristers from 4 Stone Buildings in London. Some of us then went for a walk along the River Thames to Westminster. 

Although already flushed with the memories of this wonderful day, the evening could top it as Harold Benjamin, the firm of Chauhan, hosted us for Champagne and a very tasty and exclusive dinner in the private dining room of the beautiful Indian restaurant, Chutney Mary. We also celebrated the birthday of Caroline d’Hauthille, the wife of Philippe d’Hauthille.  

Again, the bars of London lead to a short night but luckily some spent their savings instead on drinks (rather than a rotating marble) and ready for the next day.

We had a prompt start on Saturdy morning and a structured and well timed AGM.  We then enjoyed lunch at the Hard Rock Café. The afternoon was free for members to enjoy the sights of London (and especially the shops of Oxford Street) but short anyway since the cocktails were wating for us at Chruchill  Rooms, an exclusive bar in London. We were asked to dress us up in 1930’s style clothing , which in particular the ladies took very seriously with excellent choices of dresses and hairstyles. The dinner took us to the trendy suburb of Shoreditch in East London and an immersive theatre and fine dining murder mystery show called  “The Murder Express”.  As guests boarded the train and enjoyed the show they reached their final destination, ‘Murdèr Station’ in France. Luckily, the stolen Jewel of the Empire was found after two murders had been commited. Finally, the murderer was caught by the very French inspector saved us from the same fate after finding the “rrrrrright solution”. After this exciting entertainment, we had tables reserved at the Hard Rock Café till late, where we had a lot of good talks and laugher.

Again thanks to Niten and Karina but also to Harold Benjamin, in particular Vijay Parikh, the managing partner, as he and his team gave us very kind company during those memorable days.