We unveil the finest 50 rainmakers of 2004; not only the names of the stars whose efforts are helping to bankroll their firms this year, but also the stories behind the client wins. They range from good luck (incredible good luck, some would say, of the Manches partner who bumped into Elle Macpherson and now handles her underwear empire), to more down-to-earth tales of years of relentless, door-bashing toil. It's a stunning collection of 50 stories and personalities, all of whom, bar one, is British. And no one could deny that our single exception - Thierry Vassogne, Linklaters' star Parisian - is himself exceptional and singularly worthy of inclusion. The Sanofi M&A on which he worked was one of the best deals that any English partnership had on its books in 2004.

Legal Business also gives the DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary merger a full investigation.

A merger of such scale is a seminal moment for a Sheffield-founded law firm, which must now get to grips with colleagues scattered across the US. Talk about the need for a road map - and who better to talk than Senator George Mitchell, the new firm's chairman. He speaks exclusively to LB on transatlantic unity and its context. And given that Christmas is upon us, let's revel for a moment in his eloquent sanguinity. Then it's over to Mr Knowles for tricky integration stuff that follows as night does day.
Tom Freeman, Editor