Scoffing, mockery, contempt! Is the scorn rivals have heaped on Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s revamping of its City corporate practice animosity or jealousy?

The shake-up – announced earlier this month – will see Freshfields split its London corporate department into four industry sector groupings, a move it hopes will target new business with more vigour after several years in which too many opportunities have slipped by.