One cheer for Simon Davies, managing partner at Linklaters, who concedes that diversity is now "a business need". But a boo for his stereotyping of women lawyers, who, he says, might understand the impact on families of large job losses better than their male counterparts.

The business need to get the job done successfully and efficiently remains. Tight deadlines still apply and conspire against any employee who puts the demands of home above those of the office. That is unlikely to change as long as a chief executive such as Indra Nooyi of PepsiCo insists on full power from advisers working on her deals.

To persuade more women that it makes sense to go for promotion, Mr Davies needs to make clear to all his staff that output (profitable business) not input (hours at the desk) is the measure of success. When it comes to selecting a team for tasks that combine both the promise of profit and long hours, he'll find he has a far greater choice of women and men capable of doing it, and willing to make the necessary sacrifices.

andrew.hill@ft.com To comment, visit www.ft.com/lombard