FEARFUL OF SHACK ATTACK REPEAT

STAR solicitor Fiona Shackleton — she of the McCartney/Mills divorce saga, who was unceremoniously doused with a jug of water by an angry “Mucca” Heather at the case’s final hearing — was nowhere to be found last night at the CitiWealth Magic Circle Awards 2008, held at the swanky Millennium Mayfair Hotel in Grosvenor Square.

Shackleton had a “prior engagement”, apparently, which she obviously deemed more important than collecting her award for outstanding individual of the year last night — although it is possible, of course, that she was simply too terrified of being caught off her guard momentarily and being drenched by one of the award’s disgruntled runners-up brandishing some variety of watery weapon.

WATER ALERT

Shackleton’s firm Payne Hicks Beach, however, was well represented when it came to collecting its own award for law firm of the year.

Partner Louise Stoten (pictured above) was booted off the outdoor entrance terrace for drinking a glass of champagne (it seems that even the clout of prestigious Mayfair hotels isn’t enough to persuade the local council to let guests sip champers in the fresh air), but remained amiable, joking that she’d watch out for suspicious glasses of water when she went up on stage to collect the firm’s award.

FAMILY AFFAIR

Another of the evening’s accolades went to 336-year-old Fleet Street veteran C Hoare & Co, for private bank of the year.

It emerged that Hoare’s partners — who are all family members — live in a flat above the bank’s headquarters (when they’re not enjoying the high life at their country retreats, that is).

They’re apparently also sticklers for tradition — they retire upstairs every lunchtime for gin and tonics and a slap-up meal in their stately home-style dining room, complete with butler service and the quintessential family silver tureens. Whoever said family was dead?