 In July 2007, the firm gained some unlooked-for publicity when its discussions with Mr Justice Peter Smith concerning the possibility that the judge might take up employment with Addleshaws became the subject of an appeal to the Court of Appeal.The judge was discontented at the breakdown of the employment negotiations but nonetheless refused to recuse himself from hearing a case in which an individual partner of the firm was engaged in the capacity of trustee.The Court of Appeal ruled that the judge could not hear the case.