Lawyers drink in the last-Chance saloon

Drinkers who cannot get a tipple because their favourite boozer missed yesterday's deadline to reapply for its licence can pop down to Britain's largest law firm instead.

Clifford Chance has successfully obtained a 24-hour alcohol licence for its Canary Wharf head office. It is believed to be the only premises with such a licence in the massive office and retail development east of the City - though a nearby branch of Asda is also permitted to sell alcohol 24 hours a day, to the disgust of some local residents.

A Clifford Chance spokes-woman said the firm had applied for the licence so it could serve drinks to clients at any time of day. "Often our lawyers will be working through the night on transactions with clients and will need refreshment," she said. "And then there will be celebrations when a deal is concluded in the small hours."

Clifford Chance's lawyers, who charge up to £500 an hour and often earn more than £1m a year, could be expected to make light work of the new 26-page application form.

However, many others have run into trouble. It is expected that more than 50,000 of the UK's 190,000 licensed premises will have missed yesterday's deadline. Most of those failing to renew will be restaurants or shops, though around one in 10 pubs could soon be unable to serve beer.