Chambers and Partners unveiled its latest rankings last night, and the news for mediators is, well, interesting.

William Wood QC, Stephen Ruttle QC, Philip Naughton QC, Elizabeth Jones QC and Richard Price QC have unaccountably been relegated to junior barrister status. The market's biggest faller, however, was David Shapiro, for whom a 'senior statesman' category was invented last year: 'few are better or more skilled' than Shapiro in 2007. This year he doesn't merit a mention. 

Elsewhere faint praise abounds, particularly at Serle Court. Beverly-Ann Rogers will no doubt be pleased to know that she's 'getting better...'. Clients will also be reassured to know that Elizabeth Jones 'fully understands the difference between litigation and mediation.' 

We also learn that Lord Griffiths was 'a former High Court judge'. David Beckham was captain of the school football team: why are these matters so seldom mentioned? 

And there's plenty more. Servers are overloaded at present, so feel free to download the mediators' section here.