With the new year comes new resolve. Some of the City's finest give their self-improvement goals

"I really must stop telling terrible jokes and pointing out obvious puns. Frankly it is driving my family and quite a lot of my partners mad. Then again, there is the question of which annoying habit to adopt in its place. Nudge, nudge innuendo is pretty obvious and can land you in unnecessarily deep water. Attempting to use yoof terminology might fit the bill quite well…."
Macfarlanes senior partner Charles Martin (pictured above)

"I have abandoned the resolutions to get fit and lose weight so, as I am currently stuck on Eurostar, how about resolving to take weather forecasts more seriously?"
David Dickinson, Simmons & Simmons senior partner

"To persuade my colleagues that I really am indispensable after they all appear to have coped perfectly well without me during my rather splendid sabbatical."
Nicholas Cheffings, Lovells head of real estate disputes

"Remember to say a big thank you more often to our brilliant support teams, pay more attention to the wise advice dispensed by Jay-Z and up my meditation and yoga quotient to facilitate greater Zen-like appearance with my partners"
Tim Eyles (pictured right), managing partner at Taylor Wessing

"My key resolution is to get through stage two on Guitar Hero"
David Roberts, corporate partner at Olswang

"Things to improve this year would include my ability to foresee market developments. Less seriously, my typing skills or, given the US merger, my ability to understand the rules of American football and to explain the rules of cricket."
Crispin Rapinet, Lovells head of Asia and Middle East

"Look after number one because with five children it's the only chance you get."
Steven Fox, corporate partner at Ashurst

"My new year's resolution is to reduce my carbon footprint – so I will start by using my Saracen armoured vehicle (pictured) only during the most difficult restructuring negotiations!"
Mark Vickers, global restructuring head
at Ashurst

"To work less and drink more, on the basis that I fail to keep this every year…"
Graeme Sloane, M&A partner at Latham
& Watkins

"My New Year's resolution is to have no New Year's resolution. I heard that a vast majority of people are likely to break them over time which leads to depression and loss of efficiency. Therefore, no New Year's resolutions for me."
Nicholas Green QC, Bar Council chairman

"One, to remember that keeping it simple is usually the best means of getting it right, two, not to search for the issue that doesn't exist, three, to catch my first salmon on the fly and, four, to support Crystal Palace all the way to the Premiership."
Julian Tucker, Shearman & Sterling finance partner

"I always find New Year resolutions negative. Rather than committing to not doing things (i.e., drinking, smoking), I have made some positive resolutions this year. My biggest one is to take care of myself so that I can give more to others, including to my job, family and friends, by working out on a regular basis, walking to work and eating healthier and cleaner. I had a start on this in 2009, but I am committing to do these things more consistently."
Daniel Winterfeldt, corporate partner at Simmons & Simmons

"Get back in a boat with the aim of getting rowing fit again, research mobile network blackspots in the UK and elsewhere as ideal holiday destinations and avoid making predictions about the economy, the outcome of the election, or the result of any TV talent competitions"
Clint Evans (pictured right), former Barlow Lyde & Gilbert chief executive

"My resolution is to keep smiling! Which hopefully will be easier in 2010 than 2009, as market conditions improve."
Jon Vivian, SJ Berwin head of real estate

"Eat less chocolate – without denying my Belgian roots – so that I can keep up with my sons when skiing and with my fittest partners on the bike. I can guarantee you that each of them is a serious challenge!"
Wim Dejonghe, managing partner at Allen & Overy

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