On the evening of Thursday March 27 this year, Michael Rodgers walked into the office of Stephen Finegold, one of his seniors at interdealer broker Sunrise, and told him he “was leaving… and wanted to leave now”.

That quote comes from the court case that was triggered by Rodgers' move - a case that has been watched closely throughout the financial sector and hailed as a landmark victory for employers, allowing them to enforce notice and no-compete periods even if they cease to pay an employee who walks out.