Australian police are investigating a partner at Squire Patton Boggs who allegedly assaulted an ex-colleague at an industry party.

The attack took place in August at an event hosted by Banco Chambers at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney.

According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, Squire Patton Boggs partner Amanda Banton made a beeline for Elisabeth Pickthall, counsel at Hall & Wilcox, at the bash. Banton allegedly grabbed Pickthall by the throat, pinned her against a plate glass wall and left her "gasping for air". The pair both worked at Australian firm Piper Alderman a few years ago, but only appear to be on throttling terms these days. 

Shaan Palmer, a partner at Squire Patton Boggs, allegedly pulled Banton off Pickthall. One guest told the Herald that Banton "really went" for Pickthall and that it "was quite an ugly scene, you just don't expect that sort of behaviour at that kind of party". They added that several "very senior legal figures" witnessed the neckshake.

Pickthall reported the incident to the police, and this week a spokeswoman for New South Wales Police told RollOnFriday that inquiries were "continuing". A spokesman for Squire Patton Boggs declined to comment. Neither Banton, Shaan or Pickthall responded to requests for comment. 

It would not be the first sophisticated event which has transformed lawyers' soft hands into fists of rage.