Greenhill poker night fires again with Gidney

Fresh from launching Slater & Gordon's $1.2 billion acquisition of British professional services firm Quindell on Monday, Greenhill Australia has fired off the invites to its annual poker night.

The event, in its fifth year and hosted by Adam Spencer, has become a staple on the corporate, investment banking and private equity calendar.

And by the time the frigid July 22 evening rolls around, Greenhill's new Cool Hand Luke, Jon Gidney, will be in the house. Despite three months on the sidelines, Gidney's garden is shortlisted for an A Current Affair special, while the card table is in his man cave is nigh on flammable.

Last year, Quadrant's Justin Ryan defeated then head of Westpac's M&A practice Rachel Grimes to take the final pool of paper clips and used Cabcharge stubs. The next morning, the FTSE 100 had its best morning in 12 years off the back of a Diageo trading update. Coincidence?