/* ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
   Corporate Legal Partners
   Palette: Indigo and mist, chosen by the client 24 Sep 2026, replacing
   navy #162542 / bronze #B68C5A. The variable names are unchanged on
   purpose so nothing below this block had to move. Since 29 Sep the light
   version is live: see the LIGHT VERSION layer at the end of this file.
   Single light theme by intent. One accent, one radius, one spacing scale.
   ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ */

:root{
  /* brand */
  --navy:#252E4A;         /* indigo. headings, header, the mid dark band */
  --bronze:#7C88B0;       /* mist. rules, borders and focus rings only,
                             never text: 3.8:1 on indigo by design */

  /* depth ramp, all one hue. The ink is deeper than the mid band so the
     hero and footer read as a different surface, not the same flat field. */
  --ink:#18203A;          /* deepest ground */
  --navy-2:#333D5E;       /* raised surface on dark */
  --navy-3:#3B456B;       /* hairline on dark */

  /* accent variants. The mist itself is too light to carry text on paper,
     so a saturated indigo takes fills and links, and a pale one takes
     labels on dark grounds. Both clear AA. */
  --bronze-deep:#3F4E8C;  /* 7.84:1 under white, 7.33:1 on paper */
  --bronze-lit:#AFB8DA;   /* 8.18:1 on ink */

  --paper:#F7F7FA;        /* off pure white: glare, not decoration */
  --tint:#EBECF3;
  --ink-body:#42495C;     /* one shade darker on client feedback, 26 Sep. 8.4:1 on paper */
  --ink-mute:#54596A;    /* follows body down a shade. 6.5:1 on paper, 5.9:1 on tint */
  --line:rgba(37,46,74,.13);
  --line-soft:rgba(37,46,74,.07);
  --line-dark:rgba(255,255,255,.13);
  --on-dark:#FFFFFF;
  --on-dark-mid:#C5CBE2;  /* one shade brighter on client feedback, 26 Sep. 8.3:1 on indigo */

  --serif:"Frank Ruhl Libre",Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;
  --sans:"Karla","Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif;

  /* one spacing scale */
  --s1:4px;  --s2:8px;  --s3:12px; --s4:16px; --s5:24px;
  --s6:32px; --s7:48px; --s8:64px; --s9:96px; --s10:128px; --s11:176px;

  --wrap:1280px;
  --gut:40px;
  --nav-h:76px;
  --r:2px;                /* one radius system */

  --ease:cubic-bezier(.22,.61,.36,1);
}

*,*::before,*::after{box-sizing:border-box}
html{scroll-behavior:smooth;-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%}
body{
  margin:0;background:var(--paper);color:var(--navy);
  font-family:var(--sans);font-size:17px;line-height:1.65;font-weight:400;
  -webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;text-rendering:optimizeLegibility;
}
img{max-width:100%;height:auto;display:block}
h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6{margin:0;font-family:var(--serif);font-weight:400;line-height:1.13;letter-spacing:-.022em;text-wrap:balance}
p{margin:0}
ul,ol{margin:0;padding:0;list-style:none}
a{color:inherit;text-decoration:none}
button,input,select,textarea{font:inherit;color:inherit}
:focus-visible{outline:2px solid var(--bronze-deep);outline-offset:3px}

.wrap{max-width:var(--wrap);margin:0 auto;padding-left:var(--gut);padding-right:var(--gut)}
@media(max-width:768px){:root{--gut:22px}}

.skip{position:absolute;left:16px;top:-100px;z-index:300;background:var(--navy);color:#fff;padding:12px 22px;font-size:14px;font-weight:600;transition:top .18s var(--ease)}
.skip:focus{top:16px}

/* ── type roles ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
.display{font-size:clamp(2.5rem,5.4vw,4.4rem);line-height:1.03;letter-spacing:-.03em}
.h2{font-size:clamp(1.9rem,3.6vw,2.9rem)}
.h3{font-size:clamp(1.3rem,2vw,1.6rem);font-weight:500}
.lede{font-size:clamp(1.05rem,1.5vw,1.22rem);line-height:1.6;color:var(--ink-body);font-weight:300}
.body{font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:var(--ink-body)}
.body + .body{margin-top:var(--s4)}
.body strong{color:var(--navy);font-weight:500}
.small{font-size:13px;line-height:1.6;color:var(--ink-mute)}
.kicker{font-size:11.5px;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:.17em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--bronze-deep)}
.kicker--dark{color:var(--bronze-lit)}

/* ── buttons ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
.btn{
  display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:var(--s2);
  font-size:14px;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:.015em;
  padding:14px 26px;border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:var(--r);
  cursor:pointer;white-space:nowrap;
  transition:background .2s var(--ease),border-color .2s var(--ease),color .2s var(--ease),transform .12s var(--ease);
}
.btn:active{transform:translateY(1px)}
.btn--fill{background:var(--bronze-deep);color:#fff}
.btn--fill:hover{background:#33406F}
/* On a dark ground the fill and the ground now share a hue, so the button
   shape needs an edge of its own. The mist gives it 4.6:1, past the 3:1
   a component boundary asks for, without lightening the fill. */
.hero .btn--fill,.form:not(.form--light) .btn--fill{border-color:var(--bronze)}
.btn--line{border-color:var(--line);color:var(--navy);background:transparent}
.btn--line:hover{border-color:var(--navy);background:var(--tint)}
.btn--ondark{border-color:var(--line-dark);color:#fff;background:rgba(255,255,255,.04)}
.btn--ondark:hover{border-color:rgba(255,255,255,.4);background:rgba(255,255,255,.1)}

/* ── header ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
.hdr{position:sticky;top:0;z-index:100;background:rgba(255,255,255,.94);backdrop-filter:saturate(1.6) blur(10px);border-bottom:1px solid var(--line-soft)}
.hdr.is-stuck{box-shadow:0 10px 30px -26px rgba(24,32,58,.9)}
.hdr__in{height:var(--nav-h);max-width:var(--wrap);margin:0 auto;padding:0 var(--gut);display:flex;align-items:center;gap:var(--s7)}
.brand{display:flex;align-items:baseline;gap:10px;flex:none}
.brand b{font-family:var(--serif);font-weight:700;font-size:22px;letter-spacing:.055em}
.brand span{font-size:9.5px;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:.15em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--ink-mute)}
@media(max-width:1140px){.brand span{display:none}}
.menu{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:var(--s6);margin-left:auto}
@media(max-width:1024px){.menu{display:none}}
.menu a{position:relative;font-size:14.5px;font-weight:500;color:var(--ink-body);padding:6px 0;transition:color .18s var(--ease)}
.menu a::after{content:"";position:absolute;left:0;right:0;bottom:0;height:1.5px;background:var(--bronze);transform:scaleX(0);transform-origin:left;transition:transform .25s var(--ease)}
.menu a:hover{color:var(--navy)}
.menu a:hover::after,.menu a[aria-current="page"]::after{transform:scaleX(1)}
.menu a[aria-current="page"]{color:var(--navy)}
.hdr .btn{margin-left:var(--s2)}
@media(max-width:1024px){.hdr .btn--desk{display:none}}

.burger{margin-left:auto;display:none;width:44px;height:40px;background:none;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:var(--r);cursor:pointer;align-items:center;justify-content:center}
@media(max-width:1024px){.burger{display:flex}}
.burger i{display:block;width:17px;height:1.5px;background:var(--navy);position:relative;transition:background .2s var(--ease)}
.burger i::before,.burger i::after{content:"";position:absolute;left:0;width:17px;height:1.5px;background:var(--navy);transition:transform .28s var(--ease),top .28s var(--ease)}
.burger i::before{top:-5.5px}.burger i::after{top:5.5px}
.burger[aria-expanded="true"] i{background:transparent}
.burger[aria-expanded="true"] i::before{top:0;transform:rotate(45deg)}
.burger[aria-expanded="true"] i::after{top:0;transform:rotate(-45deg)}

.drawer{position:fixed;inset:var(--nav-h) 0 0;z-index:99;background:var(--paper);padding:var(--s7) var(--gut) var(--s9);overflow-y:auto;opacity:0;visibility:hidden;transform:translateY(-6px);transition:opacity .25s var(--ease),transform .25s var(--ease),visibility .25s}
.drawer.is-open{opacity:1;visibility:visible;transform:none}
.drawer a{display:block;font-family:var(--serif);font-size:22px;padding:var(--s4) 0;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line-soft)}
.drawer .btn{margin-top:var(--s6);width:100%}
body.is-locked{overflow:hidden}

/* ── hero ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
.hero{position:relative;background:var(--ink);color:var(--on-dark);overflow:hidden;isolation:isolate}
.hero__bg{position:absolute;inset:0;z-index:-2}
.hero__bg img{width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;object-position:62% 50%;opacity:.5}
.hero__bg::after{content:"";position:absolute;inset:0;background:linear-gradient(100deg,var(--ink) 4%,rgba(24,32,58,.88) 40%,rgba(24,32,58,.4) 100%)}
.hero__in{max-width:var(--wrap);margin:0 auto;padding:var(--s11) var(--gut) var(--s9)}
@media(max-width:900px){.hero__in{padding:var(--s9) var(--gut) var(--s8)}}
.hero h1{color:#fff;max-width:19ch;margin-top:var(--s5)}
.hero .lede{color:var(--on-dark-mid);max-width:48ch;margin-top:var(--s5);font-weight:300}
.hero__acts{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:var(--s3);margin-top:var(--s7)}

/* forum strip: the courts the firm appears before, set as a band */
.forums{border-top:1px solid var(--line-dark);background:rgba(255,255,255,.028)}
.forums__in{max-width:var(--wrap);margin:0 auto;padding:var(--s5) var(--gut);display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(5,1fr);gap:var(--s5)}
@media(max-width:900px){.forums__in{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr);gap:var(--s4) var(--s5)}}
@media(max-width:460px){.forums__in{grid-template-columns:1fr}}
.forums dt{font-family:var(--serif);font-size:16px;color:#fff;line-height:1.3}
.forums dd{margin:4px 0 0;font-size:11.5px;letter-spacing:.05em;color:var(--on-dark-mid)}

/* ── sections ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
.sec{padding:var(--s10) 0}
.sec--tight{padding:var(--s9) 0}
.sec--tint{background:var(--tint)}
.sec--dark{background:var(--navy);color:var(--on-dark)}
.sec--dark h2,.sec--dark h3{color:#fff}
.sec--dark .body,.sec--dark .lede{color:var(--on-dark-mid)}
@media(max-width:768px){.sec{padding:var(--s9) 0}.sec--tight{padding:var(--s8) 0}}

.sec__head{max-width:60ch}
.sec__head h2{margin-top:var(--s4)}
.sec__head .lede{margin-top:var(--s4)}

/* ── practice: three principal, image-led ───────────────────────────── */
.principal{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr);gap:var(--s6);margin-top:var(--s8)}
@media(max-width:980px){.principal{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:var(--s7)}}
.pcard{display:flex;flex-direction:column;background:var(--paper);border:1px solid var(--line-soft);border-radius:var(--r);overflow:hidden;transition:transform .4s var(--ease),box-shadow .4s var(--ease),border-color .4s var(--ease)}
.pcard:hover{transform:translateY(-4px);box-shadow:0 30px 60px -40px rgba(24,32,58,.7);border-color:var(--line)}
.pcard__img{position:relative;aspect-ratio:4/3;overflow:hidden;background:var(--ink)}
.pcard__img img{width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;transition:transform .7s var(--ease);opacity:.92}
.pcard:hover .pcard__img img{transform:scale(1.04)}
.pcard__body{padding:var(--s6);display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex:1}
.pcard h3{transition:color .2s var(--ease)}
.pcard:hover h3{color:var(--bronze-deep)}
.pcard .body{font-size:15.5px;margin-top:var(--s3);flex:1}
.pcard__forum{margin-top:var(--s5);padding-top:var(--s4);border-top:1px solid var(--line-soft);font-size:11.5px;letter-spacing:.06em;color:var(--ink-mute)}

/* ── practice: the further nine, an index ───────────────────────────── */
.further{margin-top:var(--s9);padding-top:var(--s7);border-top:1px solid var(--line);display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr);gap:var(--s7) var(--s8)}
@media(max-width:860px){.further{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr);gap:var(--s6)}}
@media(max-width:540px){.further{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:var(--s5)}}
.further a{display:block}
.further h3{font-size:18px;font-weight:500;transition:color .18s var(--ease)}
.further a:hover h3{color:var(--bronze-deep)}
.further p{margin-top:5px;font-size:12.5px;color:var(--ink-mute);letter-spacing:.03em}

/* ── editorial split ────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
.split{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:var(--s10);align-items:center}
@media(max-width:940px){.split{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:var(--s7)}}
.split--narrow{grid-template-columns:1.15fr .85fr}
@media(max-width:940px){.split--narrow{grid-template-columns:1fr}}
.split figure{margin:0;border-radius:var(--r);overflow:hidden}
.split figure img{width:100%;aspect-ratio:3/2;object-fit:cover}

.memberships{margin-top:var(--s6);columns:2;column-gap:var(--s7)}
@media(max-width:640px){.memberships{columns:1}}
.memberships li{font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;color:var(--ink-body);padding:9px 0;break-inside:avoid;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line-soft)}

/* ── writing ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
.notes{margin-top:var(--s7);border-top:1px solid var(--line-dark)}
.note{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr auto;gap:var(--s7);align-items:end;padding:var(--s6) 0;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line-dark);transition:padding-left .3s var(--ease)}
.note:hover{padding-left:var(--s3)}
.note h3{font-size:21px;font-weight:500;line-height:1.3;max-width:40ch;color:#fff;transition:color .2s var(--ease)}
.note:hover h3{color:var(--bronze-lit)}
.note__meta{font-size:12.5px;color:var(--on-dark-mid);margin-bottom:var(--s2)}
.note__go{font-size:13px;font-weight:600;color:var(--bronze-lit);white-space:nowrap}
@media(max-width:680px){.note{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:var(--s3);align-items:start}}

/* ── page head (inner pages) ────────────────────────────────────────── */
.phead{background:var(--navy);color:#fff;padding:var(--s9) 0 var(--s8);position:relative;overflow:hidden}
.phead__in{position:relative;z-index:1}
.crumb{font-size:12.5px;color:var(--on-dark-mid);margin-bottom:var(--s5)}
.crumb a:hover{color:var(--bronze-lit)}
.crumb span{opacity:.5;padding:0 6px}
.phead h1{color:#fff;max-width:20ch;font-size:clamp(2.1rem,4.4vw,3.3rem)}
.phead__forum{margin-top:var(--s5);font-size:13px;color:var(--bronze-lit);letter-spacing:.05em}

/* ── practice page: article + rail ──────────────────────────────────── */
.layout{display:grid;grid-template-columns:minmax(0,1fr) 310px;gap:var(--s10)}
@media(max-width:1024px){.layout{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:var(--s8)}}
.rail{position:sticky;top:calc(var(--nav-h) + var(--s5));align-self:start}
@media(max-width:1024px){.rail{position:static}}
.rail h4{font-family:var(--sans);font-size:11px;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:.15em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--ink-mute);margin-bottom:var(--s4)}
.rail li a{display:block;padding:10px 0;font-size:14.5px;color:var(--ink-body);border-bottom:1px solid var(--line-soft);transition:color .18s var(--ease),padding-left .18s var(--ease)}
.rail li a:hover{color:var(--navy);padding-left:6px}
.rail li a[aria-current="page"]{color:var(--navy);font-weight:600}
.rail__ask{margin-top:var(--s7);padding:var(--s6);background:var(--tint);border-top:2px solid var(--bronze);border-radius:var(--r)}
.rail__ask p{font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;color:var(--ink-body);margin-bottom:var(--s4)}
.rail__ask .btn{width:100%}

/* rendered post/page content */
.prose{max-width:70ch}
.prose > * + *{margin-top:var(--s4)}
.prose p{font-size:17px;line-height:1.78;color:var(--ink-body)}
.prose h2{font-size:clamp(1.5rem,2.4vw,1.9rem);margin-top:var(--s8)}
.prose h3{font-size:1.3rem;font-weight:500;margin-top:var(--s7)}
.prose strong{color:var(--navy);font-weight:500}
.prose a{color:var(--bronze-deep);text-decoration:underline;text-underline-offset:3px}
.prose a:hover{color:var(--navy)}
.prose ul{margin-top:var(--s4);display:grid;gap:var(--s3)}
.prose ul li{position:relative;padding-left:var(--s5);font-size:17px;line-height:1.7;color:var(--ink-body)}
.prose ul li::before{content:"";position:absolute;left:0;top:.72em;width:7px;height:1.5px;background:var(--bronze)}
.prose ol{margin-top:var(--s4);counter-reset:n;display:grid;gap:var(--s3)}
.prose ol li{counter-increment:n;position:relative;padding-left:var(--s6);font-size:17px;line-height:1.7;color:var(--ink-body)}
.prose ol li::before{content:counter(n)".";position:absolute;left:0;color:var(--bronze-deep);font-weight:600;font-size:14px;top:.15em}
.prose blockquote{margin:var(--s6) 0;padding:var(--s5) var(--s6);background:var(--tint);border-left:2px solid var(--bronze);border-radius:var(--r)}
.prose blockquote p{font-size:16px;color:var(--ink-body)}
.prose img{border-radius:var(--r);margin-top:var(--s5)}

/* answer-first block: the passage an AI answer engine can lift */
.brief{margin:var(--s7) 0;padding:var(--s6) var(--s7);background:var(--tint);border-left:3px solid var(--bronze);border-radius:var(--r)}
.brief h2{font-size:1.25rem;font-weight:500;margin:0 0 var(--s3)}
.brief p{font-size:16.5px;line-height:1.72;color:var(--ink-body);margin:0}

/* FAQ */
.faq{margin-top:var(--s8);border-top:1px solid var(--line)}
.faq details{border-bottom:1px solid var(--line-soft)}
.faq summary{cursor:pointer;list-style:none;padding:var(--s5) var(--s6) var(--s5) 0;position:relative;font-family:var(--serif);font-size:18px;font-weight:500;line-height:1.4;transition:color .18s var(--ease)}
.faq summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none}
.faq summary:hover{color:var(--bronze-deep)}
.faq summary::after{content:"";position:absolute;right:6px;top:50%;width:11px;height:1.5px;background:var(--bronze-deep);transition:transform .25s var(--ease)}
.faq summary::before{content:"";position:absolute;right:6px;top:50%;width:11px;height:1.5px;background:var(--bronze-deep);transform:rotate(90deg);transition:transform .25s var(--ease),opacity .25s var(--ease)}
.faq details[open] summary::before{opacity:0;transform:rotate(0)}
.faq details p{padding:0 var(--s7) var(--s5) 0;font-size:16px;line-height:1.75;color:var(--ink-body)}

/* related practices */
.related{margin-top:var(--s8);padding-top:var(--s6);border-top:1px solid var(--line);display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:var(--s3)}
.related a{font-size:13.5px;padding:9px 16px;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:var(--r);color:var(--ink-body);transition:border-color .18s var(--ease),color .18s var(--ease),background .18s var(--ease)}
.related a:hover{border-color:var(--navy);color:var(--navy);background:var(--tint)}

/* ── enquiry form ───────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
.enq{display:grid;grid-template-columns:.85fr 1.15fr;gap:var(--s10);align-items:start}
@media(max-width:940px){.enq{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:var(--s7)}}
.reach{margin-top:var(--s7);border-top:1px solid var(--line-dark);padding-top:var(--s5);display:grid;gap:var(--s3)}
.reach div{display:grid;grid-template-columns:84px 1fr;gap:var(--s4);font-size:15px;align-items:baseline}
.reach dt{font-size:11px;letter-spacing:.14em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--on-dark-mid)}
.reach dd{margin:0}
.reach a:hover{color:var(--bronze-lit)}

.form{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:var(--s4)}
@media(max-width:560px){.form{grid-template-columns:1fr}}
.field{display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:7px}
.field--wide{grid-column:1/-1}
.field label{font-size:11.5px;letter-spacing:.11em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--on-dark-mid);font-weight:600}
.field input,.field select,.field textarea{
  font-size:15px;color:#fff;background:rgba(255,255,255,.07);
  border:1px solid var(--line-dark);border-radius:var(--r);padding:13px 15px;width:100%;
  transition:border-color .18s var(--ease),background .18s var(--ease);
}
.field textarea{resize:vertical;min-height:110px}
.field select{appearance:none;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' width='12' height='8'%3E%3Cpath d='M1 1l5 5 5-5' stroke='%23A8B4CC' stroke-width='1.6' fill='none' stroke-linecap='round'/%3E%3C/svg%3E");background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:right 15px center}
.field select option{background:var(--navy);color:#fff}
.field input:focus,.field select:focus,.field textarea:focus{border-color:var(--bronze);background-color:rgba(255,255,255,.11);outline:none}
.field input::placeholder,.field textarea::placeholder{color:#8E97BA}
.field .err{font-size:12.5px;color:var(--bronze-lit)}
.field.is-bad input,.field.is-bad select,.field.is-bad textarea{border-color:var(--bronze-lit)}
.form__end{grid-column:1/-1;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:var(--s4);align-items:center;margin-top:var(--s2)}
.form__end p{font-size:12.5px;color:var(--on-dark-mid);max-width:40ch;line-height:1.5}

/* light-ground variant, used on the contact page */
.form--light .field label{color:var(--ink-mute)}
.form--light .field input,.form--light .field select,.form--light .field textarea{color:var(--navy);background-color:var(--paper);border-color:var(--line)}
.form--light .field input:focus,.form--light .field select:focus,.form--light .field textarea:focus{border-color:var(--bronze-deep);background-color:var(--paper)}
.form--light .field input::placeholder,.form--light .field textarea::placeholder{color:var(--ink-mute)}
.form--light .field select{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' width='12' height='8'%3E%3Cpath d='M1 1l5 5 5-5' stroke='%23646F8A' stroke-width='1.6' fill='none' stroke-linecap='round'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}
.form--light .field select option{background:#fff;color:var(--navy)}
.form--light .field .err{color:#8A2F2F}
.form--light .form__end p{color:var(--ink-mute)}

/* The select arrow's placement, re-asserted last and for every state.
   A `background` shorthand anywhere above resets background-repeat to "repeat"
   and background-position to "0% 0%"; if a later rule then restores only
   background-image, the arrow tiles across the whole field. That shipped twice.
   These longhands are deliberately the final word on the matter. */
.field select,
.field select:hover,
.field select:focus,
.field select:active {
  background-repeat: no-repeat;
  background-position: right 15px center;
  background-size: 12px 8px;
}

/* ── contact blocks ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
.cgrid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:var(--s10)}
@media(max-width:940px){.cgrid{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:var(--s8)}}
.cblock{padding:var(--s5) 0;border-top:1px solid var(--line)}
.cblock:first-child{border-top:none;padding-top:0}
.cblock dt{font-size:11px;letter-spacing:.14em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--ink-mute);font-weight:600;margin-bottom:var(--s2)}
.cblock dd{margin:0;font-size:16.5px;line-height:1.6}
.cblock a:hover{color:var(--bronze-deep)}

/* ── footer ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
.ftr{background:var(--ink);color:var(--on-dark-mid);padding:var(--s9) 0 var(--s6)}
.ftr__grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1.5fr 1fr 1fr 1.3fr;gap:var(--s7)}
@media(max-width:940px){.ftr__grid{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr}}
@media(max-width:580px){.ftr__grid{grid-template-columns:1fr}}
.ftr h4{font-family:var(--sans);font-size:11px;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:.15em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#fff;margin-bottom:var(--s4)}
.ftr li,.ftr p{font-size:14px;line-height:1.8}
.ftr a:hover{color:var(--bronze-lit)}
.ftr__brand b{font-family:var(--serif);font-size:22px;letter-spacing:.05em;color:#fff;display:block}
.ftr__brand p{margin-top:var(--s3);font-size:13.5px;max-width:30ch}
.social{display:flex;gap:var(--s2);margin-top:var(--s5)}
.social a{width:34px;height:34px;border:1px solid var(--line-dark);border-radius:var(--r);display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;transition:border-color .2s var(--ease),background .2s var(--ease)}
.social a:hover{border-color:var(--bronze);background:rgba(124,136,176,.18)}
.social svg{width:15px;height:15px;fill:var(--on-dark-mid)}
.social a:hover svg{fill:#fff}
.ftr__end{margin-top:var(--s8);padding-top:var(--s5);border-top:1px solid var(--line-dark);display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:var(--s4);justify-content:space-between;font-size:12.5px;color:#ADB6D3}
.ftr__end a{text-decoration:underline;text-underline-offset:3px}

/* ── disclaimer, Bar Council of India ───────────────────────────────── */
.veil{position:fixed;inset:0;z-index:300;background:rgba(24,32,58,.76);backdrop-filter:blur(4px);display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:var(--s5);opacity:0;visibility:hidden;transition:opacity .25s var(--ease),visibility .25s}
.veil.is-on{opacity:1;visibility:visible}
.modal{background:var(--paper);max-width:620px;width:100%;max-height:86vh;overflow-y:auto;padding:var(--s8);border-top:3px solid var(--bronze);border-radius:var(--r);transform:translateY(12px);transition:transform .3s var(--ease)}
.veil.is-on .modal{transform:none}
@media(max-width:580px){.modal{padding:var(--s6) var(--s5)}}
.modal h2{font-size:26px;margin-bottom:var(--s4)}
.modal p{font-size:14.5px;line-height:1.7;color:var(--ink-body)}
.modal p + p{margin-top:var(--s4)}
.modal__acts{display:flex;gap:var(--s3);margin-top:var(--s7);padding-top:var(--s5);border-top:1px solid var(--line)}

/* ── archive listing ────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
.posts{display:grid;gap:var(--s6);margin-top:var(--s7)}
.post-row{display:grid;grid-template-columns:150px 1fr;gap:var(--s7);padding-bottom:var(--s6);border-bottom:1px solid var(--line-soft);align-items:start}
@media(max-width:680px){.post-row{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:var(--s3)}}
.post-row time{font-size:13px;color:var(--ink-mute);letter-spacing:.03em}
.post-row h2{font-size:1.5rem;font-weight:500;line-height:1.3;transition:color .2s var(--ease)}
.post-row a:hover h2{color:var(--bronze-deep)}
.post-row .body{font-size:15.5px;margin-top:var(--s3);max-width:66ch}

.empty{padding:var(--s8) 0;border-top:1px solid var(--line);margin-top:var(--s6)}
.empty p{font-size:16px;color:var(--ink-body);max-width:56ch}

/* ── motion. Entry reveal only, no scroll hijack. ───────────────────── */
.rv{opacity:0;transform:translateY(18px);transition:opacity .7s var(--ease),transform .7s var(--ease)}
.rv.is-in{opacity:1;transform:none}
.rv-d1{transition-delay:.08s}.rv-d2{transition-delay:.16s}.rv-d3{transition-delay:.24s}
@media(prefers-reduced-motion:reduce){
  html{scroll-behavior:auto}
  .rv{opacity:1;transform:none;transition:none}
  *,*::before,*::after{transition-duration:.01ms!important;animation-duration:.01ms!important}
}

/* ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
   LIGHT VERSION, adopted 29 Sep 2026. See DECISIONS.md 19.

   The client's feedback on the built palette was that it looked the same
   as navy, and it measured that way: navy to indigo moved the dark share of
   the homepage from 41.5% to 41.5%. This layer moves indigo from the grounds
   to the accents. Every surface that was dark becomes one indigo wash,
   #E4E7F2, and indigo carries headings, buttons, links and rules instead.

   It is an override layer on purpose: everything above is unchanged, so
   removing this block restores the dark-ground build exactly.
   ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ */

:root{
  --wash:#E4E7F2;          /* replaces every dark ground. L* 91.7 */
  --ink-mute-deep:#54596A; /* muted text on the wash, 5.64:1. Same as --ink-mute since 26 Sep */
}

/* ── hero: text on paper, the photograph kept at full strength on the right */
.hero{background:var(--paper);color:var(--navy)}
.hero__bg img{opacity:1}
.hero__bg::after{background:linear-gradient(100deg,var(--paper) 34%,rgba(247,247,250,.9) 50%,rgba(247,247,250,0) 78%)}
.hero h1{color:var(--navy)}
.hero .lede{color:var(--ink-body);font-weight:400}
.hero .btn--fill{border-color:transparent}

/* hero headline measure. The client's heading (29 Sep) is 78 characters;
   at the old 19ch it set on four lines on desktop and five on a phone. */
.hero h1{font-size:clamp(2rem,4.3vw,3.6rem);max-width:26ch}

/* Up to 900px the text column spans the photograph, and dark photo pixels
   sat behind indigo text: 2.84:1 on the headline and 1.44:1 on the lede at
   390px, measured against the real image. So below 900px the photograph
   becomes a band above the text instead of a ground beneath it, and every
   line of hero text sits on plain paper. */
@media(max-width:900px){
  .hero__bg{position:relative;inset:auto;z-index:auto;height:clamp(180px,42vw,300px)}
  .hero__bg::after{background:linear-gradient(180deg,rgba(247,247,250,0) 55%,var(--paper) 100%)}
  .hero__in{padding-top:var(--s7)}
}

/* forum strip */
.forums{background:var(--wash);border-top:1px solid var(--bronze)}
.forums dt{color:var(--navy)}
.forums dd{color:var(--ink-mute-deep)}

/* outline button, formerly for dark grounds */
.btn--ondark{border-color:var(--line);color:var(--navy);background:transparent}
.btn--ondark:hover{border-color:var(--navy);background:var(--tint)}

/* ── the bands that were dark ───────────────────────────────────────── */
.sec--dark{background:var(--wash);color:var(--navy);border-top:1px solid var(--line)}
/* the wash (L* 91.7) sits two steps from the tint band (L* 93.5); without
   an edge the change of ground reads as an accident rather than a choice */
.sec--dark h2,.sec--dark h3{color:var(--navy)}
.sec--dark .body,.sec--dark .lede{color:var(--ink-body)}
.kicker--dark{color:var(--bronze-deep)}

.notes{border-top-color:var(--line)}
.note{border-bottom-color:var(--line)}
.note h3{color:var(--navy)}
.note:hover h3{color:var(--bronze-deep)}
.note__meta{color:var(--ink-mute-deep)}
.note__go{color:var(--bronze-deep)}

/* inner page head */
.phead{background:var(--wash);color:var(--navy);border-bottom:1px solid var(--line)}
.phead h1{color:var(--navy)}
.crumb{color:var(--ink-mute-deep)}
.crumb a:hover{color:var(--bronze-deep)}
.phead__forum{color:var(--bronze-deep)}

/* ── the enquiry form that sat on a dark band ───────────────────────── */
.reach{border-top-color:var(--line)}
.reach dt{color:var(--ink-mute-deep)}
.reach a:hover{color:var(--bronze-deep)}

.form:not(.form--light) .field label{color:var(--ink-mute-deep)}
.form:not(.form--light) .field input,
.form:not(.form--light) .field select,
.form:not(.form--light) .field textarea{color:var(--navy);background-color:var(--paper);border-color:var(--line)}
.form:not(.form--light) .field input:focus,
.form:not(.form--light) .field select:focus,
.form:not(.form--light) .field textarea:focus{border-color:var(--bronze-deep);background-color:var(--paper)}
.form:not(.form--light) .field input::placeholder,
.form:not(.form--light) .field textarea::placeholder{color:var(--ink-mute)}
.form:not(.form--light) .field select{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' width='12' height='8'%3E%3Cpath d='M1 1l5 5 5-5' stroke='%23616677' stroke-width='1.6' fill='none' stroke-linecap='round'/%3E%3C/svg%3E");background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:right 15px center}
.form:not(.form--light) .field select option{background:#fff;color:var(--navy)}
.form:not(.form--light) .field .err{color:#8A2F2F}
.form:not(.form--light) .field.is-bad input,
.form:not(.form--light) .field.is-bad select,
.form:not(.form--light) .field.is-bad textarea{border-color:#8A2F2F}
.form:not(.form--light) .form__end p{color:var(--ink-mute-deep)}
.form:not(.form--light) .btn--fill{border-color:transparent}

/* ── footer ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
.ftr{background:var(--wash);color:var(--ink-body);border-top:1px solid var(--line)}
.ftr h4{color:var(--navy)}
.ftr a:hover{color:var(--bronze-deep)}
.ftr__brand b{color:var(--navy)}
.social a{border-color:var(--line)}
.social svg{fill:var(--ink-body)}
.social a:hover svg{fill:var(--bronze-deep)}
.ftr__end{border-top-color:var(--line);color:var(--ink-mute-deep)}

/* the disclaimer overlay. The dark build's .76 indigo veil is heavy over a
   light page, and it is the first thing a worried visitor meets. */
.veil{background:rgba(24,32,58,.46)}

/* ── enquiry form, delivered by Contact Form 7 (inc/forms.php) ──────────
   CF7's stylesheet is off. The first two rules are the two of theirs the
   markup depends on; the rest fit CF7's wrappers and states to the theme. */
.wpcf7 .screen-reader-response{position:absolute;overflow:hidden;clip:rect(1px,1px,1px,1px);clip-path:inset(50%);height:1px;width:1px;margin:-1px;padding:0;border:0;word-wrap:normal!important;word-break:normal!important}
.wpcf7 .hidden-fields-container{display:none}
.form .wpcf7-form-control-wrap{display:block;position:relative}
.form .wpcf7-form-control-wrap>input,
.form .wpcf7-form-control-wrap>select,
.form .wpcf7-form-control-wrap>textarea{width:100%}
.form .wpcf7-not-valid-tip{display:block;margin-top:7px;font-size:12.5px;color:#8A2F2F}
.form.is-checked .wpcf7-not-valid-tip{display:none}
.form .hp{position:absolute!important;left:-10000px;width:1px;height:1px;overflow:hidden}
.form .wpcf7-response-output{grid-column:1/-1;margin:0;border:1px solid var(--bronze);background:rgba(124,136,176,.14);border-radius:var(--r);padding:var(--s4) var(--s5);font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;color:var(--navy)}
.form.init .wpcf7-response-output,
.form.resetting .wpcf7-response-output,
.form.submitting .wpcf7-response-output{display:none}
.form.failed .wpcf7-response-output,
.form.aborted .wpcf7-response-output,
.form.spam .wpcf7-response-output,
.form.invalid .wpcf7-response-output{border-color:#8A2F2F;background:rgba(138,47,47,.06)}
.form.submitting button[type=submit]{opacity:.6;cursor:progress}