Press

Press

September 12 2007

Issued by Mattison Public Relations

Celebrity divorces dominate press coverage of the legal profession

  • Terrorism and the law temporarily eclipsed by Paul McCartney and Heather Mills’ divorce

The celebrity divorce of Paul McCartney and Heather Mills was the biggest legal story of this year, temporarily eclipsing the Human Rights lawyers that normally dominate press attention, reveals research by Sweet & Maxwell, the legal and business information provider. *

Anthony Julius, the lawyer representing Heather Mills in her divorce from Paul McCartney, has emerged as the most high profile solicitor (with 195 press features), followed by Paul McCartney’s divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton (with 179 press features). (Full table of results below). The case signifies a rematch for Julius, who represented Diana, Princess of Wales, and Shackleton, who acted for Prince Charles during the Royal divorce.

Raymond Tooth, one of the UK’s top divorce lawyers, has entered the Top 10 after it was reported that he had represented Irina Abramovich in her divorce from Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.

Celebrity lawyer Nick Freeman, dubbed “Mr Loophole” and specialising in driving offences takes third place for the second year running with 173 mentions in the press.

Sweet & Maxwell’s analysis of national and regional newspapers reveals that Human Rights lawyer Gareth Pierce, who topped the league last year after representing the suspects in the Forest Gate anti-terror raid, has enjoyed a lower profile this year after sliding to 17th in the league.

Other Human Rights lawyers who have dropped out of the Top 10 Most High Profile Lawyers include Kate Roxburg, who also acted for the Forest Gate terror suspects last year, and Mudassar Irani, who has acted for Abu Hamza.

Sweet & Maxwell’s research reveals that the work of lawyers from the UK’s largest commercial law firms for corporate clients on the biggest M&A deals receives far less attention in the media than work undertaken for private individuals. David Childs, managing Partner of Clifford Chance, the world’s biggest law firm, came just 20th in the league of most high profile solicitors.

Barristers

For the third year running Cherie Booth QC retains her position as the most high profile barrister with 347 press features over the 12 months. Cherie Booth QC was recently hired by the owner of a lap-dancing club to fight the smoking ban passed whilst her husband was Prime Minister.

Michael Mansfield QC also retains his position as the second most cited barrister and is currently representing Mohamed Al Fayed in the inquest into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed.

Judiciary and Government

Sweet & Maxwell’s analysis shows that the judiciary get far more press coverage than barristers and solicitors, as a result of the role they play in influencing and announcing major legal decisions. This year the average number of articles for the 10 most high profile members of the judiciary was 1064, more than double last year’s average of 426. The Top 10 barristers averaged 128 articles this year (up from 110 last year) and the Top 10 solicitors averaged 102 articles (up from 90 last year.)

Whilst no longer a member of the Judiciary, the position of Lord Chancellor, the Government minister responsible for the judiciary and court system, is this year’s most frequently cited member of the Judiciary and Government. Jack Straw, the incoming Lord Chancellor, and the first non-peer to hold the post takes top position with 4616 mentions, due to the high profile he has built up as a member of the Cabinet over the past 10 years.

Lord Goldsmith, the outgoing Attorney General, is the second most high profile member of the judiciary and Government, following controversy over his possible influence over the BAE “cash for contracts” and the “cash for peerages” investigations. Lord Falconer, the outgoing Lord Chancellor who oversaw the creation of the new Ministry of Justice and who has commented extensively on the problem of overcrowding in UK prisons takes third place.

Alina Lourie, Director of Sweet & Maxwell’s Legal Online Business Unit, comments: “Whilst cases associated with high profile public figures often receive a large amount of press coverage, the media has also recognised that lawyers are playing an increasingly important role in helping to shape both UK and European law. The number of column inches a lawyer receives is a clear benchmark of the issues that have engaged the public’s attention over the past year.”

Most frequently cited solicitors in UK newspapers
Playlist Position Press coverage July 2006 – June 2007 Recent area of expertise**
1 Anthony Julius 195 Heather Mills’ divorce lawyer
2 Fiona Shackleton 179 Paul McCartney’s divorce lawyer
3 Nick Freeman 173 “Mr Loophole” specialising in driving offences
4 Mark Spragg 85 Representing the “Natwest Three”
=5 Mark Stephens 73 Media and Human Rights specialist
=5 Louise Christian 73 Representing Marina Litvinenko and the families of rail crash victims
7 Martyn Day 69 Represented Iraqi families suing the MoD
8 Phil Shiner 67 Representing Iraqi family suing the MoD
9 Imran Khan 55 Representing Stephen Lawrence’s family
10 Raymond Tooth 46 Reportedly acted as Irina Abramovich’s divorce lawyer
Average 102

Most frequently cited barristers in UK newspapers
Press coverage July 2006 – June 2007 Recent area of expertise**
1 Cherie Booth QC 347 Human Rights
2 Michael Mansfield QC 175 Representing Mohamed Al Fayed
3 Nigel Sweeney QC 151 Prosecuting July 21 bombers
4 David Pannick QC 147 Representing Sheffield United and pharmaceuticals company Eisai in Alzheimer’s drug case against NICE
5 Helena Kennedy QC 105 Critic of the War on Terror
6 Lord Lester QC 90 Has called for forced marriage to be made illegal
7 Julian Bevan QC 77 Acted for the prosecution of soldiers accused of war crimes in Iraq
8 Richard Horwell QC 75 Acted for the prosecution of the murderers of lawyer Tom ap Rhys Pryce
9 Edward Fitzgerald QC 70 Defended terror suspects against extradition to the US
10 John Nutting QC 68 Prosecuting in £53 million Securitas robbery
Average 128

Most frequently cited members of the judiciary and Government in UK newspapers
Press coverage July 2006 – June 2007 Title
1 Jack Straw 4616 Incoming Lord Chancellor and Justice Minister
2 Lord Goldsmith 1839 Outgoing Attorney General
3 Lord Falconer 1695 Outgoing Lord Chancellor
4 Lord Phillips of Worth Maltravers 600 Lord Chief Justice
5 Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss 573 Deputy Coroner of the Queen’s Household who recently stepped down from the Diana Inquiry
6 Mike O’Brien QC 307 Outgoing Solicitor General
7 Baroness Scotland 299 Incoming Attorney General
8 Lord Hardie 249 Senior Scottish Judge
9 Justice Eady 234 Senior Libel Judge
10 Sir Hayden Phillips 224 Chairman of the Review of the Funding of Political Parties
Average 1064

Please note:

* Coverage based on mentions in Sweet & Maxwell’s Westlaw UK’s online UK news database for the year to June 30 2007. Sweet & Maxwell would welcome suggestions of lawyers who should be included in future reviews – please email to nm@mattison.co.uk.

** Legal areas and job titles bracketed are a guide to the press coverage rather than an attempt to sum up that lawyer's overall workload or areas of expertise.