Best brains in ...

Responsible for the firm's policy on the use of conditional fee agreements and after-the-event insurance for contentious matters. The effective use of these can really add value to clients by taking the risk out of even the most expensive litigation. In addition, my considerable trial experience helps me to tailor the most effective team and resources for any particular matter - no extra bodies who just rack up costs, but the right team for each job.

Highlight of your career so far?

I have used conditional fee agreements and after-the-event insurance to put clients in excellent settlement situations. This has ranged from large FTSE companies to small partnerships. Tactically, they have all benefited from the use of these cost mitigation tools.

Most challenging job you've ever done?

Having provided a lot of advice to British Airways on one particular contract, I was asked to be involved in the renegotiation of that $3 billion, ten-year contract. As a litigator, I usually analyse the contract I am given but here, the exercise was much wider than that. This gave me a much greater perspective and I was grateful as ever to my colleagues for helping me with my education!

What about outside the UK?

I did a large International Court of Arbitration (ICC) arbitration for a US subsidiary of a Swedish corporation – it fought all the way and we recovered the damages we claimed plus costs in full for our client.

An example of your great client service?

I firmly believe that we can add value to our clients by introducing them to our other clients in the same industry. Quite often in-house counsel do not have as much opportunity as they would wish to meet colleagues in the same industry. Through the networking dinners we host, it is so easy for us to help with that. We run networking dinners for in-house counsel in the aerospace and defence sectors and for pub company executives for example.

When doing a litigious matter for NCP, my counsel suddenly could not attend a key hearing for personal reasons. Despite my trepidation in facing a QC plus a junior barrister team, at very short notice, I dusted off my Higher Rights of Audience and won a key tactical battle at an interlocutory stage.

Best example of a creative legal solution?

If you have been wronged and cannot afford to litigate a good claim, talk to me about the use of conditional fee agreements (CFAs) and after the event insurance (ATE). I can help you successfully pursue your claim without a significant costs liability.

How do you get under the skin of a client business?

I am always amazed how few lawyers get off their seats and go to see their clients, or go to visit them at trade shows. If you purport to have industry expertise, go and see what it is that your clients actually do!

What's your single greatest contribution to Wragge & Co's corporate responsibility?

I have done several pro bono litigation cases for deserving causes such as Oxfam and in late 2008 I trekked to Everest Base Camp in support of SENSE.

What's been written or said about you that you're most proud of?

I care.