Partner acted for manufacturer of Taser gun used in Moat stand-off

Who? Paul Mayson, 41, principal and commercial litigation partner at Burnley firm Maysons.

Why is he in the news? Acted at a three-week inquest for the manufacturer of an untested Taser stun gun with which police tried, but failed, to capture murderer Raoul Moat, 37, before he could commit suicide.

In July 2010, Moat wounded his ex-girlfriend and killed her new boyfriend in Northumberland, before shooting and blinding a police officer.

Seven days later, the police cornered Moat and there followed a six-hour stand-off. Rather than shooting and killing Moat, the police tried to stun him using a version of the Taser that can fire 30 metres. The Taser proved ineffective and Moat was able to kill himself.

The jury in the Newcastle upon Tyne inquest found that the untested Taser had not made Moat accidentally shoot himself - he had deliberately committed suicide. It also found that the police had not acted unlawfully in deploying a Taser device that had not been officially tested and approved for use.

Thoughts on the case: ‘The inquest considered in detail the options available to firearms officers when dealing with life-threatening incidents. It found that it is almost impossible for the police to overpower a dangerous and armed subject by non-lethal means over distances greater than three or four metres, which is the range of the Taser that the police currently use. That is why the decision was taken to use the long-range, but untested version.’

Why become a lawyer? ‘Because of the sense of achievement you get when developing relationships with clients and then doing what they require.’

Career high: ‘Acting for a solicitor in contempt proceedings brought by the attorney general. I have never forgotten the relief and emotion on his face when it was shown there was no case to answer.’

Career low: ‘I was conducting a hearing as a trainee when my client fell asleep and couldn’t be woken up - hearing adjourned!’