Two weeks ago, we thought we had a winner for our youngest person to set up a law firm competition in Victor Zermansky, who set up Zermansky & Partners in Leeds in 1955 at the age of 23.


But it now appears that he is only the runner-up. Kathleen Bateman has written in to put forward her father, Joseph Bateman, as a possible winner.



Mr Bateman, who recently celebrated 40 years as a qualified solicitor, set up Bateman Solicitors on 1 July 1967 at the age of 22 years and 237 days. 'He originally worked from the dining-room table from his mother's house, using his elderly grandmother as a secretary,' reports Kathleen.



A first office was opened in 1970 in Harlesden, north London. In 1986, Mr Bateman moved the practice out to Bovingdon in Hertfordshire.



'He has been so successful with this business that he has managed to father, feed, clothe and educate - including university - eight children, who are all extremely proud of him.' Two of the children are now lawyers.