Who? Andrew Ford, director, Holborn Adams, London.
Why is he in the news? Represented influencer Andrew Tate, who will not face criminal charges over abuse allegations made by four women suing him in a civil case in the UK. The Crown Prosecution Service concluded that its legal test for prosecution was not met. Tate denies the allegations.
Thoughts on the case: ‘I alluded in a press statement to matters “falling by the wayside”. This has now happened in the UK as well as other jurisdictions. There is a clear changing of the tide as the various cases that Andrew Tate faces move towards a stage at which the evidence is to be analysed more closely.
‘We are confident that other proceedings faced by Mr Tate will be resolved in his favour once the evidence is ventilated.
‘This result demonstrates the benefits of early engagement before charge, or pre-charge representation, which is our area of expertise at Holborn Adams.’
Dealing with the media: ‘With Mr Tate in particular, there is an existing narrative within the media and, thus, the general population. This narrative, negative as it is, means that results like this are more difficult to achieve.
‘We are grateful that in this instance the CPS has made a decision based on the strength of the evidence rather than the media perception of our client.
‘While other proceedings are ongoing, we keep a keen eye on the media to ensure that reporting on our client does not impinge upon his Article 6 right to a fair trial.’
Why become a lawyer? ‘Criminal law was always an interest and a passion. I did not want to become a lawyer; I wanted to become a criminal lawyer. I joined Holborn Adams in 2017 and am forever grateful that myself, Adam Rasul and the team are able to work on some of the world’s most interesting and newsworthy cases.’
Career high: ‘I represented, together with Adam, an 18-year-old under investigation for a double murder. As a result of our proactive engagement, he was fully exonerated prior to any formal charges.’
Career low: ‘While it’s difficult to pinpoint a low, it is worthy of mention that Holborn Adams is an international firm, which means international travel is commonplace. This brings with it exciting and interesting cases but also a lot of time away from family.’
