Who? John Gould, chair, Russell Cooke LLP.
Why is he in the news? Gould is the lead solicitor representing the Save Wimbledon Park group, which opposes the extension of the Wimbledon tennis site. The group this week lost the first round of its legal battle when its judicial review application was dismissed at first instance.
Thoughts on the case: ‘The case is multi-layered, involving arguments about planning, the special act of parliament under which the land is held and an express restrictive covenant held for the public benefit preventing development. The land is among the most protected in the country and the development is on a huge scale. Conversely, the Wimbledon Championships are a huge global and financial success held in great affection by many tennis fans and, even if they are owned by an exclusive private members’ club, their position in the top four tennis competitions is a matter of national pride. The balance to be struck will be a significant signal of how solid the protections of heritage sites and open spaces actually are.’
Dealing with the media: ‘The All England Lawn Tennis Club is a powerful and very well-connected organisation. Generally, the media are much more invested in the Wimbledon Championships and all the journalistic opportunities that go with it, than in the preservation of a Capability Brown park. I am always aware that lawyers are not campaigners and most maintain professional independence. I am very comfortable briefing journalists who want to get the law in a case right. Gradually, the issues are emerging in more detail and more thoughtful contacts have been encouraging.’
Why become a lawyer? ‘My father’s aspiration for me was to obtain a safe clerical job in our local authority. I knew nothing of the legal profession but studying law and being a solicitor seemed as safe and more interesting. As a teenager, knowledge of law also seemed to give opportunities to show off to the folk around me.’
Career high: ‘More by luck than judgement, I have been able to edge forwards and upwards over decades. I have acted in many high-profile cases, but certainly one of the high points was demonstrating to myself that I could write a respectable and heavy law book.’
Career low: ‘I was always at the limit of my expertise but unfortunately never lacking in confidence. I secured instructions from a bank to pursue a guarantor for £20m in two jurisdictions. I got my conventions muddled and the foreign lawyer I chose went rogue. So I had to instruct counsel to apply to set our own default judgment aside, much to the amusement of the court.’
No comments yet