LAWYER IN THE NEWS

Who? Richard Buxton, 48-year-old partner in two-partner Cambridge and London-based environmental specialist Richard Buxton solicitors.Why is he in the news? Represents eight people who - the European Court of Human Rights ruled earlier this month - had their human right to a good night's sleep violated by the noise of overhead nightflights to and from nearby Heathrow airport.

The eight people, who have been involved in petitioning and litigation since 1993, represent thousands of local residents living in the Heathrow flightpath.

The eight litigants were each awarded 9,000 compensation and a total of 70,000 costs.

Background: BA and MA in Economics and Law at Trinity College, Cambridge 1971-74, followed by Law Society finals done by correspondence course at home.

He qualified with London firm Farrers & Co in 1978, and moved on qualification to Sinclair Roche & Temperley where he remained until 1981.

He then moved to Tokyo to act as in-house legal adviser to a major Japanese shipping company, and in 1984 became involved in the United Nations Environment Programme in Bangkok, Thailand.

Between 1986 and 1989 he was a consultant in Nova Scotia, Canada, before returning to England as an assistant with Mills & Reeve.

He set up his own firm, specialising in environmental law, in 1990.Route to the case: 'I was working with local authorities on the proposed Heathrow Terminal 5 inquiry and the impact it would have on the community.

They asked me for possible remedies for the situation, and I suggested suing the government.'Thoughts on the case: 'The case has profound implications, as it affects the thousands of people who live on flightpaths throughout the country.

The government has to look to balance the rights of individuals for a peaceful and private family life with the economic necessity of nightflights for the airline industry.

The number of nightflights from Heathrow has increased dramatically since these people bought their homes, so the argument that "they should have expected the noise when they moved there" doesn't really hold water.'Dealing with the media: 'There has been quite a lot of media interest.

Although I've had a little experience before, I've been quite surprised at the speed with which many nationals have leapt to criticise the verdict - The Times ran a leader stating that if a good night's sleep was a human right, then getting a cheap flight is also a human right.

I think they're misunderstanding the situation, and seeing the court's decision in the wrong light.'Victoria MacCallum