Ex-Clifford Chance chief stokes Railtrack legal fight

Court action: Geoffrey Howe is appointed chairman

Railtrack has bulked up the legal experience on its board as it prepares to sue the government for compensation over the decision to put the company into administration.Geoffrey Howe, the former managing partner of Clifford Chance, has been appointed its chairman, while Simon Osborne - currently Railtrack's group secretary and general counsel - has joined the board as legal director.Mr Howe, who will be paid 150,000 for a role set to take half his week, told the Gazette that the company was looking for a mix of legal and business skills.He added: 'I very much welcome this new challenge.

Shareholders have been deprived of the assets that are rightfully theirs and my task is to do everything possible to ensure that they receive fair value for them.

I am determined to pursue every option necessary to achieve this.' Railtrack has linked with its shareholders to pursue a joint legal action against the decision to make Railtrack insolvent.The company has asked the Treasury Solicitor to disclose all key documents relating to the decision to put Railtrack into administration and will go to court if necessary.

Mr Howe said: 'We cannot understand why the Treasury Solicitor will not disclose the documents we are seeking - why should the government refuse if it has nothing to hide?'Mr Howe left Clifford Chance in 1998 to become general counsel of Robert Fleming Holdings.

He left in 2000, and is currently a director of several companies, while also advising 'one or two' law firms.Neil Rose