Lawyer in the newsWho? Nick Makin, 52-year-old company/commercial specialist and director of M&S Solicitors in Leicestershire.Why is he in the news? Acts for farmer Tony Martin, given life imprisonment two weeks ago for the murder of teenage burglar Fred Barras, who broke into his Norfolk home.Background: Qualified in 1973 after completing five-year articles at City law firm A Banks & Co.

Worked in-house at Forward Trust Finance before setting up his own firm, Makin Sumner, in Ashby de la Zouch in 1974.

In 1986, he sold his practice and became chief magistrate in Gizo in the Solomon Islands.

Set up his existing firm in 1988.Route to the case: 'An existing client asked me if I would take on the case as they wanted it to be dealt with as a one-off rather than by a criminal lawyer who would deal with it as a sausage-machine case.' Criminal silk Anthony Scrivener has helped him conduct the case.Thoughts on the case: 'My client is an interesting, self-educated man who did not want to get involved in anything like this and just liked a quiet life on his own and with friends.

The next step is to obtain leave to appeal on grounds which include misdirection, failure to sum up properly, failing to advise on self-defence and intimidation of the jury.'Dealing with the media: 'We knew what would happen with this case so we bought in public relations adviser Max Clifford, who has been largely responsible for media handling.'Sue Allen