Lawyer in the newsWho? Alex Bevan, 50-year-old sole principal of Bristol-based employment and financial services litigation firm Bevans.Why is he in the news? Successfully defended cabbie Mark Granger against Bristol City Council's decision to revoke his license after he refused to take four black people to Bristol trouble spot Easton.

The legal team, which included London barrister Witold Pawlak, had to prove that Mr Granger was not a racist.

This month, Bristol Crown Court upheld the magistrate's decision in favour of Mr Granger.

Background: Studied politics, philosophy and economics at New College, Oxford, graduating in 1972.

Did his Part One Law Society Finals for six months at the College of Law inLancaster Gate, followed by articles at top construction firm Masons.

Returned to the College of Law, this time in Guildford, for his Part Two, qualifying in 1977.

Moved to Worcester, where he practised at Malvern firm Gaynor-Smith Owen & Co between 1977 and 1988, before moving to Ringrose Warton in Bristol.

He set up his own firm in 1993.

Route to the case: 'We are employment specialists, and we also specialise in referencing.

The Granger case is not exactly a reference case, but it did cover similar issues.

[Mr Granger] discovered our name through local reputation and contacted us.'Thoughts on the case: 'A taxi driver is not an employee as such but the issue is about regulation of taxi drivers.

Regulators are of considerable interest these days, with doctors' regulation by the General Medical Council, and other bodies, coming under scrutiny.

This is about obligations on taxi drivers.

It also touched on issues of racism, which is quite demanding in terms of understanding the law.

I felt that my client was not a racist and shouldn't have lost his licence.

The other issue is that there are areas in the city which are perceived to be dangerous.

Bristol City Council might do better to consider how best to help taxi drivers and operators to provide the service they would want to give to every part of the city.'Dealing with the media: 'I found them quite reasonable; after all, they have a job to do.

Bristol City Council has mentioned the possibility that it may appeal, but I hope that he can get on with being a normal taxi driver.'Anne Mizzi