LAWYER IN THE NEWS

Who? Peter Williams, 44-year-old partner and head of litigation at25-partner Westminster firm Winckworth Sherwood.

Why is he in the news? Represents Ian Beckett, the Deputy Chief Constable of Surrey Police, who was cleared last week of sexually harassing two of his female staff.

Mr Beckett, who tried to commit suicide before the trial, was the highest-ranking police officer to face criminal charges for 30 years.

Having been cleared of these charges, he is still suspended from duty while further complaints of sexual harassment - which he denies - are investigated.

Background: Read history at Keeble College, Oxford, completing his Law Society finals at the College of Law in London in 1978.

Articled with Rickerby Watterson in Cheltenham and qualified in 1980, moving to specialise in medical negligence and health at Westminster firm Radcliffes.

In 1983 he became a partner at south London health specialist Capsticks, before joining Winckworth Sherwood in 1987.

Route to case: 'I've been very involved with ACPO (the Association of Chief Police Officers in the UK) for about five years.

When this case came up, it was referred to me.'

Thoughts on the case: 'After the suicide attempt, we obtained an emergency injunction in the middle of the night to prevent it from leaking out to the press - it was imperative that the jury didn't know.

As it turned out, we found that there were serious inconsistencies in the evidence of the two complainants that made it impossible for the jury not to acquit my client anyway'

Dealing with the media: 'I've had some experience of dealing with high-profile cases - in the early eighties I acted with Cherie Booth on some race-relations cases that made headlines.

I've got another case coming up for trial next year - defending the Deputy Chief Constable of Sussex, who is accused of authorising the use of firearms in Hastings, leading to a shooting - which has already made The Times.

On the whole the media were fine with us, although I was always rather cautious about what I said.'

Victoria MacCallum