Lawyer In The News

Who? Katherine Gieve, 51-year-old partner at 15-partner London civil liberties firm Bindman & Partners, specialising in children's rights.

Why is she in the news? Acts as solicitor and guardian ad litem to Jodie, one of the conjoined twins the Court of Appeal ruled last week should be separated.

The operation would save Jodie but kill her sister Mary.

Their parents, who oppose the separation on religious grounds, are considering whether to appeal.

Background: Graduated in politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford University in 1971.

Spent four years in publishing before taking her Part I exams at the College of Law in London.

Articled at London firm Wegg Prosser & Farmer before completing her Part II exams and qualifying in 1978.

Left to spend five years advising on family and housing law at West Hampstead Law Centre.

Joined south London firm Wilford McBain in 1983 to concentrate on children's cases.

Left practice and wrote a book on motherhood before returning in 1986 as a solicitor at the Family Rights Group.

Joined Bindmans in 1988, becoming a partner in 1991.

She has worked part-time since 1980, although that has become more notional in recent years as her children have grown up.

Route to the case: She was asked to act by the Official Solicitor.

Thoughts on the case: 'Throughout preparing for the case, we have had in mind what a terribly difficult situation this is for the parents.

It has been incredibly difficult to work through the arguments because our law is adapted to single people -- it is hard to see how it applies to joined people.

The case has made everyone involved really think at a profound intellectual level about what's right and wrong, but the court has shown enormous care in dealing with the case.

I think it came to the right result.'

Dealing with the media: 'We've had a lot of enquiries, but I haven't thought it right to advance strenuous public arguments for Jodie against her parents.

So I've been keeping my head down.'

Neil Rose