LAWYER IN THE NEWS

Who? Charles Williams, 47-year- old solicitor at two-partner Newport firm Loosemores.Why is he in the news? Acted for Janice Howell, the school teacher who was awarded 254,000 last week after being forced to retire through ill-health caused by work-related stress.

Ms Howell said the pressure of teaching special needs children with little or no support had driven her to two nervous breakdowns.

The pay-out - one of the largest ever awarded in the UK - hassince been queried after it was suggested that Mr Williams was involved with Ms Howell's husband's businesses.Background: Worked in PR and marketing until the age of 39, when he enrolled at Cardiff University.

Completed his Bachelor of Laws in 1995, and after finishing his legal practice course, also at Cardiff, qualified with Newport firm Keith Evans & Co in 1998.

He moved to Loosemores in 1999.

Route to the case: 'Janice Howell is an old family friend, and I was aware that she had been having difficulties for some time.' Thoughts on the case: 'Janice's case was an example of a highly qualified woman who, through no fault of her own, became unable to work in her chosen profession.

Society was wasting a person's skills simply because they weren't looking after her properly - she wanted to teach, but she was continually put in these horrific situations and as a result wasn't able to.

As for the potential conflict of interests, that's complete rubbish.

I'm a family friend, and I'm their family lawyer - there's no problem there, it's just a story dreamt up by the media to distract from the real issues involved.'Dealing with the media: 'Though I've had some experience before, the media's attitude in this case has been very distressing, with the tabloids in particular adopting a grossly irresponsible attitude.

They appear to have got sidetracked from the real issue - that many teachers, not just Janice, are being placed in terrible situations - and are focusing on unfair, irrelevant and irresponsible issues.' Victoria MacCallum