LAWYER IN THE NEWS

Who? John Cook, 29-year-old employment partner at nine-partner Stockport firm Sinclair Abson Smith.Why is he in the news? He represented Julie Percy, a secretary who last month won her claim for unfair dismissal after she was fired for leaving work to collect her sick son from school.

It was the first case brought under the parental leave regulations.

Ms Percy argued that when she received a phone call from her seven-year-old son's school saying that he was unwell, her boss had looked 'irritated' and given her a week's notice.

Her employer, chartered surveyors Metcalfe Harding, claimed she was sacked because of her 'bad attitude'.

Background: LLB at Aberystwyth University 1989-92, followed by Law Society finals at the Chester College of Law in 1993.

Qualified with Sinclair Abson Smith in 1995, becoming a partner in 1999.Route to the case: 'I think it was through the Yellow Pages, to be honest.

Ms Percy had tried to get quite a few other firms to take the case, but none was interested.'Thoughts on the case: 'We think it's a real watershed.

If they have this confidence and security of knowing that they can't be fired for taking time off to care for the children, it will encourage more parents to go back to work after having children.

For my client, who had taken six years off after having her son, it was incredibly difficult to come back to work, and when this happened to her a few weeks into the job, she was determined to take it to a tribunal.

As she found a job almost immediately after she was fired, her compensation for lost pay will be minimal - however, it's the principle of the matter which is important.'Dealing with the media: 'I've had some past experience - for example, acting for a company which fired an employee a few years ago for excessive use of the Internet at work - so I was prepared this time.

Our PR company was very helpful, organising a press call and photoshoot so that we could deal with it all at once.

The media have covered the case favourably, which also always helps.' Victoria MacCallum