Lawyer in the NewsWho? Ellen Windsor, 39-year-old generalist sole practitioner in Kenilworth, Warwickshire.

Why is she in the news? She represents an anonymous business tycoon, who last month was granted permission by the High Court to bring a claim that a former lover falsely led him to believe that the child they brought up together was his son.

This landmark ruling means that the 53-year-old man will now take hisex-partner to court to seek damages for the emotional distress caused when he discovered that he was not the father of the boy, now aged 12.

He is also seeking compensation of up to 250,000 to cover the eight-year period of supporting the boy when he believed that he was his father.Background: Originally from Hong Kong, Ms Windsor graduated with an LLB from London University in 1984.

She completed her Law Society finals at Chester College of Law in 1985, and qualified with London firm Kenneth Shaw & Co in 1988.

After spending two years in Hong Kong, she joined Birmingham firm Wragge & Co, where she remained until joining Irwin Mitchell as a partner in 1995.

She set up her own practice in 1998.

Route to the case: 'Through personal connections.' Thoughts on the case: 'There is no legal precedent for a case such as this in this country, and it's a real landmark ruling because it gives unmarried men the same redress as married men in a situation like this.

Married men have always had recourse to divorce laws, but until now, unmarried couples have had very few legal rights.

Before this ruling, cohabiting men have not been able to bring a claim of fraud against their former partners - in this case, the money involved in supporting the child - and deception over the paternity of the child.' Dealing with the media: 'I've had some experience when I was at Irwin Mitchell, but this is the first time that I've had direct control over dealing with the media.

I find it incredibly inspiring - both as a method of gauging public opinion towards the case, and also because people have proffered opinions that I may not have considered.'Victoria MacCallum