Lawyer in the news

Who? Oliver Kirk, 32-year-old partner specialising in crime at Dover firm Kirk Jackson & Waitt.Why is he in the news? Acted for Dutch lorry driver Perry Wacker, who was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment last week for the manslaughter of 58 Chinese immigrants.

They suffocated in his lorry in June last year after Mr Wacker closed the only air vent, and he was later arrested in Dover.

Mr Wacker denied he had any knowledge that they were in his vehicle, saying he thought he was carrying only tomatoes.Background: Degree in law with French at Manchester Metropolitan University from 1988-1991, followed by a year's post-graduate course in legal philosophy at Lille University.

Began training with Ramsgate firm Godfrey Davis Waitt in 1993, taking the Law Society finals back at Manchester Metropolitan in the middle year.

Qualified in 1995 and stayed with the firm until last year, when he and two colleagues left to set up on their own.Route to the case: 'I was the duty solicitor early one morning last year when my pager went off.

It was a colleague informing me that a man had been detained for facilitating illegal entry.'Thoughts on the case: 'It was absolutely fascinating, and very interesting dealing with so many different jurisdictions.

I got to see the Dutch lawyers asking the Chinese witnesses questions, which was a real eye opener.

One is always disappointed when one does not get the result the client wanted, but we will be considering which way to go next.'Dealing with the media: 'I've never really had experience of the media, and it's something you aren't prepared for at university.

The Dutch press in particular seemed to have little idea of what questions could and could not be answered.

But I bet it's easy to get sidetracked by the attention and become a bit of a media darling.'Paula Rohan