Lawyer in the news

Who? Tamsin Allen, 37-year-old assistant solicitor specialising in media law and miscarriages of justice at 15-partner London firm Bindman & Partners.

Why is she in the news? Acts for the family of James Hanratty, who was hanged in 1962 for killing Michael Gregson, and raping and shooting Valerie Storie.

His family has spent 40 years trying to clear his name of the so-called A6 murder, but their campaign suffered a setback when recent DNA evidence emerged supporting the conviction.

Background: History degree from Oxford University 1982-1985, then took time out teaching in Italy.

Returned in 1991 to take the common professional examination and Law Society finals at Guildhall University.

She then spent three years doing paralegal work before training with BM Birnberg.

She remained at that firm for a year before she decided to join Bindmans & Partners in 1999.

Route to the case: 'I acted for the family of Derek Bentley on the appeal to the Court of Appeal, then joined Bindmans specifically to represent the Hanratty family.' Thoughts on the case: 'The family and their supporters have campaigned for more than 40 years, and in that time all the evidence has pointed to the conviction being unsafe.

The DNA results are anomalous; tests have been done on evidence that was not stored properly.

This case highlights the dangers of relying on this type of forensic evidence.' Dealing with the media: 'In the past the media has been helpful in keeping the case in the public eye, and some of the most respected campaigners are journalists.

Then the Daily Mail got the wrong end of the stick, decided that Hanratty was guilty and leaked the story.

It's thoughtless reporting and it's been very upsetting for the family to have all these public arguments before the Court of Appeal has had a chance to look at the case.' Paula Rohan