Lawyer in the news

Who? Henry Dyson, 38-year-old partner in medical negligence department of 15-partner London-based Leigh Day & Co.Why is he in the news? Represented the family of Kerry Weston at last week's inquest into her death.

Ms Weston, a 21-year-old British Airways stewardess, died from an epileptic seizure after taking Zyban, a drug prescribed to help quit smoking, an anti-malarial drug and sleeping pills.

The coroner, before recording a verdict of death by natural causes, urged the makers of Zyban to give clearer warnings about its use and incompatibility with other drugs.Background: Degree in Biochemistry from Cardiff University 1979-83, followed by the CPE and Law Society Finals at Chester College of Law in 1984-85.

He qualified with the now dissolved London firm Stones Porter & Co in 1989, and joined Leigh Day in 1991, where he was made partner in 1998.Route to the case: 'I was recommended by a solicitor from another firm.'Thoughts on the case: 'The family was very concerned to know how and why their daughter died, and they hoped that by finding this out they could help to prevent other deaths, and prevent their families from going through the same experience.

The coroner certainly implicated the drug as a cause of death, and if the manufacturers (GlaxoSmithKline) take up his recommendations as they have indicated that they will, then the drug will from now on have to have clear warnings printed on each packet.'Dealing with the media: 'The firm also deals with a large number of high-profile medical negligence cases, in the majority of which we try and avoid publicity, as clients often do not want their medical records to become public knowledge.

I generally tend to keep the press at arm's length, but with this case the family were happy with the publicity as they wanted to raise awareness of the problem with doctors and patients.

The family were very responsible and competent at dealing with the press, and the press tended to return the favour, covering the case sympathetically and not hounding them.'Victoria MacCallum