LAWYER IN THE NEWS

Who? Philip Jones, 36-year-old Reading-based partner in the dispute management division of 100-partner M4 corridor firm Morgan Cole.Why is he in the news? Represents Major Charles Ingram, who last week was accused of cheating to win the top prize on the ITV game show Who wants to be a millionaire?.

Major Ingram, whose wife and brother-in-law have both won 32,000 on the show, had his winning cheque frozen after suspicions were raised by the show's makers, Celador, that a person in the audience was transmitting signals to Major Ingram by coughing when the correct answer was read out.

Major Ingram has strenuously denied the accusations and is considering legal action against Celador for damage to his reputation.Background: LLB from Liverpool Polytechnic (now Liverpool John Moores University) 1983-86, followed by Law Society finals at Chester College of Law in 1987.

He qualified with Merthyr Tydfil firm Ray Lewis & Co in 1990, moving on qualification to Morgan Cole where he has stayed ever since.

He was made up to partner this year.Route to the case: 'It was referred to me by another client.'Thoughts on the case: 'We will be very interested to see the exact nature of the allegations made against my client.

There has obviously been a lot of speculation, but as yet we have seen nothing directly from the makers.

The nature of the allegations being made against a serving army officer are very serious, and Major Ingram is determined to do all he can to clear his name and restore his reputation.'Dealing with the media: 'I've had some experience but nothing on this scale.

It has been an interesting few days watching the story develop, but it's very easy to get too involved with the press and lose sight of the case in the process.

It's vital to identify your objective and stick with it.'Victoria MacCallum