LAWYER IN THE NEWS

Who? Louis Charalambous, 44-year-old senior partner in two-partnerLondon firm CCL (CharalambousCulshaw: Law), specialising in human rights, criminal and media work.Why is he in the news? Represents a disabled 10-year-old girl who mistakenly believed she was HIV-positive after a local authority illegally used her photograph on a brochure to promote an AIDS-awareness campaign.

The pictures were taken, stored and used without the knowledge of the girl's parents, who wrote to Newham council upon seeing the brochure.

The council said the brochure would be discontinued, but it was found to be still available some months later.

The family was awarded 5,000 damages for breach of confidence and an estimated 50,000 in costs.Background: BA in peace studies at Bradford University in 1980, followed by an MA in political sociology at Leeds University in 1983.

Passed his Law Society finals at Leeds in 1985 before training at Leeds firm Ruth Bundey & Co - now Harrison Bundey - qualifying in 1987.

Worked in Bradford firms until 1994 when he moved to London firm Stephen Innocent, becoming head of crime and a partner in 1997.

Moved to east London firm E Edwards Son & Noice in 2000, before setting up CCL in January of this year.Route to the case: 'It was referred to me due to my special interest in human rights and the media.'Thoughts on the case: 'It was a novel claim, described by the judge as ground-breaking.

Two points arising from the case were that the law of confidence is misunderstood and is slowly merging with the law of privacy; and that media organisations that publish an error should embrace the culture of early and proper amends.' Dealing with the media: 'Being a former legal advisor to the National Union of Journalists, I knew what to expect.

I think it's important to work closely with the media, but you must always remember to put the client's interests first.

I strongly believe that dealing with the media should be part of a lawyer's professional training these days.'Andrew Towler