LAWYER IN THE NEWS

Who? Stephen Blunt, 43-year-old partner at City firm Clyde & Co's Guildford office.Why is he in the news? Represents brothers Tom and Michael Doherty in their unfair dismissal cases against Consignia (the Post Office), which fired them following media allegations of their involvement in football-related violence at the Arsenal v Galatasary UEFA cup final in May 2000.

The tribunal found that Consignia had acted unreasonably and failed to investigate properly the allegations against both men, who were not arrested at the time, and were subsequently found to be acting in self-defence.

Although the tribunal has ordered that both men should be reinstated, so far Consignia has refused, and official industrial action has been threatened by the Communication Workers Union if the situation persists.Background: Degree in law and politics from Kent University, graduating in 1983, and masters degree in employment law from University College, London (1985).

While non-qualified, he worked his way up to head of legal for the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union until 1993, and then for Lawfords in London.

He completed his LPC at Guildford College of Law in 1995, qualifying with Lawfords in 1997, when he was immediately made partner.

He moved to Clyde & Co in August 2000, where he became partner in May 2001.Route to the case: 'The firm has been instructed by the Communication Workers Union for several years.'Thoughts on the case: 'Both cases raised interesting points of how difficult it is for an employer to fairly dismiss an employee for conduct unrelated to their duties.

Consignia argued that the press reporting of the alleged involvement of the brothers had brought the Post Office into disrepute when the company was identified as the employer.

This justified dismissal.

However, it was accepted that much, if not all, of the press coverage was inaccurate, which raised many difficult issues.'Dealing with the media: 'You really have to be very careful, particularly when dealing with the tabloid press, who rarely let the facts spoil a good story.

The damage that this can cause is shown by the experience of my clients in this case, who found it almost impossible to find other employment due to the inaccurate and damaging reporting following the incidents in Copenhagen, when they were seen as fair game just for being there.

Defamation proceedings? That's another story.'Victoria MacCallum