LAWYER IN THE NEWS

Who? Costas Andrea, 39-year-old sole principal of Guildford-based Andrea & CoWhy is he in the news? Represents holiday-maker Anthony Madigan, who was left permanently paralysed from the neck downwards when a nine-year old boy, Daniel Cooper, landed on him as he jumped into a swimming pool in Spain.

Mr Madigan's neck was instantly broken in the accident, and he is now claiming 2 million in damages from Daniel, now 11, for alleged negligence and from his parents for allegedly failing adequately to supervise him.Background: LLB from Ealing College of Higher Education (now the University of West London) 1984-87, followed by Law Society finals at the College of Law in Guildford 1988.

He qualified at the Godalming office of Penningtons in 1990, where he stayed until he set up a firm in 1997.Route to the case: 'It was referred to me by a legal expenses insurer.'Thoughts on the case: 'Anthony was a completely innocent victim of this tragic accident.

His life is never going to be the same again, and although nothing is going to turn the clock back, all we can do is try to make existence a bit easier for him.

Although suing an 11-year-old boy sounds difficult, in reality it's more about getting the money from his insurers - it's nothing personal, and no one is sitting in judgment against the boy, but it's just a way of getting money to make my client's life easier.

We're hoping to settle out of court, but everything has become more complicated with the family in turn suing the holiday company Airtours, and so I fear it may end up in court.'Dealing with the media: 'When I was at Penningtons, I was sent on a course giving me advice on how to deal with the media, which was very helpful.

I've had some experience since then - for example, I've appeared on 'Kilroy' and 'Watchdog' as a lawyer specialising in travel issues.

It's initially quite nerve-racking, but the more media experience you get, the easier it all becomes.'Victoria MacCallum