Lawyer in the news

Who? David Todd, 40-year oldlitigation partner in two-partner Slough-based legal aid practice JR Hobbs & Co.Why is he in the news? Represented Amy Gehring, the Canadian biology teacher last week cleared of having sex with three teenage boys while working on supply at their comprehensive school in Surrey.

After the verdicts were delivered, it emerged that police had previously investigated similar allegations against Ms Gehring, who was suspended by the first school she taught at in the UK while the allegations were investigated.

During the trial, three tabloid newspapers offered the teenage boys cash for telling their stories: Ms Gehring is now reported to be considering a number of newspaper offers for her story.Background: Graduated in genetics from Liverpool University in 1986, followed by the CPE at Leeds Polytechnic (now Leeds Metropolitan University) and bar school in London.

He then qualified as a solicitor with Lowestoft firm Dunne & Crome in 1994, before joining JR Hobbs soon after qualification.Route to the case: The duty solicitor scheme.Thoughts on the case: 'This was a complex case involving four child witnesses.

It has been with me since Ms Gehring was charged in April 2001, therefore all concerned were obviously delighted at the verdict.

Ms Gehring's decisions in respect of the timing of her return to Canada and her involvement with the media is a matter between herself and others.

My involvement ceased at the conclusion of her trial.'Dealing with the media: 'With a case of such a sensitive nature as this, the attraction of media attention was inevitable.

While I've had cases in the past which have attracted an element of public interest, I have never experienced such a level of media involvement.'Victoria MacCallum