LAWYER IN THE NEWS

Who? Ranbir Singh Mann, 33-year old partner at four-partner Birmingham criminal practice Mann & Co.Why is he in the news? Represents the family of 20-year-old Ruhal Ahmed, who is being held by US forces at Camp X-Ray in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on suspicion of being part of an Islamic extremist group.

He is the third person from Tipton in the West Midlands to be apprehended for questioning related to fundamentalist activity after the 11 September terror attacks in New York and Washington.

Mr Mann is lobbying the UK and US governments in an attempt to get Mr Ahmed returned to Britain.Background: LLB at Wolverhampton University followed by LPC at Staffordshire Law School 1995-6.

He was articled at family law firm Mann & Co and qualified in 1998, becoming a partner in 2001.Route to the case: 'I carry out work for a large section of the Muslim community in Tipton and received a call from Mr Ahmed's brother saying he was having problems with the press and asking if I could help.'Thoughts on the case: 'If we are living in a democracy then surely the US government should apply natural justice to those detained.

Even terrorists are entitled to a fair trial, but at the moment the prisoners are being held without any rights.

It must be established what status is being given to the detainees - whether they are classed as prisoners of war or not - so they and we know what rights they are entitled to.

The US is makingpolicy on the hoof and is becoming an embarrassment to the UK and democratic world.'Dealing with the media: 'It has been both interesting and challenging as you have to accept that most of the public opinion is against you.

The press have rung my office every day and have tried to talk to the family at every opportunity, but we are trying to play it as low-key and neutral as possible.' Andrew Towler