Lawyer in the news

Who? Neill Blundell, 31-year-old associate at seven-partner London firm Magrath & Co.

Why is he in the news? Represented REM guitarist Peter Buck, who was last week cleared of two charges of common assault, being drunk on an aircraft and criminal damage after going on a drunken rampage on board a British Airways transatlantic flight last year.

Mr Buck - described as 'famously peaceable' by U2's lead singer Bono, a character witness at the trial - had taken a Zolpiden sleeping pill shortly after takeoff, which had reacted violently to alcohol and turned him into a 'non-insane automaton' unable to remember the events of the flight.

Background: BA (Law) at Sheffield University 1989-92, followed by Law Society finals in London in 1993.

He qualified with City firm SJ Berwin in 1995, before travelling for a year and returning to specialise in crime at home counties firm Iliffes Booth Bennett.

He joined Magrath & Co in 1999, specialising in business crime, and was promoted to associate in 2000.

Route to the case: 'Through the firm's entertainment department, which represents the interests of a number of high-profile individuals and bands.

If they get in trouble, we are able to provide representation.'

Thoughts on the case: 'Non-insane automatism is a very rare condition - myself and my colleague Kevin Roberts who worked on the case with me had to do a lot of research into it and find expert witnesses to testify.

We also called on character witnesses such as Bono and REM lead singer Michael Stipe - not to make it into a 'celebrity trial', but because they are friends of Mr Buck and we wanted to show what sort of person he is, and how out of character the events were.'

Dealing with the media: 'I've represented some celebrities before, such as 80s pop star Sinitta who was cleared of drink-driving last year, and I always expected there to be a lot of interest in this case.

The trial opened with details of the events on the plane, which were of course splashed across the papers the next day.

The headlines weren't very helpful for us, but it was to be expected and in general all the journalists I've dealt with have been polite, and interested in the case and the condition.'

Victoria MacCallum