Lawyer in the news

Who? Phillip Griffith, 45-year-old partner at two-partner Cardiff litigation firm J Peter Davies & Partners.

Why is he in the news? Represents Richard Vowles, an amateur rugby player who was left wheelchair-bound after injuries sustained in a 1998 match.

Last week, the High Court ruled that the referee in the match - Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) official David Evans - owed a duty of care to the players, and that he had breached that duty by failing to control the scrums properly.

Previously, the duty of care was only thought to apply to adult professional and junior amateur players.

Mr Vowles will receive a 'substantial' settlement from the WRU.

Background: LLB at Bristol University 1976-79, followed by a spell in the Hong Kong police force.

He returned to the UK in 1986, and completed his CPE and Law Society finals at Bristol Polytechnic in 1986-88.

He qualified in 1990 with Cardiff firm Edward Lewis & Co, where he stayed becoming partner in 1992 before joining his current firm in 2000.

Route to the case: 'We were recommended to Mr Vowles by a family friend whom we represented in another sports injury case.'

Thoughts on the case: 'This is a crucial case for my client, who was catastrophically injured at a very young age [24], but now has some security for the future.

I hope that the case will highlight the need for players' safety on the field, and will cause rugby clubs and authorities to review their rules regarding safety, and how - if at all - they are being implemented with regard to teams in the lower divisions.

Although the extension of the duty of care is being hailed as new law, for me it has always been common sense that it should apply to all levels of the game.'

Dealing with the media: 'I have had very little past experience, and I've found it fascinating to see how fast the media springs into action after the decision in a case.

It's been a steep learning curve for me, but media interest can play a positive role in terms of encouraging clubs to tighten up their safety rules.'

Victoria MacCallum