Who? Peter Edwards, 52-year-old partner at niche human rights and mental health practice Peter Edwards Law in Liverpool.

Why is he in the news? Represents the 11 deaf passengers who were ousted from an easyJet flight to Amsterdam in January.

The airline branded them a hazard because they would not be able to hear a command to evacuate the plane if an emergency arose.

The passengers' claim for help from the Disability Rights Commission failed because the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) does not apply to air transport.

EasyJet has admitted that its captain misinterpreted the safety rules, and in fact the airline does allow deaf passengers to fly unaccompanied.

It has apologised to the passengers and offered them a free flight - but they want compensation and a change in the law.

Background: Four years of articles in 1971 at Yaffe Jackson & Ostrin in Liverpool, moving to Rollo Mills Roberts as an assistant in 1980.

In 1985, joined Aneurin Rees & Davies as a partner and then set up Edwards Frais in 1988.

In 1996, he founded Peter Edwards Law.

Route to the case: 'I have done some work for deaf people on Merseyside, so word got about.'

Thoughts on the case: 'Would easyJet throw off a passenger who spoke Mandarin, and so would not understand a call to evacuate? Or someone who had broken their leg on a skiing holiday and so would not be able to evacuate quickly? I have put together a witness statement and am writing to easyJet to see what proposals they make to settle.

If they won't, we will let the media know about it, because it will be a slap in the face to deaf people.

We will consider whether to litigate - in a recent case against Ryanair, disabled passengers were awarded damages for being charged for use of a wheelchair.

The DDA applied there because it happened between the check-in and the aircraft - we will be looking to see if there were failures to make adjustments on the ground in this case, as the airline had notice that the passengers were deaf.

Deficiencies in the law are letting disabled people down - surely in this day and age there should be a simple and straightforward remedy.'

Dealing with the media: 'The Mirror broke the story while I was skiing in France and so I was interviewed by the BBC, news agencies, The Times and other newspapers while on the piste.

I've had a lot of dealings with the media - the pinnacle was being grilled on 'Newsnight' by Paxman - and I think live interviews are the best sort.

They may seem intimidating but at least you know that what you say is what goes out.

[In the broadcast media] you will only have a minute and a half at most, so you need to know precisely what points you want to get across and say them irrespective of what questions you are asked.

Rachel Rothwell