Who? Prakash Patel, 42-year-old commercial litigator and partner at Magwells in London.


Why is he in the news? Acts for Dr Omar Ahmed, the Harley Street psychiatrist who won a civil fraud case last week against two GPs, one of whom he was treating for stress, who conned him out of £188,000 in a scam involving a Nigerian bank account. The two doctors, Dr Nitai Addy - described by one witness as 'diabolically charming' - and his wife Naveen Karawal, told Mr Ahmed that he could make £2 million in profit if he parted with an initial sum to release the Nigerian funds.



Background: Qualified in 1987 at Durnford Ford in Ashford, Kent, after completing Law Society finals at Chester School of Law and studying law at Ealing School of Law in London. Was promoted to partner six months after qualification, moving to Magwells in 1991. In 1995 he bought out the practice together with a colleague.



Route to the case: Referral from one of Dr Ahmed's patients.



Thoughts on the case: 'The judge said that this was a remarkable case - it is a concern that even a Harley Street psychiatrist who is treating people can be duped. The two doctors lived near my client and befriended him as far back as 1999. They constantly boasted about their wealth and said: "You just don't know how to make money." My client said in court that naively he was brainwashed and was tempted.'



Dealing with the media: Mr Patel appeared on BBC News after making a statement outside the court. He has also appeared on Channel Four News and in the broadsheets as solicitor to the two sisters in the £9 million 'Spice Wars' litigation over the Pataks Indian food business. He says: 'I have learnt that the media can either turn against you or be with you - when you have bad coverage it can be soul destroying, but when the media are behind you it is a confidence boost. You have to stay focused and be determined.'