Who? David Kirwan, senior partner at Kirwans in Birkenhead and specialist in commercial litigation and criminal fraud legal work.

Why is he in the news? Acts for Wendy Ainscow, the wife of Bill Ainscow, who survived a suicide pact in which they took a mixture of drugs and waded out into the sea off Tenerife in November. She was picked up by a fishing boat. The couple felt unable to cope with looking after their daughter, who suffers from Asperger's Syndrome. Former sub-postmaster Mr Ainscow was jailed for stealing £60,000 in benefit books last year to fund his daughter's addiction to spending. He was freed by the Court of Appeal. The daughter has claimed in the press that her parents asked her to join the suicide pact. Mrs Ainscow has been interviewed by the police and could face charges of aiding and abetting a suicide.

Background: LLB at Liverpool University, graduating in 1965, with articles at Silverman Livermore, qualifying in 1969. Went straight to his father's firm, CH Kirwan & Co, becoming senior partner there in 1982.

 
 
 
David Kirwan


Kirwans

Route to the case: 'I acted for Mr Ainscow when he was charged with theft in the Crown Court.'

Thoughts on the case: 'I am confident that there will be no prosecution of my client. These are very tragic circumstances. There needs to be a national campaign for the carers of those with Asperger's Syndrome - no one is giving any attention to the plight of carers. Mr and Mrs Ainscow did not get the support they needed. The daughter is 34 and has limited social skills [because of her condition]. Mrs Ainscow loves her daughter, but the daughter is unable to reciprocate that love. It is very hard for the rest of us to understand. The daughter has an obsession with spending, and it is very hard for parents to refuse a child. Mrs Ainscow denies that she asked her daughter to join the suicide pact.'

Dealing with the media: 'There have been 24 days of continous press coverage on this so far. I have made five TV appearances. The press has been fair to the client, but I have orchestrated it to make sure that we get our version of events across.'