Who? Arthur Balls, 37, one of two partners at Norfolk-based criminal law firm Breydons.

Why is he in the news? Acts for Brian Hagan, a Norfolk farmer who has pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) without reasonable excuse. It is alleged that he failed to constrain his pigs from straying on to a neighbour's land, in breach of an interim ASBO. Mr Hagan was arrested the day after the order was imposed following a complaint that more than 20 pigs had escaped, causing damage to the complainant's hedge and fence. The full application for the ASBO and the criminal proceedings are still pending.


Background: LLB at City of London Polytechnic, graduating in 1990, then Law Society finals at the College of Law (Guildford). Qualified with East Anglian firm Cunningham John & Co in 1993. Set up Breydons with partner Rob New in 2004.


Arthur Balls
Breydons

Route to the case: 'As a member of the duty solicitor scheme, I received a panel case at North Walsham. I attended and represented Mr Hagan.'

Thoughts on the case: '[We are] actively considering challenging the order itself and maintain the view that this is not the type of situation in which ASBOs should be made. It is an interesting case involving complex legal issues in addition to the evidence in terms of both the making of the original order, the potential challenge to that order, and the criminal proceedings, which are being defended. We are concerned about the apparent widening of the remit for the use of ASBOs.'


Dealing with the media: 'The case attracted a great deal of media attention, especially when considering the overall circumstances of the case and media interest in the making and enforcement of ASBOs as a whole. A statement was prepared and read out; the media respected the fact that we couldn't comment on the evidence but showed a genuine interest in the legal issues of the case. I felt it was important to reciprocate by answering additional questions.'