Who? Michael Kenyon, 49-year-old managing partner at Manchester firm Cooper Kenyon Burrows, and specialist in fraud.


Why is he in the news? Represented Paul Dermot Craven and the Craven Group, the Manchester business that found itself on the receiving end of a search warrant issued by the High Court following an application by the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) in Northern Ireland. The ARA is said to be investigating an alleged IRA money-laundering operation. The agency had reportedly been looking into the assets, which it believed to be a £30 million property portfolio, of Thomas 'Slab' Murphy, a South Armagh farmer alleged to be a one-time senior member of the IRA.


The ARA searched the main business premises and home addresses of Manchester property developers and landlords Mr Craven and his business partner Brian Gerrard Pepper. Mr Craven denied that any of the parties concerned had had any dealings with Thomas Murphy, but said he had a small number of low-value dealings in the past with a third party who is now known to be a relative and who has not been accused of any wrongdoing. Mr Murphy has also denied conducting any business with the Craven Property group or any other linked business. Following media reports of the search, he issued a statement denying that he had any part in any money-laundering or criminal activities, stating that he does not own any property, was unaware of any investigation, and that his name had been falsely linked to the case.


Background: Law degree at the University of Kent followed by Law Society finals. He qualified at Stockport firm Harold Chaffe & Co in 1980 and became a partner, before joining the Crown Prosecution Service in 1986. He joined Burton Copeland in 1989, and in 2002 co-founded Cooper Kenyon Burrows.


Route to the case: 'I got this case because I have worked for the Craven Group in the past.'


Thoughts on the case: 'It is important to emphasise that this is a civil inquiry and no wrongdoing is suggested against the Craven Group, Mr Craven, his business partner or any of its staff. Before the raids the press had been briefed and so were present when the ARA turned up accompanied by police in riot gear. My clients are paying the price for the ARA's efforts to promote itself. The unfair reputational damage caused to my client and his business is disgraceful.' An ARA spokeswoman said it is reviewing the information obtained during the searches and that as it is an ongoing investigation it would be inappropriate to comment.


Dealing with the media: 'I have learnt that a story has a shelf life, which can be extraordinarily short. If you want to use the press, as we did by holding a press conference, you have to do so quickly and decisively.'