Who? Irène Nembhard, assistant solicitor in the police action group at London firm Birnberg Peirce.

Why is she in the news? Acts for a prisoner who is bringing a claim against maximum security prison Whitemoor for alleged mistreatment. The prisoner claims to have been assaulted and subjected to racist abuse at the prison, including use of the word 'nigger'. His complaint is one of several being investigated by police in Operation Pond. The investigation is looking into claims of 'systematic' racist abuse at the prison in March, Cambridgeshire. The Prison Service has said it cannot comment on an ongoing investigation, but a Prison Officers Association spokesman has said it would co-operate fully with the investigation, and that the union has done 'more than any other to rid itself of racism'.


Background: Degree in social policy in Jamaica, graduating in 1974, then worked in social services in Jamaica. Came to the UK in 1990, studying the common professional examination at Thames Valley University in 1992/93. Articles at Birnberg Pierce, qualifying in 1998.


Route to the case: 'He came to me by word of mouth after I had acted for another prisoner.'


Thoughts on the case: 'Knowing that there are other complaints makes it particularly clear that things have not changed. It shows the limits of trying to seek legal remedies. This needs [prisons inspector] Anne Owers and her team, the Commission for Racial Equality and the minister responsible for prisons to use Whitemoor as an example, and turn the prison around. There was a similar investigation into another prison, and it appears that the consequence is that it has improved. I would hope that Whitemoor will not go on the defensive, but this will be an opportunity to bring about some change in culture.'


Dealing with the media: 'I restrict myself to working with journalists that I know, and that I can trust when I say, "don't use this". When the other media call, they just have to pick up the stories as they can. Committed journalists can make a real difference to these cases, where they are happening behind closed doors, or [involved] clients who are not considered to be of good character and the press are not generally sympathetic towards. Campaigning journalists play a vital role in bringing to light issues that we should be concerned about.'