Who? John Rosley, 54-year-old founding partner of Nottingham firm Rosleys, who specialises in family law.


Why is he in the news? Represented Gina Satvir Singh, the woman awarded £35,000 in damages after suing her mother-in-law for harassment. Nottingham County Court heard that Dalbir Kaur Bhakar had subjected Ms Singh to a four-month campaign of bullying and humiliation, forcing her to do menial housework for long hours and chores which included cleaning the lavatory without a brush. Ms Singh moved to Essex from Nottingham to live with her husband and his family after their arranged marriage in 2002. The marriage lasted for four months, during which time Ms Singh claimed she was only allowed to make one telephone call per week, not permitted to leave the family home and forced to cut her hair, which was against her Sikh religion. This is believed to be the first time that the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 has been used in this way. Mrs Bhakar denied the allegations and her solicitors said they are considering appealing both the judgment and the quantum of damages.



Background: Educated in Australia; did an MA and LLB at Sydney University before attending the College of Law in Sydney and qualifying in 1977. He came to the UK and requalified, doing three-year articles in Nottingham. After being admitted in the UK in 1980, he joined Robinsons in Ilkeston and then a small firm in Nottingham before setting up his own firm in 1984.



Route to the case: 'Initially, it was referred to me because of my family work - the case came as a straightforward dowry and divorce case.'



Thoughts on the case: 'I am surprised that what we - myself and barrister Nicholas Yell - did was so unusual; after all, the law has been on the statute book for nine years. I don't understand why nobody has done this before, as it seemed so obvious to us. This case has exposed a problem that is common, but not often talked about. There are a lot of people out there who could seek the same remedy. It is not an attack on arranged marriages, as I think some in the Asian community see it, and it is not simply confined to the Asian community or married couples and extended families - it has a very broad scope.'



Dealing with the media: 'The media interest in this case has been absolutely mad; there has been such a high level of interest. Media involvement at the end of the case has been extremely important, as the existence of this remedy needs to be made widely known. Since this case has been given publicity, I've been getting one enquiry after another. When dealing with the media, lawyers need to know who's boss and that is definitely the media. They have the experience of manipulating you as they wish - and they will do it.'



Catherine Baksi