Who? Paul Martin, 52-year-old criminal defence lawyer at his own firm, Paul Martin & Co, based in Romford, Essex.


Why is he in the news? He represents Harry Redknapp, the manager of Premier League football club Portsmouth, who was arrested as part of a police investigation into alleged corruption in the English professional game.



Mr Redknapp was among five people detained on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting involving the transfer of players, often for millions of pounds, from one club to another. Mr Redknapp, who has denied all allegations, was released on bail until February 2008.



Background: Following a law degree at Queen Mary College, London, he joined east London firm Campion & Co in 1972. He stayed on there as a criminal litigator for 12 years after qualification, becoming a partner in 1981, before moving to Romford to start Campion & Martin. The firm became Paul Martin & Co in December 2002.



Route to the case: Mr Redknapp was referred to Mr Martin, who is well known for handling high-profile criminal law cases.



Thoughts on the case: 'We were instructed by Harry Redknapp several months ago. Since then we have been in liaison with the City of London Police to make him available whenever required to assist the police in this investigation and to co-operate as fully as possible.



'We were therefore surprised that the police felt it necessary to launch a dawn raid at his home address. In fact, the case presents a number of troubling features as to the manner in which it has been investigated. Most troubling of all, there were reporters from a tabloid newspaper waiting at Mr Redknapp's home prior to the police's arrival.



'Also, the disclosure pack received on attendance at the police station revealed that, although Mr Redknapp had been arrested, there was no suggestion that he was concerned directly or indirectly in any form of financial irregularity. In short, the disclosure pack suggested that his role in the police enquiries was one that would have been more appropriately dealt with had he been treated as a potential witness.'



Dealing with the media: 'I found the press coverage accurate, open-minded, and not too intrusive. The best criminal defence lawyers are good communicators - their job is to let the public know what's happening from their client's perspective - so it's best to work with the press rather than against it.'



Jonathan Rayner