Leeds solicitor hits back

The Leeds solicitor who allegedly told his footballer client to lie in court has vigorously denied that he did so, and said he is not yet even the subject of an official complaint.Peter McCormick, a director of Leeds United Football Club and senior partner of McCormicks in Leeds, was alleged to have advised Leeds player Michael Duberry to lie in court in the trials of fellow players Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer.Mr Duberry made the claim in court.

Mr McCormick was not called to give evidence.

The Leeds players were last month exonerated from causing grievous bodily harm to 21-year-old Sarfraz Najeib, though Woodgate was convicted of affray.Mr McCormick said that 'no complaint has yet been received by the Law Society', and that he would 'vigorously resist' any which materialise.The Office for the Supervision of Solicitors confirmed that no complaint has been received.Suresh Grover, the chairman of the National Civil Rights Movement who is assisting the Najeib family, did not want to be drawn on the particulars of any complaint.

Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live before Christmas, Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale appeared to put distance between the club and Mr McCormick.

He denied that Mr McCormick was the club solicitor, but rather was 'a solicitor who has been used by the club in the past'.

He added that Mr Duberry engaged Mr McCormick independently from the club.Since establishing himself within the Leeds hierarchy - he was director of discipline for the club from 1997 until last year - Mr McCormick has in his personal capacity acted for current and former Leeds stars including Nigel Martyn, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Gordon Strachan and former manager Howard Wilkinson.In recent months, Mr McCormick's strong grip on Leeds' legal work appeared to be weakening.Jonathan Metliss, head of the sports group at City firm SJ Berwin, has also been acting, though that is understood to be down to the influence of members of the board of the Leeds holding company who have existing links with the City firm.At the same time, McCormicks has gained more institutional work through Mr McCormick's membership of the Premier League legal working party.Jeremy Fleming and Neil Rose