DIVORCE: adverts are dubbed 'absolutely deplorable and highly offensive', by SFLA chief

Poster-row lawyer defiant

The divorce lawyer at the centre of a row about his controversial posters exhorting clients to 'ditch the bitch' this week defended his advertising campaign, and claimed the adverts 'expressed feelings that many divorcing couples experience'.

But family law leaders have added to the condemnation of the posters.Peter Brookman, an Australian-born specialist City divorce lawyer, said his two posters (right) - were 'recognitions' of feelings that were a normal part of marriage break-ups.

'People are not always proud of these feelings, but it doesn't help anyone simply to ignore them,' said Mr Brookman.

'The fact that they have felt these negative feelings at some point does not mean that they are solely motivated by them, and I find it worrying that so many people are unwilling to discuss them.' He strongly denied the posters were inflammatory, but expressed ambivalence over whether he would have chosen them in hindsight.

Rosemary Carter, chairwoman of the Solicitors Family Law Association, said the adverts were 'absolutely deplorable and highly offensive'.

She added: 'A responsible family lawyer should be taking the heat out of a divorce, and facilitating constructive and civil dialogue.

These posters are doing the opposite, turning up the emotional temperature, and will only alienate people.'Peter Watson-Lee, chairman of the Law Society's family law committee, said: 'We have been spending years trying to convince people that divorce lawyers approach the issue in a constructive and conciliatory way.

In one blow, this poster has set our cause back years.'See Press Round-up, page 14, and Letters, page 17Victoria MacCallum