Solicitors plot back-row moves as they act for star players Jeremy Fleming describes the scrum of firms who produce referees and legal advice Undoubtedly the most famous rugby-related solicitor is Brian Moore, the former England hooker who went by the nickname 'Pitbull' - no doubt useful in litigation too.

A one-time partner at now defunct City firm Edward Lewis, Mr Moore has left the profession, leaving England scrum-half Kyran Bracken as probably the leading rugby player who is also qualified as a solicitor.Mr Bracken is a consultant at south-west law firm Clarke Willmott & Clarke, where former Alsters partner David Powell has a strong reputation in rugby work.

The firm acts for England players Julian White and Martin Corry, Wales captain Mark Taylor, Ireland international Paul Wallace, and Bath Rugby Club's players.

Mr Powell also advises the British Lions squad - last week he finalised an agreed contract for all 37 members of the squad.

He was appointed to the board of the Professional Rugby Players Association (PRA) in 1998, and acts for the PRA in negotiations surrounding the new joint venture company Premier Rugby, formed by players and clubs.

Simon Cohen of Manchester firm Davis Blank Furniss is another big name in rugby's legal world.

Among others, he acts as an agent for England players Jonny Wilkinson and Matt Dawson, Wales player Dai Young, Ireland's Conor O'Shea, and Scotland's Doddie Weir and Gary Armstrong.

As a solicitor, he acts for the Lions captain Martin Johnson, and recently acted for Canadian Cardiff flanker Dan Baugh in reducing the term of his ban - for kicking somebody in the head - from 12 games to six.Though he used to play centre for Macclesfield's fifth XV 'when it was very short of players', Mr Cohen is no relative of Northampton and England winger Ben Cohen, though he does do some legal work for him.City firm SJ Berwin & Co also a growing pedigree in rugby.

Jonathan Metliss heads up the sports business group, which acts for rival clubs Harlequins and Saracens, and Oxford and Cambridge universities' teams.

The firm deals with legal issues surrounding the staging of the latter's annual varsity match.

Partner Peter McInerney at SJ Berwin is closely involved in Welsh rugby, acting for the legendary former Wales and Lions outside-half Gareth Davies, and giving broadcasting advice to S4C (the Welsh Channel 4).The firm has also produced a guide to players contracts, and has a team of rugby specialists: Nicola Kerr gives advice on rugby employment contracts, David Rose advises on intellectual property and Simon Ricketts is a stadium expert.More judicially, several solicitors - especially in Wales - have made a name as rugby referees, such as Chris Nott, a partner at Cardiff firm Palser Grossman, Jeff Wright of Morgan Cole and Terry Vaux of Newport firm Hodson Parsons James & Vaux, who is chairman of the Welsh Rugby Union's referees committee.