World Cup Lawyer In The News

Who? Michael Kennedy, 56-year-old partner specialising in property and sports law at two-partner London firm Herbert Reeves & Co.

Why is he in the news? Represents Ireland and Manchester United football captain Roy Keane, who was sent home from the World Cup in Japan this week for criticising the Irish Football Association and team manager Mick McCarthy.

Negotiations over a reconciliation and the possibility of his return to the squad are ongoing.

Background: Did not attend university, qualifying instead through the extended articles route and at the College of Law in London.

Qualified in 1966 at property specialists Herbert Reeves & Co and has been there ever since.

Route to the case: 'I received a phone call eight years ago from Moscow, where Roy was playing for Ireland against Russia.

He was about to leave Nottingham Forest, had a number of clubs interested in him and was in some turmoil.

Some of the Irish players I represented at the time - such as David O'Leary, Steve Staunton and Niall Quinn - recommended me to him and I've acted for him since.'

Thoughts on the case: 'My thoughts on the situation are changing all the time, but at the moment we live in hope that we can resolve the problem and that Ireland can have their best team playing in the World Cup.

I got Roy to agree to conduct an interview on TV to state his position, but this was followed by the Irish team issuing a statement saying they didn't want him to rejoin them.

Now there have been some good developments and it seems some of them may be changing their minds.'

Dealing with the media: 'I try to speak to the media at all times and be as open and honest with them as possible.

You will always find some problems with them, but on the whole in this story the media have only had one interest in mind and that is getting Roy to play in the World Cup.'

Andrew Towler