The Triumph of Robert Dougans

I suppose one should have mixed feelings when a former trainee goes off and wins something which you never had any realistic prospect of winning oneself.

However, I am delighted that my friend and former trainee Robert Dougans won the extremely prestigious Assistant Solicitor of the Year award at last night's The Lawyer ceremony at the Grosvenor Hotel.

(An "Assistant Solicitor" - in general terms - is a lawyer who works at a law firm who is not a partner.)

Robert won this for his conduct of the Simon Singh appeal and for his extensive pro bono work, including in respect of the Dave Osler libel case (where he was able to convince Mr Justice Eady to strike out the claim as an abuse of process).

I met Robert when I was a litigation solicitor at Herbert Smith and I supervised him at that firm's pro bono project the Whitechapel Legal Advice Centre.

I always knew Robert was capable of greatness, and now it seems he is my greatest claim to fame.



Robert looking on at Simon outside Royal Courts of Justice, with Nick Cohen and Dr Evan Harris. Photo courtesy of Stephen Curry.




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