Obituary: Brian Raymond

Brian Raymond, solicitor: born 10 September 1948; married Veronica Beazley (one son, one daughter); died London 22 May 1993.

BRIAN RAYMOND was, at the age of 44, one of Britain's most celebrated civil liberties lawyers.

After Dulwich College, he read English at Trinity, Cambridge, and then tried merchant banking. He gave it up because, he said, he could not stand the disapproving looks when he came to work carrying a copy of New Musical Express. He switched to law, trying it out first in a small West End practice, then taking articles with Bindman & Partners on 1 May 1974, the day the firm first opened for business. He became a partner in 1978 and was still there 10 days ago when he was instantaneously struck down by a massive heart attack.

His younger sister relates that aged nine, seeing a frog firmly fixed on top of another, he persuaded her to telephone the RSPCA and summon them to the rescue of the oppressed female animal. This was an early example of Raymond's imaginative wit, his powers of persuasion and his compassion for the underdog (or underfrog). These qualities - to which were added tireless energy, tenacious commitment to the cause of every client, and a rare mastery of language and communication skills - produced a record of successful legal representation to rival any in our generation.

He led the firm's criminal department for several years, establishing a reputation for competence which subsequently led the Legal 500 - an independent directory of law firms - to name it as one of the two best in London. This period culminated in the sensational acquittal of Clive Ponting, the senior civil servant in the Ministry of Defence charged in 1984 with breaches of the Official Secrets Act.

The Ponting case taught Raymond how to involve the media to the client's benefit. Unlike many lawyers who fear publicity and disparage all journalists, Raymond recognised the honourable - indeed vital - role of the press and television in mobilising public opinion against injustice. More significantly, Ponting alerted him to the growing determination of politicians and others in authority to suppress not only dissenting opinions but the disclosure of embarrassing facts which the public had every right to know. Instead of being praised as a courageous public benefactor, the 'whistleblower' was prosecuted or dismissed from employment.

Raymond became increasingly expert and masterful in challenging these attacks on free expression. After Ponting a succession of independent- minded professional people - Wendy Savage, Helen Zeitlin, and Graham Pink among them - blazed a trail to Raymond's door to seek help when they fell foul of authority in one of its many guises. The press and television companies themselves came to him when under government threat. All were offered friendship, unqualified support, and sound advice which, if it happened to be unwelcome, was the more readily accepted because Raymond's integrity and commitment to their best interests were so transparently evident.

Brian Raymond exemplified the highest ideals in the legal profession: selfless dedication to his clients, detailed preparation, sound legal knowledge and judgement, and above all a passion for justice.

At the time of his death he was beginning to reduce his workload to devote time to creative writing. A comic novel and a television drama were eagerly anticipated by his friends. Those who recall his all too infrequent articles and book reviews in the Guardian, New Statesman and Observer will know that a rare literary as well as legal talent has been lost.

(Photograph omitted)