Who? Diane Rostron, 48, medical negligence partner at north-west firm Linder Myers.

Why is she in the news? She acted for the parents of a 17-year-old who, on the verge of a professional football career, suffered catastrophic brain damage after collapsing during his first match for Tottenham Hotspur.

Radwan Hamed had been screened, as are all young players, for life-threatening cardiac conditions. The electrocardiogram test showed abnormalities that could have signalled the risk of potentially lethal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. However, no further action to protect him was undertaken.

The High Court ruled on 16 February that Hamed’s brain damage was the result of the club’s and an external cardiologist’s negligence. Hamed is to be awarded damages.

A Tottenham Hotspur spokesman told the Independent: ‘This judgment will hopefully now secure the best possible treatment and care for him [Hamed].’

Thoughts on the case: ‘A huge breakdown in communications led to a catastrophic outcome. Radwan’s condition is well-documented and there is a screening regime in place specifically designed to pick it up. But someone was not paying attention and, nine years later as the trial started, everything was still in dispute. You can’t help feeling disappointed on the parents’ behalf.’

Why become a lawyer? ‘I am the youngest child of 10 and was often the arbitrator sorting out my seven older brothers’ arguments – so you could say I was born to be a lawyer.’

Career high: ‘The Zachary Petrou case. When just seven months old, he was left profoundly brain-damaged after being admitted to hospital for what should have been a simple procedure. That was in 1994. In October 2012, Manchester High Court ruled that he was a victim of medical negligence and awarded him £7m in damages for lifetime, 24-hours-a-day care.’

Career low: ‘A difficult cerebral palsy case that ran for seven years before the Legal Aid Board decided to withdraw funding. The child lost their day in court and I had sleepless nights for years afterwards.’

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