Who? Robert Ross, 46-year-old sole practitioner at Ross Solicitors in Swindon.

Why is he in the news? Represents Glyn Razzell, convicted of the murder of his wife in November, even though her body has never been found.

An appeal has now been lodged.

Background: LLB at Warwick University 1976-79, followed by Law Society finals at Bristol Polytechnic (now the University of the West of England).

Articles completed in 1982 with AE Smith & Son in Nailsworth, Gloucester.

Assistant solicitor at Clarke Dale & Buckley in Swindon until 1990, when he became a partner at Cirencester firm Alison Fielden & Co.

Set up his own practice in 1994.

Route to the case: 'I had worked with the client before.'

Thoughts on the case: 'The case was very unusual - I only know of one other murder conviction where there was no body.

It was also different because I managed to get bail awarded for my client, and so we were able to work very closely together in preparing the defence over a period of months.

'It was kind of a reverse role for a solicitor, because a lot of time was spent trying to find Mr Razzell's wife, to prove she was alive.

The police had hundreds of possible sightings and we had to follow up all of them.

We spent seven weeks wading through thousands of pieces of material which were unused by the police, and I hired an ex-policeman to interview witnesses who thought they had seen her.

But the jury didn't believe us.'

Dealing with the media: 'This has not been a problem for me as I've done TV interviews before.

I've appeared on a Channel Four documentary about morality called 'Sin', because of my work as a defence lawyer.

I suffered from anorexia in the 1980s and early 1990s - which almost killed me - and I have appeared on some television shows related to that.

There was a lot of media interest because the condition is rare among men.

I think solicitors should talk to the media if it is in their client's interest.

Otherwise - don't do it.'

Rachel Rothwell