has been in practice since 1966. His route to the Tax Bar took him from Gordonstoun School (captain of cricket and hockey, vice-captain of rugby, mediocre A-levels) to University College, London (Ll.B - 1st class honours, 1st XV rugby, 1st VI tennis), then a year teaching law at the University of Chicago (keeping just ahead of his students - most of the time) and finally no fewer than four pupillages, the last of which with Milton Grundy leading to a tenancy at Gray's Inn Chambers. He took silk in 1983.

His practice covers the whole range of tax and he enjoys both advisory work and litigation. In recent years he has been mainly involved in large corporate transactions but he also has a considerable number of non-domiciled clients whom he constantly reminds that "the UK is still a tax haven". He has recently appeared in a number of leading tax cases in Hong Kong and he also lectures and writes frequently on tax related topics.

Outside his practice he was for many years a part-time lecturer in Revenue Law at University College, he was also for a time Chairman of the Bar Council's Taxation and Retirement Benefits Committee and recently completed a three year term as Chairman of the Revenue Bar Association. He became a Bencher of Gray's Inn in 1993.

He is married with two (usually) grown-up children. He was for a number of years a Governor of Gordonstoun School. But away from the law his abiding interest is in sport. He is a lifelong and passionate supporter of Arsenal F.C. (five season tickets) and watches as much cricket (MCC member), rugby (Twickenham debenture holder) and tennis (Wimbledon debenture holder) as he can. His active sporting life is however now confined to relatively gentle tennis, although he was recently carried by his partner (his son) to success in the men's doubles championship of his local club tournament - and has the cup to prove it. And he still plays a mean game of backgammon.