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Richard Brown |
Shock as solicitor, 46, dies suddenly
‘Richard was the finest of men – he gave best years of his life battling the might of the state’
SOLICITORS at one of the country’s leading criminal defence firms are in shock after their manager died suddenly on Friday.
Richard Brown, 46, who lived in Highbury for most of his life, suffered a heart attack after complaining of flu symptoms.
Colleagues at Birnberg & Peirce in Camden – which closed yesterday (Thursday) for Mr Brown’s funeral – recalled his financial nous that allowed solicitors to take on hundreds of cases despite cuts to legal aid.
The firm in Inverness Street, Camden Town, was set up by Gareth Peirce, who has represented the Birmingham Six, Jean Charles de Menezes and detainees in Guantanamo Bay.
She said: “Richard was the finest of men – he chose to leave the orthodox world of high finance to give the best, and tragically the last years of his life to making sure that individuals locked in battle with the all-powerful might of the state had rights and could exercise them.
“The last of the many cases that he enabled to be fought and won was for a suicidal 10-year-old refugee girl, whom the Home Office repeatedly and shamefully tried to deport despite knowing full well her vulnerable condition.”
Mr Brown, who grew up and went to school in Highbury, was a devoted Arsenal fan who loved to talk sports in the office and parade about in his Gunners shirt after a big win.
In his spare time, Mr Brown collected cufflinks and kept fit at the gym.
Nigel Leskin, a partner at the firm, said: “In times when legal aid is struggling and a lot of small firms are shutting down, Richard was able to maintain an efficient service.
“It was because of his efficiencies we were able to provide for those who required legal aid but couldn’t get it.”
Mr Brown is survived by his daughter Candice, 21, and his wife of 17 years, Novlet |
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