Where are they now? part 2
The particular advocate that no one had heard of was George Carman QC. He only died in January 2001, and even after the turn of the millennium was still active. If ever a barrister in modern times had been the subject of popular fame, it was "Gorgeous George" as he was referred to (a tribute to his skill rather than his appearance). Starting as a criminal barrister, after his successes in that field he successfully branched into defamation, appearing in a string of high profile cases. As to longevity, he was a big name when I was a law student, and was still a big name by the time I became a QC.
His first huge profile case was his successful defence on criminal charges of the former leader of the Liberal party, Jeremy Thorpe. I first had occasion to speak to George Carman in connection with his possible attendance at a Cambridge union Society event when I was President. His reputation in those early days was as a criminal advocate who could work miracles. His impact was illustrated by an event I recall in the early 80s, as a very junior barrister, sitting in a cafe near Salford magistrates. At the next table was a group of middle-aged characters, who obviously appeared frequently in the criminal courts. They were loudly discussing the various charges they were facing that day. When one had outlined his predicament, one of the others said solemnly "you've got no chance, you'd need George Carman to get you off on that one". Ordinary criminals regarded him as the man who could work magic.
I was later involved in the same case as George with him as the leader, although his involvement was nonexistent because the case settled before trial. This was a huge claim, a breach of trust claim, nothing to do with the areas which George would normally operate in. The "junior" brief in this case was fiercely contested. The client wanted George to be the lead advocate as he was at that time probably the best known and in some respects the most feared advocate in England. There would then need to be another barrister who would deal with the legal points and the preparation work (so that the spadework would already have been done before George became involved). There were a number of candidates amongst junior silks and senior juniors, and as a senior junior I was lucky enough to get the brief. The letter before action in the case stated "We have instructed George Carman QC, who will cross-examine you at the trial.". That was regarded as the ultimate way of saying that you meant business.
George was also the barrister who successfully defended Ken Dodd when he was prosecuted for tax offences. Again a masterful performance produced victory. Jokes about the case became a standard part of the Ken Dodd routine. He would say "Have you ever noticed how the Inland Revenue send you tax demands in brown envelopes, as if they know what you're going to do with them? ". In terms of crime George was at the top of the tree.
However his greatest fame came in the sphere of libel. The list of his successes on behalf of noted clients was like an extract from Who's Who:Sir Richard Branson, Tom Cruise, Imran Khan, Sir Elton John and Mohamed Al Fayed . His performances in cross-examination were scintillating and often catastrophic for those he cross-examined. Perhaps in terms of popular culture the most famous occasion was his cross examination of the East Enders actress Gillian Taylforth , who was suing the Sun for libel about a story suggesting that she had engaged in oral sex with her partner in a motor car, and whose action failed and who was subject to the George Carman cross-examination in the witness box.
An outstanding advocate, a huge star and operating until recently, yet unknown to many aspiring barristers. Very few advocates obtain fame, and for those who do it is soon forgotten.