For more than six years during the 1950s, Gordon worked for a number of contractors. They had one thing in common - they stripped asbestos from military bases. Years later, Gordon succumbed to a disease caused by the asbestos.

But what caused the greatest problems for his solicitor, Jacqui Smoker, was the difficulty tracing those former employers. Many had gone bust or been dissolved, exposing one of the enduring scandals of personal injury law, the lack of a comprehensive database or archive of the insurance policies held by employers.

Jacqui's painstaking work eventually led to a solution of Gordon's case, but the episode is typical of the complexities of the law - and the need for expert advice. Jacqui is familiar with Christmas trees, cages and tets. She's dealt with the linishers, decibels and vertical welders. "They all can and do hurt people at work" Jacqui said.

When not at work Jacqui can be found outside either gardening, walking the dog or building sandcastles with her son.