Mark Lewis

Mark Lewis, the king of phone hacking litigation in the UK, is on Justinian's couch ... Lewis also led the campaign to unstitch Scotland Yard's cover-up of News International's illegalities ... He has opened-up fresh assaults against News, taking the fight to its heartland in the US ... Mark Lewis has just settled his own libel case against the Metropolitan Police ... Here, among other things, he tell us what's in his fridge 

Mark Lewis: coat turned out to be useful

MARK LEWIS is the English privacy and libel lawyer who devised the phone hacking claims against News International.

As many as 500 civil actions are anticipated to be brought against News International in London. 

Among Lewis' more famous clients have been the family of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, to whom Rupert Murdoch paid $3 million in an out-of-court settlement for his company's phone hacking. 

He also acted for for the cardiologist Dr Peter Wilmshurst, who was unsuccessfully sued for libel by an American medical device manufacturer. 

These days Lewis is a partner of Taylor Hampton in The Strand, with a large claimant practice for victims of press intrusion, including footballers, boxers and celebs. 

Yesterday (June 14) Scotland Yard settled for over £200,000 a libel claim Lewis brought on his own behalf after police falsely alleged he gave dishonest evidence to a parliamentary inquiry. 

He is also spearheading potential phone hacking actions against News Corp in New York. 

Mark Lewis wrestles with Justinian's probing questions. 

Describe yourself in three words.

Tall, arrogant, lawyer.

What are you currently reading?

"Our Man in Damascus: Eli Cohn", by Eli Ben-Hanan. 

What's your favourite film?

"The Producers" (musical). 

Who has been the most influential person in your life?

Rupert Murdoch. He keeps me busy. 

What is your favourite piece of music?

"You're so vain", by Carly Simon. I still don't know why she wrote a song about me. 

What is in your refrigerator?

Virtually empty. I never have time to go shopping.

What is your favourite website? 

Prewarcar.com 

What do you recommend as a hangover cure?

Don't start drinking, or if you do, don't stop. 

What words or phrases do you overuse?

"The biggest problem with ..." I can use that several times in a conversation without people working out that most of the problems can't be the biggest. 

What's next for the phone hacking litigation?

Phase two - the second batch of cases is just starting.

Is there anything positive that could be said about Rupert Murdoch's newspapers?

Yes - they have some very good staff who were betrayed by the management. The Times is still the paper of record, although even its reputation was tarnished by not publishing stories about hacking.

What do you never leave home without?

Nothing - I manage to forget most things at some point.

What is your luckiest item of apparel?

I don't do luck. I do have an orange coat though, which turned out to be useful.

If you were a foodstuff, what would you be?

Murdered by cannibals?

What human qualities do you most distrust?

I hate people who are too nice.

What qualities do you look for in a pet?

Ability to swim. My pets are fish. 

What would you change about England?

The weather, the location and the people. 

What would your epitaph say?

He made a difference. 

What comes into your mind when you shut your eyes and think of the word "law"?

Mr Manning - my careers teacher at school. "Mark wants to be a lawyer - that is a joke." What did he know? He was an accountant who became a maths teacher.