Richard Keen QC
Richard Keen QC is one of the most highly respected barristers in Scotland - indeed in the UK.
Which is good news for everyone interested in freedom of information (FOI) in Scotland - and the ongoing fight for equal pay.
Because Richard Keen QC is representing the Scottish Information Commissioner (SIC) in the forthcoming appeal at the UK Supreme Court - where South Lanarkshire Council is trying to overturn a previous decision in the Court of Session, Scotland's highest civil court.
Regular readers will recall that this all started with a simple FOI request in which I asked South Lanarkshire Council (SLC) for some very basic pay information - about traditional male council jobs.
Predictably SLC refused, but I appealed their silly decision to the Scottish Information Commissioner - who upheld my perfectly sensible request and ordered the council to release the pay details.
Incredibly, South Lanarkshire appealed the SIC decision to the Court of Session where three senior judges gave the council's arguments short shrift before agreeing - unanimously - that the pay information should be published in the public interest.
Again, South Lanarkshire appealed this decision and, as far as I know, it's the first case of its kind to go before the UK Supreme Court - where it us due to be heard on 8 July 2013.
Which is where Richard Keen QC comes into the picture - because in July the 'public interest' is at stake along with the need for openness and transparency in government affairs - local and national.
Because that after all is what Freedom of Information is about - the ability of the little guy to hold the big guy to account which, in turn, means being able to see clearly and understand - what these large organisations are doing with all the public money that they receive.
A ful profile of Richard Keen QC can be viewed at - www.axiomadvocates.com and at www.blackstonechambers.com - but in here a few extracts for informtion
Richard Keen QC
"Richard is ranked as a ‘star individual' in Commercial Dispute Resolution and top ranked in three other areas:
Administrative & Public Law – “fabulous advocate" … “mesmerically good”
Commercial Dispute Resolution – “the outstanding advocate of his generation” … “the top civil silk in Scotland” … “we'd use him for any type of civil law matter” … “fantastic”
Company - “brilliant at anything he turns his hand to” … “very impressive”
Construction – “a very accomplished performer”
Richard Keen QC is regularly instructed in the Commercial Court; in the Inner House (the Court of Appeal in Scotland) and in the Supreme Court in a range of Commercial and Public Law cases."
Well there you have it - and there will be much more to follow in the build up to July 8th 2013.
