A top solicitor billed as one of the main speakers at a legal seminar sent the organisers a glowing biography of himself to be included in their publicity material.

But unfortunately for David Corker, a leading expert in business crime, his usual forensic skills let him down and he failed to peruse the document to the end.

The biographical details he dispatched began in glowing enough terms with Mr Corker described as “massively bright” and a “business crime legend” who had made a “massive academic contribution” through his work on the lecture circuit.

What Mr Corker failed to spot however, was that the biography went on to add: “Colleagues have described him as ‘a complete w***er’.”

The comments, compiled from various editions of the Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession, went to 1,000 other solicitors in a pamphlet promoting the lecture on fraud law.

Mr Corker is due to deliver the address at an event hosted by the London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association, which also posted the biography on their website.

A sheepish Mr Corker told the Law Society Gazette that he was “embarrassed” by the “error” adding that, “a lot of people have had a laugh”.

One criminal lawyer who received the pamphlet posted it on his weblog, saying: “I probably receive one of these leaflets a week and usually I briefly look at the leaflet and throw it away.

“But I was somewhat amused by the leaflet’s description of the individual who was going to be speaking at the training seminar.”

Mr Corker acted for Michael Barrymore at the 2002 inquest of Stuart Lubbock, who was found dead at the comedian’s home.

He is the author of two criminal law textbooks and featured in The Lawyer magazine’s “Hot 100” list of British legal stars.

Mr Corker did not return calls this afternoon.

But he can console himself with one thing: his gaffe appears to have been a marketing triumph. The lecture is a sell-out.

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