In the tiny band of silks said to be in the £2-million-a-year club, the head of One Essex Court is one of the giants at the Commercial Bar — a position reached through hard work and brainpower, with no connections. Born of Jewish parents and brought up in London’s East End, where his father was a fur-cutter, Tony Grabiner, 63, went to the Central Foundation Boy’s Grammar School and then to the London School of Economics, graduating with a first-class law degree and then with a Masters in Law (distinction). He now chairs its board of governors. He has been involved in most of the big commercial cases — such as the big Apple v Apple case — in which he famously said: “even a moron in a hurry” could tell the difference between his client, Apple Computers, and the Beatles’ Apple Corporation. He is the non-executive chairman of Arcadia Group. His influence in the circles of power was cemented when he was made a Labour peer in 1999. On first-name terms with most senior judges and with successive Lord Chancellors, he is easy, unaffected and enjoys a good meal and fine wine — rounded off with a havana.

Back to the full Law 100 2008

Did we get it right? Tell us your picks

Law 100: women | Law 100: corporate and business | Law 100: public, criminal and human rights | Law 100: judges

Explore Law

• Corporate Law

• Public Law

• Columnists

• Law Panel

• Student Law

• Law Reports

Times Recommends

• HM Revenue sued over pension scheme tax
• Farepak liquidators to sue former directors
• McCartney and Mills: it's finally over