Ask the public to name a barrister and “Moneybags Mansfield” is likely to be the one — not least after the recent inquests into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Dodi Fayed. His reputation may have taken a bit of a battering as he tried to argue the unarguable on behalf of Mohamed Al Fayed but Mansfield, a youthful 66, with plentiful collar-length hair, has enough of a track record to take it. His cases are a roll-call of some of the best-known and controversial in legal history — Guildford Four and Birmingham Six, Orgreave miners, Angela Cannings, families of Stephen Lawrence, of the Bloody Sunday relatives and of Jean Charles de Menezes. The twice-married father of six is a vegetarian and bike-riding socialist who — despite his success — insists that most of his work comes from legal aid. The “champagne socialist” contradiction annoys some; but despite his love of the limelight, Mansfield remains true to his principles. Some say that he sold out, taking the Al Fayed brief. For him, it was like any other brief for an underdog — or “defending the indefensible”.

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