Gino felt more like a friend than a lawyer. But he is a great lawyer – make no mistake about that. After an arduous few months, he succeeded in getting me a “no further action”.

There are four reasons I would recommend him to anyone under investigation.

First, Gino has a really sharp legal mind. He works through the various paths of defence and comes incisively to the one that makes most legal sense. And he’s able to explain why he is choosing a particular path. His sense of logic is impeccable.

Second, Gino doesn’t only use his mind, he uses his gut. In my case, we were both torn about whether it would make sense to send a representation at a particular stage, given the facts of the case. In the end, we went with Gino’s gut, and Gino’s gut prevailed.

Third, Gino doesn’t just use his mind, he doesn’t just use his gut, he uses his heart. This is what I mean when I say he felt more like a friend than a lawyer. He was easily contactable over the phone. He was willing to discuss the case with you even though he’s discussed it before, because he understands you are anxious and wants to allay your concerns. And he receives you into his house, because he wants you to trust him as a friend. He didn’t want the relationship to just be business-like.

Finally, with Gino, it’s not about the money. He probably doesn’t need the money. In fact, he wants you to spend as little money as possible while getting a good outcome. He is not interested in directing the case in a way that may increase his billings.

Even if I could afford a QC, I would take Gino – because the QC wouldn’t care the way Gino does. And anyway, who know – Gino may well be on his way to becoming a QC.