£500-an-hour legal high-flyer

CHARLES Randell rose to prominence during the financial crisis as the Government’s most experienced – and most expensive – corporate lawyer.

Reportedly commanding fees of £500 an hour, the Slaughter and May partner advised ministers on the rescue of Lloyds, HBOS and Royal Bank of Scotland as markets teetered on the brink.

His firm earned £33million for its efforts while the global financial system came close to collapse and ordinary people suffered. Until the tax avoidance scandal broke yesterday, Mr Randell, pictured, had a near-spotless reputation.

The married father of three was educated at Trinity College, Oxford. He was originally due to study English but switched to law so he could better support himself after the unexpected death of his father.

He left Slaughter and May in 2013 after 2 years and has gained public sector experience on the Bank of England’s prudential regulation committee and at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.