Celebrity lawyer fronts legal team behind Rafiq
Former Yorkshire player has gained support in political circles and beyond over his claims of institutional racism
The lawyer who helped Azeem Rafiq spearhead a legal challenge against Yorkshire has represented Julian Assange and counts George Clooney among her celebrity friends.
Jennifer Robinson, of Doughty Street Chambers, is in the cricketer’s corner as Rafiq pursues a lawsuit against his former employers for direct discrimination and harassment on the grounds of race.
This week, Rafiq tweeted: “You have been more than just a legal representative,” after his dossier of racism evidence caused a reputational implosion for Yorkshire.
As well as Robinson, there is Vince Cable’s former adviser Mark Leftly and special situations analyst Linda Gu, both now of PR firm Powerscourt, also supporting Rafiq.
The same trio were drafted in to support Amber Heard as she went head to head with Johnny Depp in his case against The Sun. Robinson barely strayed from Heard’s side as they left court each day prior to the judge’s ruling that the paper’s claim that he was a “wife beater” was “substantially true”.
A year on, and the same team appear to sense another high-profile victory is within grasp. Robinson this week spoke of her delight as Sajid Javid and a host of senior Government figures expressed dismay over Yorkshire’s apparent inaction over the abuse Rafiq faced.
“Great to see so much support,” she tweeted, alongside a link to the Hope Not Hate campaign group page. “There is no place in sport for racism. Proud to represent Azeem.”
Rafiq tweeted in response that Robinson had “given me the courage and support on a human level for which I am very grateful”.
Given Rafiq lacks the financial might of some of Robinson’s previous clients, it is believed the team around him are working pro bono for now.
With an employment tribunal pending, and Yorkshire still refusing to publish the full report into his claims, lobbying behind the scenes has proved critical in forcing politicians and the ECB into action.
Robinson, 40, is one of the most sought-after human rights lawyers, and also one of its best connected. She mingled with guests including Bill Murray on the Grand Canal in Venice in 2014 at the Clooneys’ wedding. She and Amal formed a close friendship while working together in Doughty Street Chambers.
With the help of the advisers around him, Rafiq has earned support from Westminster and beyond while Yorkshire executives have plunged deeper and deeper into a reputational disaster. The club has so far declined to seek outside PR advice, and the resignation of Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton laid bare management’s inability to listen to advice as cited a lack of “care and contrition” shown to Rafiq after he was repeatedly called a “P--i”.
PR expert Marcel Knobil, of Brandguru and founder of Superbrands, said some of the events of the past week were self-inflicted for the crisis-torn county. “Yorkshire County Cricket Club has provided the perfect case study on how atrocious brand management can result in extremely damaging repercussions,” he told the Daily Telegraph. “When you carry the name of a region in your brand name, you have an additional responsibility of influencing the public’s perception of that region.
“Sadly, the cricket club, through its arrogant and prejudice-blind conduct, has damaged the reputation of the county of Yorkshire.”