Mr Altman has been appointed as the new lead counsel of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse following suspension and subsequent resignation of former lead counsel Ben Emmerson QC. Famous for his successful prosecution of Levi Bellfield (who abducted and killed schoolgirl Milly Dowler in 2002), Mr Altman now has the difficult task of turning around the embattled inquiry, which has suffered a crisis of confidence following the explosive departures of several key figures in its legal team. Late last year, MPs instructed the inquiry to make appointing a new lead counsel ‘a priority.’ IICSA chair Professor Alexis Jay commented: ‘Altman is hugely experienced, having spent 16 years as treasury counsel, the last two and a half years of which were as first senior treasury counsel. This is an important appointment for the inquiry and I look forward to working with Brian as we take forward the work of the inquiry.’

Sources: Legal Business; The Guardian