German media group Constantin Medien has sued the Ecclestone family trust and three people, including Mr Mullens and Mr Ecclestone, for damages of over US $171 million, according to the Daily Mail. The claim relates to the sale of a stake in Formula One, which Constantin Medien claims was undervalued - and which, he claims, deprived the German company of its fair share of the proceeds. Constantin Median had a contractual right to a share of the proceeds in the sale which took place in 2006.

Family business

Mr Mullens resigned as lawyer to the Formula One group of companies in 2011. He has practised since 1973, becoming a partner at Marriott Harrison and then leaving the firm to work for Mr Ecclestone full time. He has been on the board of a number of different Formula One and Ecclestone family companies. He was also a director of the Bambino Trust which is the Ecclestone family trust. The case is due to start on October 28 and is expected to last six weeks. Peters and Peters is representing Constantin Medien.