The lawyer, Michael French, was the long-standing legal adviser to Mr Wyly before he came to an agreement with the SEC under which he would pay US$795,000 in fines himself, accept wrong-doing and give evidence against Mr Wyly. The SEC has accused Mr Wyly of a complicated system of insider trading through which he and his brother are said to have made US$550 m. The Wyly brothers deny the charges.  One other lawyer has also been giving evidence in the case - former Jones Day partner Robert Estep who also advised the Wyly brothers and their companies. The case is being heard in the New York federal court. Source: Chicago Tribune