The dynamic and energetic Louise Christian co-founded civil liberties and human rights firm Christian Khan (formerly Christian Fisher) 20 years ago. Since then, she has built it into a campaigning powerhouse. Christian is one of the most cited lawyers in the media, commenting - often critically - on the handling of such issues as Guantanamo Bay and the Potters Bar rail crash.

On the latter topic, she has had a landmark year. In October, the Crown Prosecution Service announced it was not going to bring corporate manslaughter charges against any individuals or companies involved in Potters Bar. Christian declared her intention to take Transport Secretary Alistair Darling to court on behalf of the victims and families of victims she represents unless he launched a public inquiry into the crash.