Harold Lightman
Encyclopedia
Harold Lightman QC
(8 April 1906, Leeds
-27 September 1998, London
) was an English
barrister, who was awarded the unique honour of a dinner at Lincoln's Inn
to celebrate his 90th birthday.
n refugees, who had fled first to Australia. His father set up a furniture-making business in Leeds. Lightman was educated at the City of Leeds School until he was 14, when he began to get bad headaches. He then worked in his father's factory, and at the age of 18 found out that his headaches were due to myopia
and were cured by wearing glasses. Then, while his father was on holiday, he did a good deal for the business; his reward of £100 allowed him to study at evening classes in Leeds, and qualify as an accountant.
By 1927, aged 21, he was a partner in an accountancy firm, the director of two manufacturing companies, and had written a book on company financing. He joined the Liberal Party
, having already, aged just 17, shared a platform with David Lloyd George
. He was the Liberal candidate for the Bramley ward in the 1927 Leeds City Council election. He failed to be elected, but was offered three Parliamentary candidatures for the 1929 General Election. However, he decided to study for the Bar rather than stand for Parliament.
in 1932.
Lightman had trouble in his early legal career because he had not been to university and was Jewish (it was then not fashionable among smart firms of London solicitors to brief Jewish barristers, particularly those from recent immigrant families). However, he overcame these handicaps by great determination and a considerable knowledge of accounts. The latter enabled him, while still a pupil, to help the head of his chambers at 1 New Square, Alexander Grant
QC, who was so impressed with Lightman's advice that he invited him to stay on as a member of chambers. He stayed for 10 years until Grant's death in 1942, when he moved to 13 Old Square, headed by Reginald Goff QC, later a Lord Justice of Appeal
.
During World War II
, Lightman served in the Home Guard
; he was awarded a Defence medal in 1946. His practice continued to grow after the war. His work, due to his knowledge of accountancy, was largely in the fields of company law and insolvency, but in all fields he was well regarded by his solicitor clients and his fellow barristers as someone who always gave his work the detailed care and attention it needed and whose advocacy was sound and reliable.
He had been writing articles for legal magazines and in 1945 he co-authored the 40th edition of Gore Browne, Company Law and Emergency War Regulation.
of the Glovers' Company. In 1962 he was appointed a bencher of Lincoln's Inn and was elected to the Council of the Anglo-Jewish Association.
In 1966 he became head of his chambers, one of the first Jews to hold such a position. He was involved in the first ever case in which an Appeal Court judge heard a case outside London - Lord Justice Romer heard it at his home in Kent. However, Lightman may be best remembered for his defence in 1965 of a deserted wife when Lord Denning ruled (in National Provincial Bank v Ainsworth) that a bank could not oust her from the matrimonial home even although her husband had defaulted on a mortgage. (The House of Lords
reversed Lord Denning's decision.)
Lightman's career was cut short in 1967, when he suffered a stroke; although with great determination he taught himself to write with his left hand, he was unable to resume his practice. He and his wife continued to live in a flat in Lincoln's Inn where he was able to enjoy the company of his friends: his great geniality made him a popular member.
(JP) in Leeds.
In 1936, he married Gwendoline Joan Oster, of the family which controlled the Gaumont Film Company
. They had three sons:Stuart Lightman; Professor Stafford Lightman
; and Sir Gavin Lightman
, a High Court judge. His grandson, Daniel Lightman, is also a barrister.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(8 April 1906, Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
-27 September 1998, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
barrister, who was awarded the unique honour of a dinner at Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
to celebrate his 90th birthday.
Early life
Harold Lightman was the son of LithuaniaLithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n refugees, who had fled first to Australia. His father set up a furniture-making business in Leeds. Lightman was educated at the City of Leeds School until he was 14, when he began to get bad headaches. He then worked in his father's factory, and at the age of 18 found out that his headaches were due to myopia
Myopia
Myopia , "shortsightedness" ) is a refractive defect of the eye in which collimated light produces image focus in front of the retina under conditions of accommodation. In simpler terms, myopia is a condition of the eye where the light that comes in does not directly focus on the retina but in...
and were cured by wearing glasses. Then, while his father was on holiday, he did a good deal for the business; his reward of £100 allowed him to study at evening classes in Leeds, and qualify as an accountant.
By 1927, aged 21, he was a partner in an accountancy firm, the director of two manufacturing companies, and had written a book on company financing. He joined the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
, having already, aged just 17, shared a platform with David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
. He was the Liberal candidate for the Bramley ward in the 1927 Leeds City Council election. He failed to be elected, but was offered three Parliamentary candidatures for the 1929 General Election. However, he decided to study for the Bar rather than stand for Parliament.
Called to the bar
In 1931 he went to London to complete his legal studies. He was called to the Bar by Lincoln's InnLincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
in 1932.
Lightman had trouble in his early legal career because he had not been to university and was Jewish (it was then not fashionable among smart firms of London solicitors to brief Jewish barristers, particularly those from recent immigrant families). However, he overcame these handicaps by great determination and a considerable knowledge of accounts. The latter enabled him, while still a pupil, to help the head of his chambers at 1 New Square, Alexander Grant
Alexander Grant
Alexander Grant was a Royal Navy officer, businessman, and politician in Upper Canada. During his service with the Royal Navy Grant saw action in the Seven Years' War before becoming a naval superintendent. He then embarked on a career in the ship building industry before losing much of his wealth...
QC, who was so impressed with Lightman's advice that he invited him to stay on as a member of chambers. He stayed for 10 years until Grant's death in 1942, when he moved to 13 Old Square, headed by Reginald Goff QC, later a Lord Justice of Appeal
Lord Justice of Appeal
A Lord Justice of Appeal is an ordinary judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, the court that hears appeals from the High Court of Justice, and represents the second highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales-Appointment:...
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Lightman served in the Home Guard
British Home Guard
The Home Guard was a defence organisation of the British Army during the Second World War...
; he was awarded a Defence medal in 1946. His practice continued to grow after the war. His work, due to his knowledge of accountancy, was largely in the fields of company law and insolvency, but in all fields he was well regarded by his solicitor clients and his fellow barristers as someone who always gave his work the detailed care and attention it needed and whose advocacy was sound and reliable.
He had been writing articles for legal magazines and in 1945 he co-authored the 40th edition of Gore Browne, Company Law and Emergency War Regulation.
Post-World War II
Lightman became a QC in 1955. In 1960, he was elected a LiverymanLiveryman
For Livery Companies in the City of London, a Liveryman is a full member of their respective Company.Livery Company members fall into two basic categories: Freemen and Liverymen. One may join as a Freeman, and thereby acquire the "Freedom of the Company", upon fulfilling the Company's criteria...
of the Glovers' Company. In 1962 he was appointed a bencher of Lincoln's Inn and was elected to the Council of the Anglo-Jewish Association.
In 1966 he became head of his chambers, one of the first Jews to hold such a position. He was involved in the first ever case in which an Appeal Court judge heard a case outside London - Lord Justice Romer heard it at his home in Kent. However, Lightman may be best remembered for his defence in 1965 of a deserted wife when Lord Denning ruled (in National Provincial Bank v Ainsworth) that a bank could not oust her from the matrimonial home even although her husband had defaulted on a mortgage. (The House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
reversed Lord Denning's decision.)
Lightman's career was cut short in 1967, when he suffered a stroke; although with great determination he taught himself to write with his left hand, he was unable to resume his practice. He and his wife continued to live in a flat in Lincoln's Inn where he was able to enjoy the company of his friends: his great geniality made him a popular member.
Family
His uncle Victor was the first Jewish Justice of the PeaceJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(JP) in Leeds.
In 1936, he married Gwendoline Joan Oster, of the family which controlled the Gaumont Film Company
Gaumont Film Company
Gaumont Film Company is a French film production company founded in 1895 by the engineer-turned-inventor, Léon Gaumont . Gaumont is the oldest continously operating film company in the world....
. They had three sons:Stuart Lightman; Professor Stafford Lightman
Stafford Lightman
Stafford Louis Lightman has been Professor of Medicine, University of Bristol, since 1993.He is the son of Harold Lightman, QC and the brother of Sir Gavin Lightman, QC.- Education :* Repton School...
; and Sir Gavin Lightman
Gavin Lightman
Sir Gavin Anthony Lightman , styled The Hon. Mr Justice Lightman, has been a judge of the English High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, since 1994...
, a High Court judge. His grandson, Daniel Lightman, is also a barrister.