Nicholas Padfield is a British lawyer, QC

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...

, and is currently deputy High Court

High Court of Justice

The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...

 judge. He made headlines in 2006 by heading a business consortium named AV06, its being one of the parties interested in taking over the running of the British association football club Aston Villa F.C.

Aston Villa F.C.

Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...

Following a bid from American businessman Randy Lerner

Randy Lerner

Randolph D. Lerner is an American entrepreneur and sports team owner.Lerner has been the owner of the American football team, the Cleveland Browns, of the National Football League since October 2002, and the Chairman of Aston Villa Football Club of the English Premier League since 2006...

of approximately £63 million, AV06 revealed their intentions to submit a £70 million offer. However, this bid was never made and Lerner took control of the club.