And he could team up with controversial ex-colleague

IF Sir Keir Starmer becomes an adviser to Mishcon de Reya he will potentially work alongside a controversial figure.

Alison Levitt QC, a partner at the firm and head of its business crime group, played a key role in the investigation into journalists paying cash for stories.

Out of 29 charges against journalists in the multi-million pound inquiry, only one resulted in a conviction – and this was later quashed.

Sir Keir worked closely with Miss Levitt at the CPS – she was principal legal adviser there when he was DPP.

A previous employee of the

law firm is Sue Akers, who led Scotland’s Yard investigation into phone hacking and retired from the force in 2012.

She was recruited by the firm as a private investigator after it had been retained by the wealthy family of an alleged rape victim.

Miss Akers worked alongside Miss Levitt, and her work helped lead to a rape charge against 38-year-old teacher Kato Harris. But he was cleared by a jury in 15 minutes.

Earlier this year, a judge cleared the way for Mr Harris to seek damages after ruling that his prosecution was an ‘improper act’.