Geoffrey Bindman was unassuming in his demeanour and as sharp and hard as a nail in his decision-making. While he was alive I always knew that if I got into trouble with the law, or needed legal help, I’d have advice that would be clear, realistic, tough and also, and this was important, kind – while being up for whatever fight was necessary.
He died on 4 November. He was 92. In this short, personal tribute, I’d like to salute what he stood for as well as his little-known but important contribution to openDemocracy, writing over 40 articles for us from 2003 to 2010, and chairing the independent charity the Open Trust.
In 1974, at the age of 31, Geoffrey started Bindmans, a firm of solicitors whose purpose was “protecting the rights and reputations of local Londoners”. Two principals were embedded in this apparently modest objective, from which the firm has never deviated, making it today one of the most important legal partnerships in the country.
