An interview with Nick ‘Mr Loophole’ Freeman

Manchester-based lawyer dubbed Mr Loophole, Nick Freeman is famed for helping the rich and famous avoid driving bans.The millionaire road traffic defence lawyer, 53, made his fortune successfully defending the likes of David Beckham, Jeremy Clarkson and Sir Alex Ferguson. He earned his controversial nickname through the victorious use of unusual technical defences to save his clients from a life on the bus.He kindly agreed to speak to ContractHireAndLeasing.com, about speed limits, motoring law and his passion for cars.Q: You trademarked your Mr. Loophole nickname; have other lawyers ever tried to cash in on your nickname and is it on your business card?A: I trademarked Mr Loophole specifically to protect members of the public from other advisors, both regulated and non regulated who were referring to themselves by the name of “Loophole”. In fact, on one website a gentleman promoted himself by saying “I am Nick, AKA Mr Loophole because I’m good at my job”. He then proceeded to offer advice that was tantamount to perverting the course of justice. The nickname is not on my business cards and I never have business cards with me.Q: You have spoken out against the current drink-drive limit, does this mean you support a zero tolerance policy?A: I do not support a zero tolerance towards drink driving but feel that the current level is too high. Statistics demonstrate that the chance of having an accident at the permitted level in the UK increases four fold. It is lower throughout the rest of Europe and is therefore safer. It is a question of balance but a zero tolerance is fraught with too many uncertainties which have the potential for being unfair to members of the public.Q: With recent news that the government plans to slash speed limits, do you think the speed limit on single carriageways should be cut to 50mph?A: I do not agree with a reduction of speed in dual carriageways to 50 miles per hour. I believe that speed limit regulations should be more flexible and on some potentially dangerous roads 50 miles per hour is no doubt more suitable but conversely on other roads 70 miles per hour would be more appropriate. I am also in favour in certain circumstances of increasing the motorway speed limit to 85 miles per hour.Q: After years of helping celebs escape charges on minor technicalities, you have recently offered to help the government close the very loopholes that made you famous, why?A: I have spent years helping motorists escape charges and the majority have been ordinary folk and not celebrities. I abhor bad driving and I am keen to pursue all reasonable steps to make our roads safer. If this means assisting the government in tightening the legislation, so be it. I am not suggesting that this is the single route and there are a whole host of other measures which should be implemented at the same time i.e. increasing driver education and driver awareness.Q: Wouldn’t closing such loops be detrimental to your business?A: If law was tightened this could have an adverse affect upon my business but what a marvellous trade off that would be for safer roads.Q: There has been a lot of press lately around private car parking fines. How do you go about disputing these?A: Car park fines, whether they be private or public are immersed in a plethora of complex legislation and my advice is, if you wish to dispute these, to obtain good legal advice.Q: Surely the DVLA has no right to sell your details to unregulated ‘rogue’ parking companies?A: I agree the DVLA has no right to sell private details to any unregulated company and indeed there are Data Protection issues intertwined with this issue.Q: The government is now focusing on ensuring that foreign drivers don’t get away with flouting UK traffic laws. Do you believe they will be effective?A: Foreign drivers have escaped with blue murder for years and the government is not acting before time. The proposed measures will certainly be more effective than the current situation which largely allows foreign drivers to escape scot free. However, the difficulty with the proposed legislation is that it reverses the burden of proof and may fall foul of European legislation. The idea of fining somebody before conviction runs even contrary to the principles of British justice and I am sure it will not be tolerated by Strasbourg.Q: Pressure is growing from safety groups over the use of hands-free sets. Do you think they should be banned for use while driving?A: I do not believe hands free phone sets should banned. Whilst they can be a distraction so can listening to the radio, talking to a passenger and using one’s sat nav. Motorists should not be legislated against to such an extent that they literally cannot move in a motor vehicle and they must be afforded a degree of latitude. However, if a motorist is distracted by using a hands free phone or simply by feeling tired and is involved in a serious accident there may be a very heavy price to pay. In other words, legislation is already in force to deal with most eventualities.Q: Following Robbie the Pict’s challenge against the legality of speed cameras, do you believe he has a case?A: “Robbie the Pict’s” challenge against the legality of speed cameras will not and cannot succeed for very obvious reasons.Q: Out of pure nosiness, do you consider yourselves a petrolhead? Can you tell us what your first car was and what you drive at the moment?A: I am passionate about cars and have been since the age of about 2 when I had a little red plastic thing that I sat in and propelled with my feet. My first car was a red Triumph Herald convertible OKY 54H which I purchased for £520 in 1975. I have a variety of different steeds at the moment.Q: You are known for your work with high-profile celebs, but I believe you and colleagues at Freeman and Co, set up Freemankeepondriving.com as a service intended to allow ordinary folk the chance to secure your help with their legal challenges. Can you tell us more about the service you offer?A: Freeman Keep on Driving Limited was set up specifically to respond to criticism that it was fine and dandy for the rich and famous but what about the “Mondeo man”. It is a firm of Solicitors that I head which provides expert legal advice exclusively for road traffic matters tailored for the more modest budget. For a nominal sum, clients can place Freeman Keep on Driving Limited on a retainer and receive unlimited advice 24/7 and naturally they can formally instruct the firm as and when the occasion arises.Q: Finally on a light-hearted note, what would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?A: My childhood dream was to be a professional golfer but I was rightly persuaded by my dad that a career in law was slightly more secure. Furthermore, I hate flying!

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