The founders of the BJR in 1989 were delighted to secure the occasional and friendly counsel of Geoffrey Bindman, who had founded a law firm in 1974 that aimed to “protect the rights and reputations of local Londoners” and act for progressive organisations and businesses. Geoffrey died last year.

Geoffrey was exactly the sort of lawyer every journalist dreams of having at their side to keep them out of trouble, writes Robin Lustig*. He never seemed to be unduly ruffled, but always offered advice when it was asked for, usually with a slight smile as if to say: “Nothing much to worry about, but maybe a tweak might be an idea…”

He was, of course, immensely experienced in the ways of the media, and knew better than most how thin-skinned some journalists can be when they are on the receiving end of a fellow journalist’s criticism. Successive editors of the BJR relied on him to keep the journal out of trouble. He read everything that he was asked to cast his eye over, but to my knowledge only rarely raised a query. The very fact of his presence was reassurance enough; if Geoffrey said it was OK, then we could all sleep easy in our beds.

There was a sense of mischief about Geoffrey, which made him ideally suited to act as a libel sounding board. He enjoyed spending time with journalists and seemed to share our taste for making waves while staying just the right side of what the law would allow.

I always had the feeling that he and the BJR were somehow made for each other; he was with us right from the start and will be hugely missed.

*Robin Lustig chaired the BJR editorial board between 1992 and 2002.