SPENDING eight years at night school to become a solicitor has paid off for a man who has been named one of the world’s rising stars in criminal law.

Tony Burton, a partner at CR Burton and Co in Penge High Street, works wherever his clients need him 24 hours a day and this commitment has now been recognised in the Thomson Reuters ratings list of super lawyers.

The rigorous selection process undertaken by Thomson Reuters included research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

Father-of-two Mr Burton, 39, said: “I care about the people I represent and want to make sure they are dealt with fairly by the courts.

“It is an honour to be recognised by my peers for doing a good job.

“The hard part is never knowing when you will be called out and it is hard to have a family life around the job.”