Stephenson Harwood head of international arbitration Louis Flannery will be appointed Queen's Counsel (QC) at a ceremony to be held later this month (26 February). He was among 119 new QCs to be announced in December and among five solicitor-advocates from private practice to make the grade.

Flannery joined Stephenson Harwood in 2008, having spent six years as an associate at legacy SJ Berwin.

Why did you become a litigator? Because I could not become a pilot.

What's the closest you have come to doing something other than law? Becoming a pilot.

Why work in a law firm rather than become a barrister? Teamwork.

Which judge or barrister do you most admire and why? Judge: dead, Lord Denning; and alive, too many to mention but if had to single out one it would be Lord Justice Hamblen – razor sharp, scrupulously fair and perfectly polite in court. Barrister: dead, Marshall Hall; and alive, Sydney Kentridge QC. Solicitor: dead, my stepfather Norman Shine; and alive, David Harrel the ex-senior partner of S J Berwin.

What is the most memorable moment of your career? Receiving the news at 4:02pm on 14 December that I had been approved to become one of Her Majesty's Counsel.

What's been your proudest professional moment/moment in court? Winning my first ever case to save a 66-year-old Turkish woman from being deported, as an articled clerk with one month's experience.

…and worst day on the job? Losing a case for a pro bono client.

What advice would you give to young litigators starting out? Everything. Repays. Careful. Reading. And don't come into the profession unless you are absolutely crazy about the law and can write properly. It's all so deadly serious now, and in these times of de-platforming and behavioural correctiveness, don't be fooled into thinking that it's a wonderful and noble profession. Billing, timesheets, feedback forms, systems, protocols, outsourcing, etc, are all conspiring against the beauty and majesty of the law and reducing the cohesiveness of the profession and its members.

What's the best/worst thing about being a litigator? One, the advocacy and two, the advocacy.

What's the funniest thing you've ever witnessed in court? Nothing in my experience to match anything from My Cousin Vinny. Courtrooms are, with the greatest respect, some of the most boring places on earth.

How do litigators differ from deal lawyers? Most like a good fight. And most know a bit (or a lot) more law.

How much do you conform to the spiky litigator stereotype? No idea.

What's the toughest ethical/moral dilemma your job has ever presented you with? Can I please plead the fifth on that one?

What most annoys you about the legal profession? The attempts made to stifle individuality.

What's your strongest characteristic…and worst trait? One, my individuality and two, my incontinence.

What's the worst corporate event you've ever attended? Too many to mention.

Most memorable case you ever have worked on and why? My first – see above. It was a victory against the machinery of state.

Do you see yourself having a career outside law? No, I have an amazing job leading a great team in a wonderful firm with superb people from top to bottom.

What's your favourite TV depiction of a litigation lawyer? Lionel Hutz.

What's your favourite item of clothing? My incontinence knickers.

What's your favourite cheese? Daft question because it depends on the time and place and mood but if had to choose one, it would be Paxton & Whitfield's stilton if served with fine tawny port and spread on toasted crumpets and in a room with a real fire and something decent to read (anything by Robert Harris).