Andrew Crossley defends work of ACS:Law as compliant and lawful

Controversial solicitor Andrew Crossley has vehemently defended the work of his firm, ACS:Law, despite the stinging criticism it received at the hands of judges, industry peers and the wider public.

Speaking exclusively to V3, Crossley said that he had no regrets about the actions of his company.

"I still maintain the work I did was compliant, lawful, measured, appropriate and needed," he said.

Crossley had contacted V3 to deny suggestions last week that ACS:Law had returned and had sent letters demanding payment to overseas internet users. He also criticised law firm Ralli for releasing the letters to the media.

"It was a fake, a scam, nothing whatsoever to do with me and moreover a deliberate attempt by Michael Forrester of small provincial law firm Ralli to garner cheap publicity for themselves at my expense," he said.

"I query the true motives of Mr Forrester who fed the story to the BBC, instead of verifying the truth of these fake emails with me, which he could have done easily by picking up the phone to me."

V3 contacted Ralli for a response but had received no reply at the time of publication.

V3 pointed out that a second story had been posted acknowledging that Ralli had been made aware the letters were fake, although Crossley claimed that he was not unduly concerned by the adverse publicity.

"It may come as no surprise, but I no longer read what is out there about me anymore. Life is too short," he said.

ACS:Law ran into trouble in January when 27 individuals accused of file sharing took the firm to court with the help of Ralli. Crossley then said he was unable to prosecute the case, citing death threats as making his work unsafe.

The presiding official, judge Birss, was unimpressed by this, however, and attacked Crossley for using threatening letters without ever intending to go to court.

"I want to tell you that I am not happy. I am getting the impression with every twist and turn since I started looking at these cases that there is a desire to avoid any judicial scrutiny," he said at the time.