Times Newspapers editorial legal director Pia Sarma has landed a major accolade by being named in The Lawyer Magazine’s Hot 100. The list recognises star performers and Pia talks here about her work.

What attracted you to media legal work?

When I was training in the City I began reading the Entertainment and Media law reports as a distraction at work, instead of the reports I should have been reading. The legal issues about freedom of expression and the rights of individuals were a world away from dry corporate work and caught my interest. Newspapers have always been a part of my life, so applying my legal skills to them sounded like a promising combination. I wasn’t sure whether working inside a newspaper would be for me, but when I first walked round The Times I knew I had to give it a go.

How satisfying is it to be recognised in The Lawyer Hot 100?

I was taken by surprise by the entry! It’s good that the newspaper industry has featured in the list and that the role of the in-house lawyer has been recognised. Newspaper legal departments were not always as busy as they are today. I recently saw an archive memo from 1967 about legal advice for The Times and The Sunday Times. It included a four-digit home number in Kent, on which you could contact ‘Sir Charles’ if there was a problem. A far more casual set-up!

What has been particularly pleasing for you to have achieved in your casework?

In 2012, The Times won a major case in the Supreme Court about public interest journalism. Five judges understood the purpose of the piece and the role of journalism in society. It was a fantastic victory. In 2013, The Sunday Times won another case in which investigative journalism was praised. It’s very rewarding to be able to bring such good journalism through the courts and for judges to see the best of what the newspapers do. In 2013 I was also given the go-ahead to tackle Lance Armstrong’s lawyers so The Sunday Times could recover legal fees on a libel case he brought against it, denying doping. Recovering the money puts down a marker for any future claimants. Times Newspapers has always pushed the law by defending its journalism. Having a role in that is a privilege.

How has the digital revolution changed the nature of your work?

We need to anticipate how the courts will deal with the different ways readers now get their news. The law is always a step behind with advances in technology but as an in-house adviser, you have to anticipate how the changes will be seen by courts if we have to defend articles in the future. The speed of publication also means that we also need to respond quickly with our legal advice and then keep an eye on how a story develops. Often the advice has to change; we can’t be behind the beat.