HILL DICKINSON is celebrating after winning a legal victory for celebrity chef Marco Pierre White.

Mr White, the youngest-ever triple Michelin-starred chef, is suing his estranged wife’s divorce lawyers for allegedly interfering with his personal correspondence.

The move had been blocked in the High Court last year.

But, last week, three appeal judges agreed the matter should go to trial.

Mr White was represented by Liverpool-based Hill Dickinson partner Richard Green.

Mr Green, who also represented Liverpool FC captain Steven Gerrard in his affray trial, said the case was “unique” and “interesting”.

The chef claims his wife Matilda’s divorce lawyer, Marcus Dearle, who is a family partner at top London outfit Withers, unlawfully kept hold of personal documents and letters for up to 18 months while their divorce went through. They included a contract for work on a P&O cruise ship and an intimate letter from his daughter, Letitia.

Mr White is seeking damages for misuse of confidential or private information, wrongful interference with property and conversion.

Withers denies the allegations, saying they were allowed to keep hold of the correspondence under a precedent set in Hildebrand and Hildebrand, which allows divorcing spouses to keep copies of their husband or wife’s correspondence.

Mr Green told LDP Legal: “Marco went to the police to start off with because he thought that a criminal offence had been committed.

“It’s an extremely interesting case. You know that there’s a claim, but it takes some thought before you understand how to frame it and how to bring it.

“This, as far as I know, is a first in terms of this action being brought. I don’t think anyone has brought a claim arising out of Hildebrand about the wrongful interference of goods.”