British Prime Minister Tony Blair's wife Cherie Booth will appear in court today after overcoming opposition to her working on the Island.

Businessman Harold Darrell has hired Ms Booth, a leading Queen's Counsel in London, to represent him in his case against Bank of Bermuda, and in a separate complaint to the Human Rights Commission in which he claims racial discrimination at the bank.

Ms Booth was called to the Bermuda Bar this week, despite objections from Bank of Bermuda and Solicitor General Wilhelm Bourne.

The Royal Gazette understands Bermuda Bar Council - which is consulted by the Immigration Department over applications to hire foreign lawyers - did not support Ms Booth's application to join the Bar because of the objections.

And it is believed the Bar Council also felt that because today's hearing against the bank was an interlocutory hearing in chambers - in which Bank of Bermuda wants to recover money from Mr. Darrell - and not a final trial or hearing, that local lawyers were competent to handle the work.

But Puisne Judge Norma-Wade Miller overruled the objections and allowed Ms Booth to be called to the Bar.

Bar Association President Trevor Moniz said last night he could not comment on the matter.

It is understood Ms Booth is even more determined to succeed in the cases because of the objections to her working.

Mr. Darrell is suing the bank for allegedly breaching confidentiality rules after bank employees are said to have disclosed information about him which he claims led to him losing money.

In today's case at Supreme Court, the bank is pursuing a counter-claim against Mr. Darrell for money owed.

His case against the bank at the Human Rights Commission - which was rejected - was that he wrote to directors of the bank asking them to take action about his complaint about disclosure of information but they did not do so because, he claims, they were biased against him as a black Bermudian businessman.

Mr. Darrell has now received a letter stating that the Human Rights Commission will set up a full board of inquiry into his complaint and he will be represented by Ms Booth in this matter at a later date.

In his letter to the Bar Council objecting to Ms Booth being called to the Bar, Mr. Bourne writes that there are no complex issues in the case with the Human Rights Commission.

"I do not agree that foreign legal counsel is necessary or justified," he wrote.

"I am of the view that Smith and Co. (Mr. Darrell's Bermuda solicitors) have in the past demonstrated, and continue to do so, the degree of competence required to conduct proceedings.

"This is supported by the grasp of issues which they refer to in the substantive action. I therefore oppose the application for foreign legal counsel."

The Bank of Bermuda issued a statement last night saying: "The (Immigration) minister consulted with the Bar Council in this matter.

"The Bar Council sought our submission and we, like the Solicitor General, felt that this case was not of sufficient complexity to warrant a Queen's Counsel."

Mr. Darrell's spokesman, Corey Butterfield told The Royal Gazette last night: "Ms Booth is well versed in the areas that we are concerned about. She is an expert in commercial law and commercial company law and this will assist us in our case against the Bank of Bermuda.

"She is also an expert in discrimination law and will represent us in our case at the Human Rights Commission."

Meanwhile, it is understood Premier Jennifer Smith is holding a reception for Ms Booth at her official residence, Camden, tomorrow night with leading politicians and dignitaries including new Governor Sir John Vereker attending.