The sympathy of the nation was with the two elderly Burden sisters when the media were notified that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) had issued a landmark judgment that the sisters should be liable for inheritance tax when the first of them dies. The sisters, Joyce (89) and Sybil (82) had appealed an earlier ruling in their fight to ensure that they would not have to part with their family home when one of them dies. The sisters had argued that the inheritance tax liability discriminated against them, as it would not apply had they been able to enter into a civil partnership.

The Burden sisters’ law team, Thring Townsend Lee & Pembertons, engaged Vox PR to handle the huge media interest that was guaranteed to be generated by the landmark ruling.

Vox’s brief was to manage the national media interest so the media had everything they needed to accurately report the case to tight deadlines and that the press conference caused the minimum amount of disruption to the normal business of a major law practice. It was also important to ensure that the experience caused the least amount of upset and intrusion to two elderly people who would be devastated if the ECHR ruling went against them.

The judgment was issued at 9am so it was vitally important that the press conference was handled efficiently and that the Vox press office responded to journalists’ questions and needs quickly to ensure the story could be run in time for the midday news.

Vox ensured that all sections of the media were represented at the press conference including UK national and satellite TV, radio news channels, national print journalists and the financial and legal trade media. The story was featured on the lunchtime news bulletins; BBC’s Working Lunch and was covered extensively across the internet national print media, both in the news and comment sections.

In the words of Lizzie Heffer, Marketing and Brand Manager, Thring Townsend Lee and Pembertons: "Thank you so much for all your help to make yesterday such a success…your careful planning, organisation and handling of the whole case was exemplary."