Rex Makin

Elkan Rex Makin (20 August 1925 – 26 June 2017) was a solicitor and philanthropist who practised in Liverpool, England, for over sixty years. He was most noted for his involvement with the Beatles' early career and subsequently high-profile cases such as the Hillsborough and Heysel Stadium disasters, the Walton sextuplets and the re-opening of the Cameo Murder case. A freeman of the City of Liverpool, he also supported the arts and held an honorary professorship at Liverpool John Moores University. He also wrote a weekly column in the Liverpool Echo.

Early life Born in Birkenhead in 1925, Makin was the only child of Joe and May Makin. His family was Jewish and moved to Liverpool in the 1850s and his great-great grandfather set up shop as a seamens' outfitter in Old Hall Street. His father was brought up on Park Lane in the Chinatown area of Liverpool, where he made and supplied trunks to seamen. Makin studied law at the University of Liverpool, gaining his LL.B in 1945 and LL.M in 1947.

Career Makin was the family solicitor to Brian Epstein, who in 1963 sought his advice on setting up a perpetually binding contract between himself and the Beatles; however, Makin advised Epstein that such an agreement would be legally indefensible. Makin was found guilty of gross indecency at Liverpool Magistrates Court and fined £75 in 1982. The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal that followed decided not to bar him from practice or any other penalty but expressed its displeasure, reflecting the homophobic sentiments of the time towards LGBT lawyers .

Honours In 2003 he was appointed a Freeman of the City of Liverpool, the first solicitor to receive that honour. He said at the time