ANDREW Clinton, a partner in ASB Law, the regional firm with a base in Kent, has been appointed to an independent agency that solves rows over Internet names.

Mr Clinton, who is based in Crawley but is frequently at the firm's offices in Mill Street, Maidstone, was chosen by Nominet UK from 750 applicants to be an independent expert under the newly established Dispute Resolution Service.

He heads ASB Law's technology, e-commerce and computer team and was one of around 40 experts appointed to the panel.

Nominet manages the register database for more than three million .uk domain names.

Mr Clinton said he was looking forward to helping shape this area of law.

"There are all kinds of interesting issues that will crop up, particularly relating to the role of the Internet as a vehicle for freedom of expression

and balancing that against the intellectual property rights of well known businesses," he said.