Media firm leaks JK Rowling pseudonym

updated on 25 July 2013

London media firm, Russells Solicitors, has admitted accidently leaking information that revealed the author of The Cuckoo's Calling to be JK Rowling.

The Harry Potter author wrote the novel, published in April 2013, under the pseudonym 'Robert Galbraith'. Rowling was unveiled as the author by The Sunday Times  however, after a friend of Russells' partner, Chris Gossage, passed on the information via Twitter. As reported by The Guardian, Gossage - head of corporate law at the firm - had told his wife's best friend the true identity of the new novelist during a private conversation. 

Russells has issued an apology for the disclosure, explaining that "while accepting his own culpability, the disclosure was made in confidence to someone he trusted implicitly. On becoming aware of the circumstances, we immediately notified JK Rowling's agent". The Solicitors Regulation Authority has not commented on any reported breach of confidence over the incident.