A legal firm has apologised after one of its partners was traced as the source for author JK Rowling being unmasked when she published a book under a false name.
Rowling has said she was “disappointed” and “angry” after finding that law firm Russells had been involved in the revelation.
It emerged at the weekend that she had published a detective thriller under pseudonym Robert Galbraith. The novel, The Cuckoo’s Calling, then quickly shot to the top of book charts.
A newspaper uncovered Rowling’s identity after a message was posted by a Twitter user, under the name @JudeCallegari.
The author had spent days wondering how the information had been passed to the woman, Judith Callegari, whom she had never met.
Rowling said in a statement: “I have today discovered how the leak about Robert’s true identity occurred. To say that I am disappointed is an understatement.
“I had assumed that I could expect total confidentiality from Russells, a reputable professional firm, and I feel very angry that my trust turned out to be misplaced.”
The legal firm said in a statement: “We, Russells Solicitors, apologise unreservedly for the disclosure caused by one of our partners, Chris Gossage, in revealing to his wife’s best friend, Judith Callegari, during a private conversation that the true identity of Robert Galbraith was in fact JK Rowling.”