A LAWYER who made a vital contribution to the Allen Report into the Allied Group is advising Stanley Ho and fellow directors of Shun Tak Holdings on a bid for a judicial review believed to be connected with the John Lees Report on World Trade Centre Group and Tomson Pacific. Shun Tak, which lists Johnson, Stokes and Masters as its solicitors in its annual report, has retained rival law firm Herbert Smith for a legal bid currently being argued in camera before a judge. The review was sought at the end of May and seeks to overturn a decision by the commissioner of police. It is claimed that the unspecified decision is contrary to natural justice and wrong in law. The partner heading the Herbert Smith team is Mark Johnson, who was top of the list of lawyers thanked by Nicholas Allen in the acknowledgements in his report. The switch from gamekeeper to poacher has left many in the regulatory community fuming, sources say, although Mr Johnson has committed no form of ethical breach. ''He has seen the process from the inside. He knows how the magic works and he would know where to throw a spanner into the works,'' said one source. Police officers connected with the case are said to be concerned by the news of Mr Johnson's involvement in the case. Mr Johnson and solicitors from Herbert Smith are thanked in Mr Allen's report. ''This inspection has been a team effort between Coopers and Lybrand and Herbert Smith,'' says the acknowledgement. ''Without the immense contribution from the team of solicitors at Herbert Smith . . . the inspection could not have been completed,'' the acknowledgement adds. Last night Mr Allen said it was inevitable that Mr Johnson would have built up a thorough knowledge of the areas where inspectors appointed by the Financial Secretary would be vulnerable to legal attack. ''In any inspection, there is a significant amount of legal input either in litigation or advice on the inspectors' requirements as to the law,'' said Mr Allen. ''During the course of my investigation, Mr Johnson provided both of those.'' Shun Tak issued a statement to the stock exchange concerning the litigation yesterday. The firm confirmed that it was seeking judicial reviews of two cases but said it had been advised by its lawyers not to comment further. It did not confirm that the cases were connected with the Lees Report. ''If a judgment is delivered in due course which is in any way material to the company or its share price, the appropriate announcement will be made,'' said the statement, signed by Shun Tak director Andrew Tse. Representatives of Herbert Smith were not available for comment. Mr Johnson was said to be on leave.