Mike Karin obituary

"My friend Mike Karin, a journalist and lawyer, who has died unexpectedly aged 59, worked at Loaded magazine at the height of its success in the 1990s, and later became a partner in a law firm in Thailand. Born in London, Mike was the son of Michael Karin Sr, a businessman, and Maureen (nee Gentle), whose jobs included running a tea room."

"He was brought up in various locations in east Africa and the Middle East, returning with his family to London in the 80s, where he went to St Angelo prep school in Ealing, and Forest school in Epping, then studied law at Ealing College (now West London University). Mike was a highly competent vinyl DJ, resident at Lucky's in Ealing from the age of 18 onwards, when he and I first met as he dated my friend Lucy."

"He worked in a variety of jobs while qualifying as a barrister, and was called to the bar at Gray's Inn in 1993. In his 20s and 30s he juggled DJing with the law. He could be obstinate only eating chicken phall, drinking full-fat Coca-Cola and smoking red Marlboro. He barely drank alcohol and did not suffer fools gladly. I started at Loaded in 1994 and Mike joined the magazine two years later at my suggestion, swiftly moving from temporary to permanent staff."

Mike Karin (59) combined careers in law, journalism and music. Born in London, he was raised across east Africa and the Middle East and returned to London in the 1980s to study law at Ealing College. He qualified as a barrister and was called to the bar at Gray's Inn in 1993 while maintaining a DJ residency at Lucky's. He joined Loaded magazine in 1996, helped launch and edit its website, wrote features and set up the editorial computer network. After leaving Loaded around 2000 he freelanced for major titles, lived in Atlanta and Los Angeles, and moved to Bangkok in 2003 to work in law.

Read at www.theguardian.com