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Tim Dutton QC was among the legal luminaries recognised by the Queen in the New Year’s honours list.
The commercial Silk and former head of Fountain Court Chambers, who chaired the Bar in 2008, received a CBE in recognition of his services to the UK legal system.
Knighthoods went to the Hon Nicholas Forwood QC, who served as a judge at the European Court of Justice for 16 years before returning to Brick Court Chambers as a door tenant last year; Sir David Norgrove, who chaired the 2010-11 review of the family justice system; and barrister, former shadow justice minister and Conservative MP, Henry Bellingham.
Bar Standards Board’s lay member and its former complaints commissioner, Rob Behrens, who is now chief executive and independent adjudicator of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education, received a CBE for services to higher education.
CBEs also went to Christopher Stephens, Chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission; His Honour Michael Findlay Baker QC, DL, formerly resident judge in St Alban’s Crown Court and deputy circuit judge; and Guy Beringer, the former head of magic circle firm Allen & Overy, who now chairs UK Export Finance and the Legal Education Foundation.
Among those to receive OBEs were Carolyn Kirby, the first woman president of the Law Society (2002-03), and Howard Roberts QC, HM Procureur (Attorney General) for Guernsey.
Solicitor Kate O’Rourke, senior counsel at London firm Charles Russell Speechlys, received an MBE and Gerrard Tyrrell, the media lawyer and senior partner at London firm Harbottle & Lewis, became a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.
Tim Dutton QC was among the legal luminaries recognised by the Queen in the New Year’s honours list.
The commercial Silk and former head of Fountain Court Chambers, who chaired the Bar in 2008, received a CBE in recognition of his services to the UK legal system.
Knighthoods went to the Hon Nicholas Forwood QC, who served as a judge at the European Court of Justice for 16 years before returning to Brick Court Chambers as a door tenant last year; Sir David Norgrove, who chaired the 2010-11 review of the family justice system; and barrister, former shadow justice minister and Conservative MP, Henry Bellingham.
Bar Standards Board’s lay member and its former complaints commissioner, Rob Behrens, who is now chief executive and independent adjudicator of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education, received a CBE for services to higher education.
CBEs also went to Christopher Stephens, Chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission; His Honour Michael Findlay Baker QC, DL, formerly resident judge in St Alban’s Crown Court and deputy circuit judge; and Guy Beringer, the former head of magic circle firm Allen & Overy, who now chairs UK Export Finance and the Legal Education Foundation.
Among those to receive OBEs were Carolyn Kirby, the first woman president of the Law Society (2002-03), and Howard Roberts QC, HM Procureur (Attorney General) for Guernsey.
Solicitor Kate O’Rourke, senior counsel at London firm Charles Russell Speechlys, received an MBE and Gerrard Tyrrell, the media lawyer and senior partner at London firm Harbottle & Lewis, became a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.
The Chair of the Bar reports back
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how global events can influence the performance of pensions and ISAs, and why taking a long-term approach to investing is often the most effective strategy
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, discusses what family law professionals need to know about hallucinogens, from the main hallucinogenic drugs encountered in family proceedings, to their effects and the testing options available
Harmony Christian Ministries is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
By David Green
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, examines the forensic science underpinning hair drug testing, its evidential scope and limitations, and why it remains the gold standard for evidencing patterns of drug use in family proceedings
Developing a tech start-up demands a different definition of excellence to the Bar, says Saara Idelbi. The co-creator of Advocatr on entrepreneurship, AI advocacy training, and matching the thrill of a killer cross-examination
At the start of her term, Chair of the Bar 2026 Kirsty Brimelow KC set out a series of priorities for the year ahead. One of those priorities was children in the justice system
As the world becomes more digital, Barbara Vinagre Mota examines international research into the mental health consequences of judges’ exposure to graphic and immersive evidence, highlighting the importance of support systems
Reviewed by Daniel Barnett
James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain until 27 September Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi until 23 August Reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC
