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.