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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.
Update from the Chair of the Bar
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
Unlocking your aged debt to fund your tax in one easy step. By Philip N Bristow
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, discusses the upcoming changes to pensions and Inheritance Tax and the potential impact on your financial future
Save the Children UK is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
The Chief Legal Officer to the Metropolitan Police, barrister Brett Welch, tells Anthony Inglese CB about his mission and the work to turn the Met around
Barrister apprenticeships – shortly to provide the fourth pathway to the Bar – are an ideal opportunity to support local talent and ‘grow your own’, say Tim Coulson and Dr Jane Dennehy
Grok around and find out – or not? Mariya Peykova investigates the nudification scandal, what the law has to say about sexually explicit deepfakes, and whether stronger regulation is needed
Oliver Lewis spotlights an overlooked yet rapidly evolving area of law – coercive and controlling behaviour within care contexts
For one night only at Middle Temple Hall (Sunday 26 July 2026) – Abigail Bright introduces the famed annual fundraising theatrical event. This year, Martin Shaw and Jason Watkins perform John Mortimer’s The Dock Brief, a mixture of farce and pathos and all in support of the work of the Kalisher Trust in its 30th year
