Lord Hoffmann is the new President of BACFI
THE Bar Association for Commerce, Finance and Industry (BACFI) has today announced that Lord Hoffmann will succeed the late Lord Slynn as its President.
Lord Hoffmann retired as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary in 2009 and currently practises as an Arbitrator and Mediator from Brick Court Chambers. He remains a non permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong and isChairman of the Financial Law and Markets Committee of the Bank of England.
BACFI, one of the oldest Specialist Bar Associations affiliated to the Bar Council, represents barristers practising in the fields of commerce, finance and industry. Its members include employed barristers, legal academics and law students, overseas lawyers working in the UK and retired barristers. It was founded in 1965 to promote the interests of employed barristers within the profession. The Association is independent of the Bar Council and the Bar Standards Board, although it works closely with both organisations on matters affecting members.
BACFI Chairman, Christiane Valansot, General Counsel to the Investment Management Association, announcing Lord Hoffmann’s appointment, said:
“BACFI is delighted that Lord Hoffmann has accepted our invitation to lead our Association. The Bar is entering an era of dramatic change, in an uncertain political and economic climate. The employed and self-employed branches of the profession need to support each other, to ensure that together we continue to serve the public interest and the commercial organisations in which we work.
“The Bar and BACFI represent a unique combination of skills, talents and experience, devoted to the service of the public and the maintenance of the rule of law. BACFI members serve on the Boards of domestic and international commercial and industrial companies and represent a vital source of independent legal and ethical advice to their colleagues. I am proud that BACFI will now be led by such a distinguished member of the profession as Lord Hoffmann.”
Lord Hoffmann said:
“It will not be easy to take the place of so distinguished a lawyer as my late colleague Lord Slynn, but I am honoured to have been asked to assume the presidency of this long-established association of members of the Bar, who play such an important role in providing legal services for financial, commercial and industrial institutions.”
Nick Green, QC, Chairman of the Bar, welcomed Lord Hoffmann’s appointment and said:
“I congratulate Lord Hoffmann on his appointment as BACFI’s new President. I am sure he will serve with distinction as Lord Slynn did before him. I wish him, and BACFI, every success in the future and look forward to working with him in his new capacity.”
