Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : New King’s Counsel welcomed by Lord Chancellor [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 23 December 2022.

His Majesty The King has approved the appointment of 95 barristers and solicitors as new King’s Counsel (KC) in England and Wales.

His Majesty has also approved the appointment of 9 legal figures to receive Honorary King’s Counsel awards.

The title of KC is awarded to those who have demonstrated particular skill and expertise in the conduct of advocacy.

Honorary KCs are awarded to those who have made a major contribution to the law of England and Wales, outside practice in the courts.

The Lord Chancellor will preside over the appointment ceremony at Westminster Hall on 27 March 2023, where he will formally bestow the titles.

Biographies of honorary King’s Counsel

John Battle is a leading figure and driving force behind the issue of filming court proceedings, leading the broadcast industry group (BBC, ITN, Sky, PA), and is recognised for his commitment to his extensive work between the media, MoJ and senior judiciary.

Lionel Bently is a universally respected professor of intellectual property law at the University of Cambridge. He was nominated for his publications which rank among the most influential texts in intellectual property law and for playing a crucial role in influencing intellectual property law in this jurisdiction and beyond.

Richard Edwin Ekins is a legal academic and Professor of Law and Constitutional Government at the University of Oxford. He is the author of a number of highly influential books and journal articles. Since 2015, he has led Policy Exchange’s Judicial Power Project and has made a major contribution to public debate, and parliamentary deliberation, about the constitutional role of the courts.

Rosemary Hunter is Professor of Law and Socio-Legal Studies and Head of the Law School at the University of Kent. She is a leading scholar in the study of the Family Justice system and sits as the Academic Member of the Family Justice Council. Her work in the important field of domestic abuse has directly affected legislative developments.

Dr Ann Olivarius is an American British lawyer widely recognised for her leading role in the fields of women’s rights, sexual harassment and sexual abuse. She has been at the forefront of the fight against image-based sexual abuse and privacy violations. She played an instrumental part in lobbying Parliament to pass laws against the disclosure of non-consensual private images

Richard Susskind OBE FRSE holds professorships at the University of Oxford, Gresham College and Strathclyde University. He has worked in technology and law for 40 years and has written many related books. He has been recognised for his work promoting technology and innovation in legal and court services across England and Wales.

James Wakefield was instrumental in establishing the Council of the Inns of Court as a charity and founding the Inns of Court College of Advocacy. The College introduced a new two part Bar Course. He also helped to write new sanctions guidance for the Bar. These demonstrate his commitment to promoting access to the profession and encouraging retention of those from under-represented groups.

Julian Vincent Roberts is Emeritus Professor of Criminology at the University of Oxford and Executive Director of the Sentencing Academy. He is recognised as a leading academic authority in England and Wales on sentencing theory, policy, and practice; his work has made a major contribution to the analysis and development of sentencing worldwide.

Sir Michael Wood has contributed much to the progressive development and codification of international law. He is a long-serving member of the UN International Law Commission (ILC). As a prominent member of the ILC he has made an invaluable and lasting contribution to international law as it is taught and applied in the UK and beyond.

Applicant
No Title Applicant Name
49846 Ms Apps, Katherine
42582 Dr Armstrong, Nicholas James Buchanan
48545 Mr Atrill, Simon Paul
42169 Mr Baker, Richard
34422 Mr Balysz, Mark
50235 Mr Baradon, Adam Hedley
38501 Ms Bhogal, Kuljit
45365 Mr Bowe, Timothy Michael
48787 Mr Brinsmead-Stockham, John
41463 Mr Brooks, Duncan John Macfarlane
34548 Mr Buckingham, Paul Richard
48956 Mr Casey, Noel
48215 Mr Cloherty, Adam
54004 Mr Cook, Alexander James
49022 Ms Darwin, Claire Louise
28984 Mr Davis, Richard Jolyon Harold
41776 Mr Davy, Neil Geoffrey
42844 Ms Den Besten, Ruth Michelle
49361 Mr Dhar, Siddharth
480409 Ms Donnelly, Kathleen
49192 Mr Dracos, Marcos Gregorios
36149 Mr Easton, Jonathan Mark
42560 Mr Edwards, Owen Meirion
32782 Ms Ellin, Nina Caroline
53334 Mr Eschwege, Richard John
48601 Miss Ferber, Iris
40351 Mr Fetto, Niazi Peter
41636 Mr FitzGerald, Benedict Andrew
47489 Ms Gartland, Dorothea Susan
46431 Mr Goodman, Alexander David Edmund
40822 Miss Greaney, Nicola Clare
40394 Mr Green, Garry Anthony
35693 Mr Grieves, Edward James
46760 Mr Horne, James Michael
23979 Mr Jarman, Mark
53340 Mr Jones, Michael David
42189 Mrs Karaiskos, Maria
46308 Mr Lask, Benjamin Bela David
46879 Mr Lavy, Matthew Montague
36408 Mr Lennon, John
24653 Mr Leonard, James
34786 Mr Lewis, Jonathan Mark
21818 Mr Lewis, Meyric
42670 Ms MacLynn, Claire Louise
393501 Mr McClure, Michael John
52684 Mr McCourt Fritz, Daniel William
Applicants recommended for appointment 2022
37878 Mr Middleton, Joseph
42888 Ms Misra, Eleena
49661 Miss Morris, Anna
53417 Mr Morrison, Craig David
47029 Ms Motraghi, Nadia Artemis
40197 Miss Mulholland, Helen Maureen
15941 Ms Murphy, Fiona Clare
32271 Miss Murray, Judith Rowena
47388 Mr Newton, Benjamin
49276 Ms Ní Ghrálaigh, Blinne Nessa Áine
45145 Miss Nolten, Sonia Jayne
57267 Ms Omeri, Sheryn
40343 Ms Paget, Henrietta Frances
45335 Ms Paterson, Fiona
52720 Mr Pearce, Luke Ricardo
39289 Mr Peters, Edward James Hedley
37509 Miss Phipps, Sarah Elizabeth
57539 Mr Piccinin, Daniel Peter Clement
51894 Ms Piercy, Catherine
36056 Mr Pliener, David Jonathan
37163 Miss Prager, Sarah
45841 Ms Prince, Laura Margaret
44696 Ms Reed, Lucy Emma
35901 Mr Rees, Christopher Lloyd
22445 Mr Reeve, Matthew Francis
40464 Ms Reindorf, Anna Katerina Awurakua
49817 Mr Richards, Thomas Alexander
34605 Mr Rose, Stephen Paul
44069 Mr Roy, Andrew Robert
30817 Ms Ruck, Mary Ida
42759 Mr Rule, Philip David
44461 Ms Sabic, Irena
31642 Mr Seddon, Duran
37247 Miss Shannon, Nicola Elizabeth Jane
44901 Mr Shaw, Benjamin Christopher
33072 Mr Simkin, Iain
36636 Mr Singh, Talbir
47872 Dr Smith, Henry Forbes
48532 Mr Spencer, Shaun Anthony
50369 Miss Sutton, Emma Naomi
42339 Mr Thomas, Michael James
39004 Mr Troup, Alexander William
45856 Miss van Overdijk, Claire Orit
45662 Miss Wade, Rebecca Lucy
48431 Mr Webb, William Rupert Nicholas
67261 Ms Welsh, Angeline Marie
45376 Ms Whitelaw, Francesca Lucy Kaye
41385 Mr Williams, Guy Donald Irwin
38700 Mr Worsley, Nicholas Frederick Avery