New Queen’s Counsel welcomed by Lord Chancellor

Her Majesty The Queen has approved the appointment of 101 barristers and solicitors as new Queen’s Counsel (QC) in England and Wales. The title of QC is awarded to those who have demonstrated particular skill and expertise in the conduct of advocacy.

Her Majesty has also approved the appointment of 8 new Honorary Queen’s Counsel (QC Honoris Causa). Their biographies are listed below. Honorary QCs 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 21 March 2022, where he will formally bestow the title of QC upon the successful applicants and award the honorary QCs.

Lord Chancellor & Justice Secretary, Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP said:

I’m delighted today to announce this year’s QC awards.

I want to congratulate all recipients of this title on their forthcoming appointments and awards. The award of QC is highly sought after, and the expertise and eminence of this year’s pool is testament to the excellence of our world-leading legal sector.

BIOGRAPHIES OF HONORARY QUEENS COUNSEL

• Jeffrey Golden

  Jeffrey Golden is a UK-based US Attorney, academic and a non-barrister joint head of chambers. His ground-breaking and innovative work in the swaps and the derivatives field, with his role in the creation of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) Master Agreement and the ISDA protocol, has led him to be considered as one of the principal architects of the capital markets. Jeffrey has made an outstanding contribution to London’s development and recognition as an international legal centre and in supporting new entrants into the profession.

• Elizabeth Wilmshurst CMG

  Elizabeth Wilmshurst CMG is a solicitor, distinguished Fellow of Chatham House and an Academic Expert member of Doughty Street Chambers. She is recognised internationally for her outstanding contribution in the field of public international law, and particularly in the influential role she played in the establishment of the International Criminal Court. Elizabeth is also the founder of the International Law Programme at Chatham House and was Visiting Professor in International Criminal Law at University College London.

• Camilla Parker

  Camilla Parker, a solicitor, legal academic and member of the Law Society’s Mental Health and Disability Committee, is recognised for her excellent contribution to the fields of mental health and mental capacity law, in particular the development of law and policy relating to the mental health care of children and young people. Her book on adolescent mental health care and the law addresses a highly complex area of law and is regarded as the authoritative handbook for judges, practitioners and health and social care professionals across England and Wales.

• Alexandra Gay Beldam

  Alexandra Gay Beldam is the Registrar of the Court of Appeal Criminal Division (CACD), and roundly considered to be an unsung hero of the justice system. She has made an outstanding contribution to the law of England and Wales through her work on the functioning of the CACD, in particular having led the court’s transition from paper to digital documents for judges and advocates, as well as her writing of the definitive practitioner’s guide to the CACD. In addition to the impact her work has had on the functioning of the CACD and delivery of justice nationally, she is recognised for her contributions to supporting the overall running of the court during the Covid-19 pandemic.

• Professor David Hodson OBE

  Professor David Hodson OBE is a family law solicitor, mediator, arbitrator, Deputy Judge and is widely regarded as a leader in his field for his many contributions to family law practice. He is recognised for his outstanding work on developing England’s family law arbitration, directive mediation, family accreditation and plain English good practice codes, encouraging out-of-court settlement and accessibility to the law. He has written the leading text on international family law and co-founded innovative law firms combining lawyers, mediators and counsellors to serve international families.

• Alexander Ruck Keene

  Alexander Ruck Keene is a barrister and Visiting Professor at King’s College London, recognised as a leading authority on mental capacity law.  He has played a key role in reforming both the Mental Capacity Act and the Mental Health Act, having worked on the Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty project at the Law Commission and acted as the legal advisor to the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act. In his role as lawyer and educator, he has played a significant role in supporting health and social care professionals understand and apply the Mental Capacity Act in different contexts, including during the Covid-19 pandemic.

• Professor Duncan Fairgrieve

  Professor Duncan Fairgrieve is a legal academic and is internationally recognised as an expert in comparative law. His work has impacted reform of tort law and his academic contribution to comparative law and lecturing overseas has shaped debate and promoted UK legal services internationally. He made an exceptional contribution to the response to the Covid-19 crisis through his work on the legal issues surrounding emergency medicines and the Covid-19 vaccine.

• Andrea Coomber

  Andrea Coomber is a solicitor and barrister specialised in international human rights law. Until September 2021 she was the Director of JUSTICE and is now the Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform. Her eight-year leadership of JUSTICE saw ground-breaking work across civil, criminal and administrative justice, including on online courts, mental health, racialised justice and judicial diversity. She has been instrumental in shaping public debate and developing the law and practice in these and other complex areas of law.

Notes to editors

• The list of 2020 to 2021 Queen’s Counsel appointments
• QCs are appointed by The Queen, on the advice of the Lord Chancellor. He is in turn advised by an independent Selection Panel which receives and considers each application and makes recommendations as to appointment.
• Honorary QCs are also awarded by The Queen, on the advice of the Lord Chancellor. He is advised by panel of representatives from the legal profession, civil service, judiciary, and academia. More information about the purpose of the award can be found on GOV.UK.
• For further information, please contact the Ministry of Justice press office. Follow us @MoJGovUK.