*/
Former diplomat Sir Andrew Burns KCMG has been announced as the next Chair of the Bar Standards Board.
He succeeds Baroness Ruth Deech QC (Hon) on 1 January 2015, whose maximum two terms of office finish at the end of this year.
Sir Andrew has been the UK Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues since 2010 and is the 2014-15 Chair of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. His long career in the Diplomatic Service began in 1965, after graduating from Trinity College, Cambridge. He served as British High Commissioner to Canada from 2000 to 2003, British Consul-General in Hong Kong and Macau from 1997 to 2000 and was British Ambassador to Israel from 1992 to 1995. He has also been Press Secretary to three successive British Foreign Secretaries: Geoffrey Howe, John Major and Douglas Hurd. “I am very excited at the prospect of leading the BSB through the next stage of its journey to becoming a more modern and efficient regulator,” Sir Andrew said.
“I am committed to working with the Bar to help it modernise and flourish in the face of change, while maintaining quality standards and safeguarding the client.” Baroness Deech said: “These past six years as Chair of the BSB have been exciting, challenging, and rewarding. There has never been a dull moment throughout my tenure, and I shall look back on this period with great pride.” She said she looked forward to working with Sir Andrew – “whose career I hold in the highest regard” – to ensure a smooth transition over the next few months.
Sir Andrew was selected by an independent appointments panel chaired by Dr Kenneth Fleming and will be the third lay chair to head the regulator, now a Legal Services Board requirement. His experience extends to the education, finance, and cultural sectors. Sir Andrew was the final International Governor of the BBC; Chairman of Royal Holloway, University of London (2004-2011); and Chair of the Committee of University Chairs (2008-2011). He continues to chair Hestercombe Gardens Trust and the International Polar Foundation-UK and is a Governor of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Sir Andrew has been the UK Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues since 2010 and is the 2014-15 Chair of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. His long career in the Diplomatic Service began in 1965, after graduating from Trinity College, Cambridge. He served as British High Commissioner to Canada from 2000 to 2003, British Consul-General in Hong Kong and Macau from 1997 to 2000 and was British Ambassador to Israel from 1992 to 1995. He has also been Press Secretary to three successive British Foreign Secretaries: Geoffrey Howe, John Major and Douglas Hurd. “I am very excited at the prospect of leading the BSB through the next stage of its journey to becoming a more modern and efficient regulator,” Sir Andrew said.
“I am committed to working with the Bar to help it modernise and flourish in the face of change, while maintaining quality standards and safeguarding the client.” Baroness Deech said: “These past six years as Chair of the BSB have been exciting, challenging, and rewarding. There has never been a dull moment throughout my tenure, and I shall look back on this period with great pride.” She said she looked forward to working with Sir Andrew – “whose career I hold in the highest regard” – to ensure a smooth transition over the next few months.
Sir Andrew was selected by an independent appointments panel chaired by Dr Kenneth Fleming and will be the third lay chair to head the regulator, now a Legal Services Board requirement. His experience extends to the education, finance, and cultural sectors. Sir Andrew was the final International Governor of the BBC; Chairman of Royal Holloway, University of London (2004-2011); and Chair of the Committee of University Chairs (2008-2011). He continues to chair Hestercombe Gardens Trust and the International Polar Foundation-UK and is a Governor of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Former diplomat Sir Andrew Burns KCMG has been announced as the next Chair of the Bar Standards Board.
He succeeds Baroness Ruth Deech QC (Hon) on 1 January 2015, whose maximum two terms of office finish at the end of this year.
Chair of the Bar Sam Townend KC highlights some of the key achievements at the Bar Council this year
Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management highlights some of the ways you can cut your IHT bill
Rachel Davenport breaks down everything you need to know about AlphaBiolabs’ industry-leading laboratory testing services for legal matters
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management sets out the key steps to your dream property
A centre of excellence for youth justice, the Youth Justice Legal Centre provides specialist training, an advice line and a membership programme
By Kem Kemal of Henry Dannell
Mark Neale, Director General of the Bar Standards Board, offers an update on the Equality Rules consultation
Joanna Hardy-Susskind speaks to those walking away from the criminal Bar
Imposing a professional obligation to act in a way that advances equality, diversity and inclusion is the wrong way to achieve this ambition, says Nick Vineall KC
Tom Cosgrove KC looks at the government’s radical planning reform and the opportunities and challenges ahead for practitioners
By Ashley Friday of AlphaBiolabs
