Appointments

Listings of all our members notable appointments this month

Master Navinchandra Ramgoolam (The Hon Navin Ramgoolam GCSK FRCP) was elected Prime Minister of Mauritius in November 2024.

Master Heidi Stonecliffe (Heidi Stonecliffe KC) has been elected as the Vice Chair of the Bar Council in 2026 and will become the first employed barrister to take up the post in its 132-year history.

Master James Dingemans (The Rt Hon Lord Justice Dingemans) has been appointed as the Senior President of Tribunals.

Master Ian Dove (The Rt Hon Lord Justice Dove) has been appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal.

Master Juliet May (The Hon Mrs Justice Juliet May DBE) has been appointed a Lady Justice of Appeal. She has also been appointed as Chair of the Sentencing Council for England and Wales, with effect from Monday 6 October 2025. 

Master Kate Brunner (The Hon Mrs Justice Brunner) has been appointed to the High Court, King’s Bench Division, with effect from 17 November 2025. 

The Hon Mr Justice Coppel (Jason Coppel KC) has been appointed to the High Court, King’s Bench Division, with effect from 12 January 2026.

Master Julian Flaux (The Rt Hon Sir Julian Flaux) retires as the Chancellor of the High Court with effect from 1 November 2025.

Master Nicholas Lavender (The Hon Mr Justice Lavender) has been appointed to be the President of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber of the Upper Tribunal with effect from 2 October 2025, in succession to Master Ian Dove (The Hon Mr Justice Dove), who stood down from the role on 1 October 2025.

Master Jonathan Swift (The Hon Mr Justice Jonathan Swift) has been appointed the Chairman of Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission (POAC) & Pathogens Access Appeal Commission. His appointment took effect on 15 October 2025.

Master Samantha Leigh (Her Honour Judge Leigh) has been appointed as Resident Judge at Ipswich Crown Court for a period of four years commencing from 16 November 2025.

Her Honour Judge McCabe (Louise McCabe) has been appointed to be a Senior Circuit Judge, Designated Family Judge, based at Birmingham Civil & Family Justice Centre, with effect from 1 December 2025.

His Honour Judge McGovern (Seán McGovern) has been appointed to be a Circuit Judge, based on the Midland Circuit, based at Warwick Crown Court, with effect from 31 October 2025. 

Her Honour Judge Denise Saunders has been appointed to be a Circuit Judge, based on the South Eastern Circuit, based at West London Family Court, with effect from 21 November 2025.