Announcements
Appointments
July 23, 2026
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Listings of all our members notable appointments this month
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.
The following members were awarded OBEs in the King’s Birthday Honours List:
Stephen Akinsanya, for services to the Prevention of Knife Crime and Youth Violence.
Kate Aubrey-Johnson, for services to Children and the Youth Justice System.
Estelle Dehon KC, for services to Environmental Law.
Harry Matovu KC, for services to Business and to the Legal Profession.
Hilary Ryan, for services to Law and Order.
Mr Justice Waksman (David Waksman) has been appointed Judge in Charge of the Commercial Court. This is a two year appointment that runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2028.
His Honour Judge Farquhar (Stuart Farquhar) retires as a Circuit Judge with effect from 6 June 2026.
His Honour Judge Hale (Sean Hale) retires as a Circuit Judge with effect from 10 June 2026.
Master Andrew Menary (His Honour Judge Menary KC DL) retires as a Senior Circuit Judge with effect from 4 July 2026.
His Honour Judge Mann KC (Jonathan Mann) has been appointed as Resident Judge at St Albans Crown Court for a period of four years commencing from 24 July 2026.
His Honour Judge Jonathan Owen has been appointed as the Designated Civil Judge for Nottinghamshire & Derby with effect from 18 July 2026.
District Judge Cowley (Saorise Cowley) has been appointed to be a District Judge, assigned to the North Eastern Circuit, based at Wakefield Civil and Family Justice Centre, with effect from 13 July 2026.
District Judge Falder (Katherine Falder) has been appointed to be a District Judge assigned to the Northern Circuit, based at Preston County Court, with effect from 9 November 2026.
District Judge Gamble (Helen Gamble) has been appointed to be a District Judge, assigned to the North Eastern Circuit, based at Teesside Combined Court Centre, with effect from 15 June 2026.
District Judge Handa (Radhika Handa) has been appointed to be a District Judge, assigned to the South Eastern Circuit, based at East London Family Court, with effect from 1 July 2026.
District Judge Woodcock (James Woodcock) has been appointed to be a District Judge, assigned to the Northern Circuit, based at Liverpool Civil and Family Court, with effect from 20 July 2026.
Employment Judge Watton (Lydia Watton) has been appointed to be a Salaried Employment Judge of the Employment Tribunals, assigned to the London Central Region with effect from 1 June 2026.
Darryl Balroop
Sharon Beattie
Aneurin Brewer
Simon Cooper
Christine Egerton
Matthew Fiddy
Michael Haggar
Victoria Hajba-Ward
Laura Hocknell
Harriet Johnson
Claire Mullarkey
David Outterside
Louise Price
Yusuf Solley
Nicholas Tucker
Simon Ward
