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Celebrating Diversity at the Bar

Edward Akufo-Addo 
Charlotte Boaitey-Kwarteng 
Taslim Olawale Elias QC LLD CFR GCON 
Sibghatullah Kadri QC 
Stella Thomas 
Thomas Morris Chester 
Dr Gifty Edila 

The Bar of England and Wales is home to some of the most accomplished and talented lawyers from across the globe. This brilliance owes much to the richness in diversity of the profession.

Introduction

Celebrating the diversity at the Bar and legal profession

Listings

1875 - 1950

Vallabhbhai Patel

Barrister, Activist and Statesman.

Dr Tunde Okewale MBE

Youngest member of The Inner Temple to be elected as a Bencher.

1834 - 1892

Thomas Morris Chester

American war correspondent, lawyer and soldier who took part in the American Civil War.

1904 – 1978

Teo Soon Kim

Singaporean barrister who became the first woman admitted to the Straits Settlement Bar, the first female barrister in Hong Kong, as well as the third Malayan Chinese woman to be a Barrister in England.

1914 - 1991

Taslim Olawale Elias QC LLD CFR GCON

Attorney-General and Chief Justice of Nigeria and a judge and President of the International Court of Justice

1906 - 1974

Stella Thomas

The first Black African woman to be called to the Bar, the first female magistrate in West Africa and the First Chief of the mid-western region in Nigeria.

1899 - 1959

The Honourable S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike

Fourth Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (1956 – 59)

1937 - 2021

Sibghatullah Kadri QC

Co-founder of the Society of Black Lawyers and Britain’s first Muslim QC.

1921 – 1980

Sir Seretse Khama GCB KBE

The first President of Botswana 1966 to 1980.

Dr S Chelvan

Globally recognised legal expert on refugee and human rights claims based on sexual or gender identity and expression.

1851 – 1930

Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan KCMG KC

Solicitor General and Tamil political leader in Sri Lanka.

Her Honour Patricia Dangor

First woman of Afro Caribbean heritage to be appointed to the Circuit Bench of England and Wales and first woman to sit on the Appeal Court for Bermuda.

1909 – 1987

Obafemi Awolowo

Nigerian nationalist and statesman who played a key role in Nigeria’s independence movement.

1933 - 1997

Moleleki Didwell Mokama

Botswana’s first African barrister who made his reputation at London’s famous criminal court, the Old Bailey.

Martin Forde KC

Independent Adviser to the Windrush Compensation Scheme about racial inequality in the UK, in immigration history and at the Bar.

Manjit Singh Gill KC

Assisted in the transformation of the Bar by promoting legislation prohibiting race discrimination against barristers.

1902 - 1962

Ma Pwa Hmee

First Burmese woman to be called to the Bar, first Burmese woman judge

Lily Tie Ten Quee

First woman in Jamaica to be called to the Bar.

Professor Leslie Thomas KC

The first Black Professor of Law in Gresham College’s 400-year history.

1927 - 2020

Leonard Woodley QC

First QC, Recorder of the Crown Court and Bencher of Afro-Caribbean heritage in the UK.

1901 - 1971

The Rt Hon The Lord Constantine MBE

Professional Cricketer, Activist, Britain’s first Black Peer and Middle Temple Honorary Bencher

1915 – 2014

Khushwant Singh

Barrister, diplomat, editor, novelist, poet, philosopher and columnist and one of the most dynamic figures in modern India.

Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo JSC CV

The first female justice of the Supreme Court in Ghana.

1866 – 1930

Joseph Ephraim Casely Hayford MBE

An inspiration for Ghana’s independence movement.

Dr Gifty Edila

First Black director of law in a council in England and Wales

1908 - 1973

Ezlynn Deraniyagala

First woman to be admitted to the Colombo Bar.

1919 - 2005

Dame Mary Eugenia Charles DBE

First female lawyer and first female Prime Minister in Dominica.

1908 – 1991

Sir Edward Richards

First Black Bermudian to head the government of Bermuda and the first Premier of Bermuda.

1821 - 1883

Reverend Cragg Haynes

Earliest known Black Middle Templar and one of the earliest formally trained Black clergymen.

1906 – 1979

Edward Akufo-Addo JSC

Second President of Ghana.

1905 - 1997

Coomee Rustom Dantra

First Burmese woman to be admitted to an Inn of Court.

Charlotte Boaitey-Kwarteng

Head of 12 Square Chambers

1928–2021

Sir Arthur Dion Hanna

Bahamian politician who served as the seventh Governor-General of the Bahamas from 2006 to 2012.

Ashitey Ollennu

The nickname “Judge” inspired this son of a Supreme Court Judge in Ghana to pursue a career in Law and become a barrister. He was to find himself being led by David Neuberger later to become Lord Neuberger and president of the Supreme Court and now is Head of Redemption Chambers, London.

1822 - 1883

Alexander Kennedy Isbister

First person of native American heritage to be admitted to the Bar.