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It has been done in the health service, the media and the City. Professionals
— lawyers included — are increasingly victims of league tables. So braving
the ire of that most litigious of groups, today The Times Law section offers
its own list.
Our Law 100 aims to be different: it is not a list of excellence, popularity
or media mentions — although these can be factors. So it’s not just big
names or brilliant stars (take comfort, those excluded). Instead, we tried
to select the most powerful and influential within the law today — in the
judiciary, private practice, in-house, public sector or politics.
How to measure power and influence — who really has clout? Should all senior
judges automatically make the list? We agreed that there had to be both
power and influence: some people hold powerful positions but their influence
may be minimal. Conversely some judges or top lawyers make little impact.
Power and influence in the law go beyond the judiciary. Who are the driving
forces at the big City law firms, the generators of billion-pound revenues —
the dealmakers who command most respect? And is the in-house solicitor, with
power to bring a test case, more powerful than the barristers who win it or
the judge who decides it? And what of those in the backrooms, the unseen
lawyers driving the policy cogs of government?
We had in mind such factors as whether contenders can influence public or
political opinion, or the strategy or policy of a big firm, company or
government; whether they can shape or apply the law in a way that affects
many people; whether they are respected, feared or emulated or contributed
to the strength and quality of UK legal services.
Our own judging panel was excluded and also non-lawyers, disqualifying some
key regulators. As for lawyers with careers largely outside the law, they
were ruled out — except where their contribution is the law itself — such as
Jack Straw. We also disqualified legal giants like Anthony Salz, who have
moved to other work.
Many outstanding lawyers do not make the list. Those who do are either
indisputably rated at the top, being first port of call for clients on the
wrong side of the law, facing divorce or libelled — and/or combine that
excellence with other criteria (contacts, writing, politics) to put them
apart from rivals. Nor did many women feature: a reflection of their paucity
at the top of the law. City lawyers also fare less well than higher-profile
colleagues in areas such as judicial review. There is no business lawyer in
the Top Ten — which reflects the panel’s view that unlike their US
counterparts who are often leading voices on social or policy issues, no
City lawyer had a broad enough influence to be in the Top Ten.
Of course, the list is subjective. There was heated debate to whittle down a
long list to 100. Polite insults were traded. The Top Ten — and their
placings — are probably most contentious of all. But the final result is a
democratic verdict.
As for the top slot, a case can be made for the Secretary of State for
Justice. But as one panellist put it: “Jack Straw occupies a powerful
position and his will can often prevail. But his power and influence are
more as a politician than a lawyer . . . and often results from consultation
with many others. By contrast, Tom Bingham, a man of remarkable intellect,
had an entirely personal influence at the highest level across a huge range
of subjects — affecting the lives of millions of people.”
So here it is. Please e-mail in comments and criticisms — and names. You can
contact us here
or fill out a form here.
And don’t forget: if others should be in, who comes out? Stand by for the
brickbats.
The
judging panel | Tell
us what you think
THE TIMES LAW 100
Click on each of the names to read profiles
The Top Ten
1. Lord
Bingham of Cornhill, senior law lord
2. Jack
Straw, Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor
3. Lord
Phillips of Worth Matravers, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
4. Sir
Ken Macdonald, Director of Public Prosecutions
5. Sir
Igor Judge, Senior criminal judge in England and Wales
6. Baroness
Hale of Richmond, law lord
7. Lord
Carlile of Berriew, Liberal Democrat peer and terrorism watchdog
8. Phil
Shiner, human rights and public lawyer
9. Shami
Chakrabarti, director of Liberty
10. Keith
Schilling, media lawyer
And the rest, in alphabetical order . . .
Professor
Andrew Ashworth, QC, criminologist
Vera Baird, QC, Solicitor-General
Sir Gerald Barling, QC, president of the Competition Appeal Tribunal
Michael Beloff, QC, public and sports barrister
Guy Beringer, senior partner, Allen & Overy
Daniel Bethlehem, QC, legal adviser to the Foreign Office
Nigel Boardman, corporate lawyer
Rupert Bondy, general counsel, BP
Sir Nicholas Bratza, Vice-president of the European Court of Human Rights
Bruce
Buck, Chelsea chairman and securities lawyer
Theodore Burke, chief executive, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Michael Caplan, QC, criminal solicitor
David Cheyne, senior partner, Linklaters
David Childs, managing partner, Clifford Chance
Sir Anthony Clarke, Master of the Rolls
Philip Collins, chairman, Office of Fair Trading
Stefan Cross, employment lawyer
Judge Keith Cutler, honorary secretary, Council of Circuit Judges
Martyn Day, personal injury lawyer
Timothy Dutton, QC, chairman of the Bar Council
Lord Justice Dyson, Court of Appeal judge
Mr Justice Eady, High Court judge
Steve Edge, tax lawyer
Sir Terence Etherton, chairman of the Law Commission
Edward Fitzgerald, QC, human rights barrister
Richard Fleck, corporate lawyer and auditors regulator
Michael Francies, private equity lawyer
Bradley Gans, European general counsel, Citigroup
Janet Gaymer, Commissioner for Public Appointments
Lord Grabiner, QC, commercial barrister
Professor Malcolm Grant, provost and president, University College London
David Greenwald, international general counsel, Goldman Sachs
Professor
Christopher Greenwood, QC, international law barrister and academic
Dominic Grieve, shadow Attorney-General
Lady Justice Hallett, Court of Appeal judge
Lord Hamilton, Lord President, senior judge in Scotland
Mark Harding, general counsel, Barclays
Sue Hemming, head of counter-terrorism, Crown Prosecution Service
Baroness
Higgins, president of the International Court of Justice
Lord
Hoffmann, law lord
Andrew Holroyd, president of the Law Society
Lord Hope of Craighead, law lord
Des Hudson, chief executive of the Law Society
Lord Hunt of Wirral, Conservative peer
Anthony Inglese, general counsel, HMRC
Paul Jenkins, Treasury Solicitor
Jeffrey Jowell, QC, public barrister and academic
Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws, QC, barrister, writer and Labour peer
Sir Sydney Kentridge, QC, elder statesman of the Bar
Imran
Khan, human rights solicitor
Sir Brian Kerr, Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland
Nigel Knowles, chief executive of DLA Piper
Charles Lawton, legal adviser, Rio Tinto
Lord Lester of Herne Hill, Liberal Democrat peer and architect of human
rights laws
Michael Mansfield, QC, public, criminal and human rights barrister
Peter Maynard, general counsel, Prudential and chair of the GC100
Miller McLean, general counsel, Royal Bank of Scotland
Konstantin Mettenheimer, co-senior partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus
Deringer
Terry Miller, general counsel, London 2012
David Morley, senior partner-elect, Allen & Overy
Sir Andrew Morritt, senior Chancery judge
Nicholas Mostyn, QC, divorce barrister
Lord
Neuberger of Abbotsbury, law lord
David Pannick, QC, public and human rights barrister
Diana Parker, family lawyer
David Perry, QC, criminal barrister
Gareth Pierce, criminal and human rights solicitor
Stuart Popham, senior partner, Clifford Chance
Sir Mark Potter, president of the Family Division of the High Court
Laurence Rabinowitz, QC, commercial barrister
Sir Christopher Rose, Chief Surveillance Commissioner
Richard Rosenthal, European general counsel, Morgan Stanley
Joshua Rozenberg, legal editor of The Daily Telegraph
Philip Sales, QC, first Treasury counsel (common law)
Nigel Savage, chief executive of the College of Law
Sir Konrad Schiemann, judge on the European Court of Justice
Baroness Scotland of Asthal, QC, Attorney-General
David Seymour, senior legal adviser to the Home Office
Fiona Shackleton, family lawyer
Eleanor Sharpston, QC, advocate-general at the European Court of Justice
Mark Stephens, media lawyer
Jonathan Sumption, QC, commercial barrister
Richard Thomas, Information Commissioner
Geoffrey Vos, QC, commercial barrister
John Wadham, legal director of Equality and Human Rights Commission
Dame Juliet Wheldon, legal adviser to the Governor of the Bank of England
Andrew Whittaker, general counsel, Financial Services Authority
Stephen Williams, general counsel, Unilever
Tony Williams, legal management consultant
Lord Woolf of Barnes, former Lord Chief Justice
Vikram, How can this be evidence of racism? Surely we have to look at the number of ethnic minorities in the country and then consider whether they are proportionately represented in the legal system. I am not saying the British Legal system isn't racist, but you need to base assertions on fact.
Mark , Manchester,
This is so funny!Look at the state of the country, these guys create nothing and build nothing.Britain is finished, its sad.
What about the engineers, scientists et al who really make a country powerful, lol, dont worry these guys will beg for jobs in the now fast developing nations in the end :-)
Alex, Sussex, UK
Shami Chakrabarti is exquisitely beautiful! Ay ya yi ya yi!!!
She wins on the basis of beauty alone!
Rich, proud lawyers on a sinking ship: All that brainpower...and Britain is in such a mess! When are they going to take serious, intelligent action on the Nation's very severe problems???
Garth Rex, Glendale Heights, USA
What about Rumpole of the Bailey?
Bob, Leeds,
I am surprised that you have you not included Lord Justice Carnwath, former Chairman of the Law Commission and the trailblazing Senior President of Tribunals. Both these posts carry enormous "influence" within judicial and parliamentary circles.
In my opinion, another regrettable omission.
John Edwards, Worcester Park, UK
Shami Chakrabarti's inclusion is, as others have noted, puzzling. Liberty simply don't engage in the debate over the Family Courts in England and Wales. That hopeless failing is being noted by more people almost daily, to the point that someone is going to ask about it on Question Time or worse.
Kevin Brennan, London, UK
Well I am surprised that Michael Guy, solicitor and consultant (Greenwoods of Bristol) who was apparently a founder Examiner of the Law Society's - Personal Injury Panel isn't on the illustrious list working as he does, soly for the benefit of - Insurance Companies. Most surprised...
Dennis, Plymouth, Devon, UK
I agree with Richard, Horley. Whenever we at the charity National Society for Children and Family Contact have tried to make contact with Shami Chakrabarti re the lack of liberty in family law, not once has she or anyone else from Liberty replied and begs the question, why is she so selective?
Mike Ellis, Bideford, UK
well Jim you cant compare asians living in this country to caucasians not living and participating in the social life there in asian countries. Asians here are part of this society and are citizens of this country. They are participating actively and making contributions towards its development.
Tufail, Birmingham, UK
Times are changing - Brian McMillan, Director General of the Society of Will Writers and Estate Planning Practioners probably can't call himself a lawyer, but he is responsible for Regulation 75% of Professional Will Writers - around 2,000 in all.
Steve Pett, Eastbourne, England
considering that this is not an asian country vikram has nothing to complain about how many caucasian
judges are there in india and other countries near to it
jim, edinburgh,
No doubt as gratifying as it is surprising to Shami Chakrabarti, who like most of us will be wondering why if she has so much power we're still fighting 48-day internment.
richard, horley,
Where is Judge Jeffreys? We need a judge like him to instill some fear and respect into todays decadent society.
A R Llewelyn, Newport, UK
What about Judge Dredd?
Dave, Truro,
To Stephen from Liverpool:
Lords Denning and Goddard are both dead; thus, though their judgements still have influence (for better or worse, certainly in the case of the former...), they cannot currently said to be powerful...
Hal, London,
What about Dr Edward Lestrade? His work in human rights has improved the life of many people in Europe. He continues to work in the background tirelessly in the field of civil liberties, abuse of powers of the state, medical law. C'mon, the list is a list of Freemasons and their mates :)).
John Knowles, Attorney at Law, Brussels,
did i miss cherie bliar and michael mansfield?
bill40, blackpool/nanning, uk/china
What about the great Lord Denning or the great Lord Raynor Goddard?
Stephen, Liverpool, England\
Rt. Hon. Elish Angiolini, QC? Lord Advocate for Scotland.
After all, she's only in charge of an entire legal system...
Iain, Glasgow,
What a strange list. Shouldn't it just say:
- The Lords of Appeal in Ordinary
- The Lords Justices of Appeal
- The High Court Judges.
Adds up to more than 100, I know, but surely more accurate than a random list of vaguely famous practitioners?
Tony, London,
Where is Lord Justice Sedley?
Gemma, London,
Lists and awards.
Does anyone care?
I think not.
Neil, Newport, England
I see just 2 Asians on the list, just goes to show how racist our legal system is
Vikram, London,
as always only about 12 women on this list. the percentage of women being recruited into magic circle firms and the like is now around 60-70%. see this list in 10 years time and you'd hope there'll be far more women on there.
emily, brighton,
Interesting, but perhaps not surprising, that of the top 100 lawyers only twelve are women. I am encouraged, though, that two of those twelve are in the top ten.
Sara, Oxfordshire
Sara Langton, Henley, United Kingdom
Robin Allen QC?
Michael Rubenstein?
K N Leung, Norwich,
I agree with Anthony, of Acton. Common citizens posess legal,constitutional and personal prerogative executive power to say " no thanks, I can find an alternative" when faced with life's lawful choices. Thus, we have an equal if not predominant stake in any power to bring a test case, in my opinion.
Mrs.Josephine Hyde-Hartley, Bacup, UK
This seems to me to be a list of the most high-profile, attention seeking lawyers, as opposed to lawyers with "power". Not that I agree with the criteria for power anyway. The whole thing is rather nebulous. Why is this country so concerned with rankings? Is there really a place for it in the law?
James, London,
What about law commissioners? Surely those chaps have some pretty impressive clout, more so than the average litigator. It's not all about fees and column inches.
Laurence, Edinburgh, Scotland
I'm surprised that Mr Justice Deed hasn't made it onto there, considering the current social climate. Plus, in a way, he has helped to create a certain image of the legal system.
Richard Fox, Cottingham, East Yorkshire
I am surprised to see that neither Sir Douglas Berry nor Lord Vivian Picton have made it onto the list. Both significantly influential within their respective fields- Legal skills and methods and the law of mining for pot noodles.
Richard Main, The Tref, Essex!
Where is Sir Henry Hodge in your list?
H Edmonds, Bromley,
I'd expect better from The Times. Why this national obsession with lists? The 100 greatest comedy moments, the 50 greatest film stars... It's a substitute for real information. The fact is, there are no powerful lawyers. There must be a more useful way of filling column inches.
Jon Grunewald, London, UK
Employment law is an important element in today's legal system and in the lives of ordinary working people as well as employers. However, no Employment Tribunal Chairman, Regional Chairman or President of the Employment Tribunals is on the list
Marjorie H Don, London,
I am a commercial lawyer and think martin from perterborough has missed the point. This list represents the people who are important in changing and shaping the law and helping to run powerful industry . Human rights lawyers are just as important as commerical lawyers.
katie, london,
What a load of rubbish.
Which idiotic researcher compiled this dross?
Simon, London,
an interesting and rather eclectic list with probably more debatable omissions than inclusions and, is so often the case with such lists, an insufficient concentration on the truly excellent solicitors who day in day out assist their clients, and the legal system, with life-changing and precedent-setting decisions.
Sue Stapely, London,
So a lawyer who just happens to be well known for being on the Board of a well known football club has more clout than the President of the Employment Appeal Tribunal?
Gary , London, UK
Why aren't I on the list ?
Anthony, Acton
Anthony, Acton, UK
Des Hudson? He's a complete joke and is running the Law Society into the ground...
Jay, London,
You say 'We agreed that there had to be both power and influence: some people hold powerful positions but their influence may be minimal. Conversely some judges or top lawyers make little impact.' I get it all but the 'conversely'.
Tom Hervey, Leamington Spa,
what about frederick orlinski??? he should top that list!!!
mabd, london,
A list which might carry more credence had it recognised that Lord Bingham, at no 1, is on the verge of retirement and his replacement has already been announced...
Jonathan, London,
Well out - shows a distinct bias towards Human Rights lawyers, these are not 'important' to the extent that others are to the vast majority of ordinary or business people..no LJ Lockhart Mummery, no Nicholas Cheffings...no this list is not right.
Martin, Peterborough,