Three solicitors known for their work on human rights are among nine honorary King’s Counsel named today. The awards, for individuals who have made a major contribution to the law of England and Wales, outside practice in the courts, will be presented by the lord chancellor in March.
The nine new honorary KCs are:
Martin Dixon, professor of the law of real property at the University of Cambridge, where he is also director of the Cambridge Centre for Property Law. He was nominated for his work on property law through his scholarship, co-authorship of leading practitioner texts, and participation in Law Commission projects.
Rebecca Hilsenrath, interim parliamentary and health service ombudsman and a former legal adviser to the attorney general, chief executive of LawWorks. She has also served as chief executive and chief legal officer of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. She was nominated for her efforts in promoting diversity in panel counsel appointments for the government and at the EHRC, increasing pro bono contributions in the legal sector, and leading international legal engagement in equality and human rights.
Rachel Horman-Brown, a solicitor focused on cases involving domestic abuse, stalking, coercive control, and forced marriage. She leads the family Willmandepartment at Watson Ramsbottom Solicitors. She is also the Chair of Paladin, the National Stalking Advocacy Service. She was nominated for her campaigning for policy and legislative changes around stalking, domestic abuse, and violence against women and girls. In addition, for her work with Paladin, where she shaped legislation, including for the creation of coercive control as a specific criminal offence. She has also provided evidence to parliamentary committees and advisory groups, thereby influencing police practices and approaches to trauma.
Dr Laura Janes, a solicitor specialising in complex cases involving people detained in the criminal justice and mental health systems. As legal director at the Howard League for Penal Reform from 2016 to 2022, she led a legal service for young people in custody and spearheaded challenges against practices such as solitary confinement. She is a consultant solicitor at GT Stewart Solicitors and Scott-Moncrieff and Associates. She was nominated for her contributions to the legal profession promoting access to justice, her work to drive policy changes, representing vulnerable individuals in prison, advocating for the rights of children and young people in custody and reforms to the IPP sentence.
Susanna McGibbon, head of the government legal profession. The employed barrister is current Treasury solicitor, HM procurator general and permanent secretary of the Government Legal Department. Her previous roles include serving as director of GLD Litigation Group, legal director at the Department for Communities and Local Government and legal director at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. McGibbon was nominated for her legal advice on complex and sensitive issues within government especially in public and administrative law and national security. Also, for her leadership in a range of high-profile cases and inquiries and for her advocacy for diversity and inclusion across the legal profession.
Professor Renato Nazzini, a legal scholar focusing on competition law, commercial arbitration, and construction law. He is the director of the Centre of Construction Law and Dispute Resolution at King’s College London and a partner at LMS Legal LLP. He was nominated for his contributions to competition law by developing policies on collective actions and abuse of dominance, influencing the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the 2008 European Commission Guidance on Article 102. He has also contributed to construction law, including by leading the Centre of Construction Law and Dispute Resolution at King’s College London, producing reports on construction adjudication and promoting diversity within the field.
Susan (Sue) Willman, a solicitor specialising in public interest litigation, focusing on human rights, environmental justice, and migrants’ rights. She is a senior consultant at legal aid firm, Deighton Pierce Glynn, and has led cases addressing systemic social and environmental injustices. She is also a senior lecturer at the Dickson Poon School of Law, King’s College, London. She is a former chair of the Law Society Human Rights Committee. Willman was nominated for founding the Asylum Support Appeals Project (ASAP), providing free representation to destitute asylum-seekers.
Douglas Wilson OBE, head of the Attorney General’s Office. He has previously held positions such as director of legal affairs and international relations at GCHQ and legal director at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He was nominated for advising on issues such as Brexit, military operations, and intelligence cooperation, which shaped the law on the use of military force, cyberspace, and investigatory powers. Furthermore, he has promoted effective and inclusive legal practice within government.
Adrian Zuckerman, emeritus professor of civil procedure at the University of Oxford and emeritus Fellow of University College, Oxford. He has influenced legislative policy and judicial practice, notably through contributions to the Woolf Report on Access to Justice, and the Jackson Review of Civil Litigation Costs. He has campaigned for improving access to court and for making justice available to all at proportionate cost. His work on criminal evidence refocused evidence scholarship around fundamental normative principles. Zuckerman was nominated for his contributions to the Civil Procedure Rules in England and Wales.
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