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02 January 2026
Issue: 8144 / Categories: Legal News , Profession
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Lawyers feature in New Year Honours List

Former Law Society president, I Stephanie Boyce has been awarded a CBE for services to the legal profession, diversity and access to justice, in HM The King’s New Year Honours List 2026

Boyce, who made history by becoming the Law Society’s first Black president and first person of colour president, led the team at Chancery Lane from March 2021 to October 2022.

CBEs also went to Judge Patrick Peruško, designated family judge at the Family Drug and Alcohol Court, and, north of the border, Lady Rita Rae, solicitor, advocate, former sheriff at Glasgow and former judge at the Court of Session.

Paul Lewis, firmwide managing partner, Linklaters, received an OBE for his work with Business in the Community in Newport.

In a LinkedIn post, Lewis said he was ‘extremely proud’ to receive the award, which ‘recognises the collective work of many’, and had been privileged to ‘help tackle poverty, unlock new opportunities for skill development and to position Newport as a beacon of economic development while protecting its natural assets’.

He recommended that any CEO join a Business in the Community Seeing is Believing (SIB) programme—‘I can attest that it is genuinely life-changing.’ The programme connects senior business leaders with communities to support growth across the UK.

OBEs also went to Judge Jeff Blackett, a former Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces, and to corporate lawyer Barry O’Brien, who was a partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer before moving in-house.

Judge Jeff Blackett, a rugby player and judicial officer in three Rugby World Cups, received his award for services to justice and to charitable causes. O’Brien, a former Glamorgan chairman and chair of the England and Wales Cricket Board, received his award for services to the law, to cricket and to charity.

Issue: 8144 / Categories: Legal News , Profession
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