Lord Grabiner QC—The University of Law

The University of Law (ULaw) has announced the appointment of Lord Grabiner QC as a non-executive director and President. Lord Grabiner took up his new role on 1st August 2015, ahead of the new academic year. 

As one of the country’s most prominent lawyers, Lord Grabiner will contribute to the oversight and future development of ULaw. He brings long experience as a distinguished barrister, having practiced continuously as a member and head of chambers of One Essex Court, where he represented large commercial and public sector clients. He has also served as Deputy High Court judge in the Chancery division and Commercial Court, and was the Treasurer of Lincoln’s Inn for 2013.

Lord Grabiner has been a life peer of the House of Lords since 1999. Educated in Central Foundation Boys’ School in Hackney, he graduated in 1966 with a Bachelors in Laws (LLB) from the London School of Economics (LSE), where he also completed a Masters of Laws (LLM) in 1967. 

As well as an experienced practitioner, he has had a significant career in academia. He lectured in Law at LSE and Queen Mary College, University of London, in the late 1960s and early 1970s. From 1998 until 2007, Lord Grabiner was Chairman of LSE’s Court of Governors. He is currently Master of Clare College, Cambridge.

The appointment was welcomed by the current staff, management and the board. 

Rt Hon David Blunkett, Chairman of ULaw, comments: “I am very pleased indeed that Lord Tony Grabiner has agreed to contribute his experience and wisdom to the board of ULaw and I look forward very much to drawing on his expertise in driving the University from strength to strength in the years to come. His long history and accumulated knowledge of the law and the legal profession will add to the range of talent which we now have round the table and will be of benefit to students and staff alike."

Dame Fiona Woolf CBE, Chancellor of ULaw, comments: “Lord Grabiner brings a wealth of experience and a widely recognised skill-set and reputation in legal practice to our university. His passion for law coupled with his desire to impart knowledge, both to our management team and in assisting with the direction of our academic focus, makes him the ideal President for our institution as we continue to put our students at the very heart of everything that we do. I would like to echo David’s comments and wish Lord Grabiner every success in his new role as our President.”

Lord Grabiner explains:“This is an exciting time in ULaw’s rich history and I am very delighted to take up this Board position—I look forward to working with the management team and also to imparting my knowledge to assist my academic colleagues continue to offer the very best learning experiences to the lawyers of the future. ULaw has an excellent market reputation and I will continue to uphold everything that makes ULaw the leading legal academic institution.”