Welsh Government Advocates

The Counsel General to the Welsh Government, Mick Antoniw AM, has announced 18 new appointments to the Welsh Government’s Panel of approved counsel to provide advocacy and advisory work for the Welsh Government. 

All 18 appointees have been appointed following an open recruitment competition earlier this year. More than 70 advocates expressed interest in the posts. The appointments are for a period of four years initially, but with the possibility of extension at the Counsel General’s discretion. Members of the Panel continue to practise independently.

The successful candidates comprise an additional six Queen’s Counsel, three Junior Counsel for appointment to the A Panel (for counsel with 10 or more years’ practice) and nine Junior Counsel for appointment to the B Panel (for counsel with fewer than 10 years’ practice).

The new appointees

The new QC appointees are: Andrew Henshaw QC (Brick Court Chambers); Paul Hopkins QC (Nine Park Place Chambers); Gregory Jones QC (Francis Taylor Building); Jonathan Moffett QC (11 King’s Bench Walk); George Peretz QC (Monckton Chambers); and Ian Rogers QC (Monckton Chambers).

The Junior Counsel Panel A appointees are: Shakil Najib (No 5 Chambers); Matthew Rees (Angel Chambers); and Matthew Slater (Ten Old Square Chambers).

The Junior Counsel Panel B appointees are: Rhys Davies (Nine Park Place Chambers); Joseph Edwards (Nine Park Place Chambers); Christian Howells (Thirty Park Place Chambers); Owain James (Civitas Chambers); Laura John (Monckton Chambers) (pictured); Thomas Leary (20 Essex Street Chambers); Conor McCarthy (Monckton Chambers); Ravi Metha (Blackstone Chambers); and Heather Sargent (Landmark Chambers).

Announcing the appointments, Mick Antoniw AM said: ‘I have been encouraged by the quality of the applications received and am delighted to announce these appointments. 

‘I know that the very experienced and talented Counsel who have been successful in being appointed to the Panel will give the Welsh Government access to an independent pool of considerable legal expertise and experience across the breadth of Welsh Government activity.’

Appointment to the Panel is open to both barristers with a tenancy and solicitors with the required rights of audience. Criteria for the role included experience of advocacy in the higher courts, experience in constitutional and administrative law, knowledge of the devolution settlement in Wales and of divergences between the law in England and in Wales, experience of working for or against the government or other public bodies and an appreciation of the particular characteristics of government litigation.