Bar Members Appointed Temporary High Court Judges

Today sees Bar of Northern Ireland members David Scoffield QC, Stephen Shaw QC, Michael Humphreys QC, Karen Quinlivan QC and Gerald Simpson QC taking up office as Temporary High Court judges alongside Daniel Friedman QC. They were sworn into office before the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, Sir Declan Morgan, this morning in the Royal Courts of Justice in the presence of their friends, families and colleagues.

Bar Council Chair Sarah Ramsey BL offered her congratulations:

“As Chair of the Bar Council I would like to congratulate our fellow Bar members David, Stephen, Michael, Karen and Gerald, plus Daniel, on their appointments as Temporary High Court Judges. I have worked closely with them over a number of years through the Bar Council and its Committees and have always been struck by their commitment to justice and the rule of law so today’s appointments are a well-deserved honour. We will continue to see them regularly in the Bar Library as they combine their new duties in the High Court with continuing their work as independent practitioners at the Bar”.

Notes

David Scoffield QC completed his law degree at University College, Oxford. He then went on to complete his Certificate in Professional Legal Studies at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in Belfast in 1999 and was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 1999 and the Bar of Ireland in July 2014. He took silk in 2011. David specialises in public, administrative and constitutional law and has held a number of previous roles, including Senior Counsel to the Renewable Heat Incentive Inquiry and Special Advocate appointed by the Advocate General for Northern Ireland.

Stephen Shaw QC graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with a degree in Law in 1979. He went on to complete his Certificate in Professional Legal Studies at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in Belfast in 1980. Stephen was called to the Bar in 1980 and became a QC in 2001. Stephen’s practice focuses on civil law with particular interests in the fields of commercial, chancery and public law. He also holds a number of other roles, including as a member of the Council of Law Reporting for Northern Ireland and a member of the Chancery Court Liaison Committee.

Michael Humphreys QC graduated from Oxford University in 1993 and was called to the Bar in 1994. He took silk in 2011. Michael’s practice at the Bar focuses on commercial law, including construction litigation, public procurement, professional negligence, defamation and contractual claims. Michael is also the Chair of the Commercial Bar Association and a member of the Commercial Court Liaison Committee.

Karen Quinlivan QC completed a law degree at University College Dublin in 1986 and the Certificate in Professional Legal Studies at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in Belfast in 1993. Karen was called to the Bar in September 1993 and was appointed as Queen’s Counsel in 2011. Karen specialises in public law, including human rights cases, and is currently the chair of the Bar’s Equality and Diversity Committee.

Gerald Simpson QC was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 1974 and took silk in 1999. He specialises in administrative, commercial and privacy law.

Photo caption: (left to right) David Scoffield QC, Daniel Friedman QC, Karen Quinlivan QC, Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan, Stephen Shaw QC, Gerald Simpson QC, Michael Humphreys QC