Her Majesty The Queen has approved the appointment of one hundred and seventy five (175) new Queen's Counsel, including the LCCSA's past president, June Venters.  The full list is given below.

These are the first appointments from the new interim scheme in England & Wales. The independent Selection Panel, chaired by Sir Duncan Nichol, made its recommendations to the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, after considering evidence from application forms, references, and interviews with applicants.

The Secretary of State was satisfied that the Panel had carried its responsibilities in accordance with the goals he set for the scheme of transparency, fairness, and recommendations being based on evidence. He therefore accepted the Panel's advice and made his recommendations to Her Majesty accordingly.

The Secretary of State said:

"It gives me great pleasure to announce the first appointments from the new scheme. The scheme has been very successful and has met all the goals I set for it. I congratulate the Selection Panel on carrying out an exacting task diligently and to such notable effect. Most of all, however, I warmly congratulate all the new Silks. I am sure they will continue to prosper."

There were 443 applications for Silk in 2005. 68 applications were from women (15.3%), 24 from ethnic minority lawyers (5.4%) and 12 from solicitors (2.7%).
Of the 175 appointed (39.5% of all applicants), 33 are women (48.5% of female applicants), 10 are from an ethnic minority (41.7% of ethnic minority applicants), and four are solicitors (33.3% of all solicitor applicants).

In 2003, the comparable figures were that 394 people applied. Of the 121 appointed (30.7% of all applicants), nine were women (23.1% of all female applicants), seven were from an ethnic minority background (30.4% of ethnic minority applicants) and one solicitor was appointed (10% of all solicitor applicants).

The rank of Queen's Counsel will be formally conferred at a ceremony in Westminster Hall on 16 October.

QUEEN'S COUNSEL 2006 - In alphabetical order

Key:
G Gray's Inn L Lincoln's Inn
I Inner Temple M Middle Temple
S Solicitor

Broad area(s) of practice:
1 Civil 3 Family
2 Criminal

David Robert James Alexander (M) (1)
Robert Edward Anderson (G) (1)
Lesley Jane Anderson (M) (1)
Peter Leonard Arden (G) (1)
Lance Dominic Piers Ashworth (M) (1)
Stephen Nicholas Atherton (M) (1)
Tracy Jane Ayling (I) (2)
David John Bailey (G) (1)
Andrew William Baker (L) (1)
Deborah Joanna Janet Bangay (G) (3)
Richard Francis Dudley Barlow (I) (1)
Stephanie Nicola Barwise (M) (1)
Janet Claire Bazley (L) (3)
Joel Nathan Bennathan (M) (2)
Sallie Ann Bennett-Jenkins (G) (2)
Louise Mary Blackwell (L) (2)
Peter Michael Blair (I) (2)
Leslie Adrian Blohm (L) (1)
Ian MacLean Bourne (I) (2)
Michael Frederick Thomas Bowsher (M) (1)
Kate Victoria Branigan (I) (3)
Robert Graham Bright (G) (1)
Simon James Bryan (L) (1)
Neil Richard Calver (G) (1)
Vivian Robert Chapman (L) (1)
Richard Hamish Christie (I) (2)
Nicholas Stephen Clarke (M) (2)
Gordon Stewart Cole (I) (2)
Matthew Glynn Burkinshaw Collings (L) (1)
Gilead Patrick Cooper (M) (1)
Charles Alexander Cory-Wright (M) (1)
Barry Paul Cotter (L) (1)
Bryan Cox (M) (2)
Anthony Joseph Daniel Crean (G) (1)
Anthony Maurice Cross (M) (2)
James Edward Michael Cross (G) (1)
Jonathan Rupert Crow (L) (1)
Evan Huw Davies (G) (1)
Anthony John de Garr Robinson (L) (1)
Johanne Erica Delahunty (M) (3)
Mark Jonathan Dennis (M) (2)
John Stanislaus Dodd (G) (2)
Nigel Ingram John Dyer (I) (3)
Jennifer Jane Eady (I) (1)
Martin James Simpson Edmunds (M) (2)
David Leslie Edwards (L) (1)
Michael Flynn John Egan (G) (2)
Eric Alan Elliott (G) (2)
Rosalind Morag Ellis (G) (1)
Paul Jeremy Epstein (M) (1)
David Scott Ewart (G) (1)
Paul Ainsworth Farrer (G) (2)
Michael David Guy Fitton (G) (2)
Andrew Fitzroy Stephen Fletcher (I) (1)
Martin Andrew Forde (M) (1)
Michael John Fordham (G) (1)
David Andrew Foxton (G) (1)
Charles Nairn Geekie (I) (3)
Indranil Julian Ghosh (L) (1)
Patrick Michael Evan Gibbs (M) (2)
Richard Leslie Irvine Gillis (L) (1)
Paul Gilroy (G) (1)
David Julian Goldstone (M) (1)
Gerald William Gouriet (I) (1)
Peter John de Peauly Gower (L) (2)
Tania Veronica Griffiths (G) (1)
Martin Alexander Griffiths (I) (1)
David Anthony Halpern (G) (1)
Peter John Harrison (I) (1)
Stephen Frank Harvey (G) (2)
Nicholas Michael Heathcote Williams (I) (1)
Clive William Heaton (G) (3)
Ruth Sara Margaret Henke (I) (3)
James Michael Hill (I) (2)
Michael Frederick Richard Holland (I) (2)
Richard Eric Horwell (G) (2)
Adrian Warwick Hughes (M) (1)
Richard William Humphreys (I) (1)
Charles Gordon Hyde (M) (3)
Gillian Irving (I) (3)
Susan Elizabeth Jacklin (I) (3)
Rosemary Elizabeth Jackson (M) (1)
Nigel Robert Jacobs (M) (1)
David Hugh Thomas Jeremy (M) (2)
Roderick Stowers Johnson (L) (2)

Edwin Geoffrey Johnson (L) (1)
Nicholas Robert Johnson (I) (2)
Philip John Jones (L) (1)
Frances Jean Judd (M) (3)
Jonathan Marcus Karas (M) (1)
Stephen Charles Wilfrid Kenny (I) (1)
Andrew John Keyser (M) (1)
Mohammed Jaffer Khamisa (M) (2)
Stephen Joseph Killalea (M) (1,2)
Simon Christopher Peter Knox (M) (1,2)
Christine Katherine Laing (L) (2)
Andrew Dominic Langdon (M) (2)
Andrew Ralph Fitzmaurice Lenon (L) (1)
Clive Buckland Lewis (M) (1)
Nigel James Dominic Lickley (G) (2)
Nathalie Marie Daniella Lieven (G) (1)
Patrick Francis Limb (M) (1)
Thomas Dominic Linden (G) (1)
John Charlton Gerard Lockey (M) (1)
Simon Timothy Lofthouse (G) (1)
Mark Lucraft (I) (2)
Helen Katharine Lucy Malcolm (G) (2)
David Huw Matthias (I) (1)
Philippa Mary McAtasney (L) (1,2)
Edward James Wilson Mellor (M) (1)
Paul Michael Mendelle (L) (2)
Lorna Gillian Meyer (I) (3)
Mark Gordon Milliken-Smith (G) (2)
Philip Charles Angus Moon (M) (1)
Timothy James Mould (G) (1)
Mark Oliver Benjamin Muller (L) (1,2)
Jonathan Scott Nash (G) (1)
Michael John Gadsby Nicholls (M) (3)
John Peter Nicholls (M) (1)
Alexander David Nissen (M) (1)
Dominic Thomas Nolan (L) (1)
Andrew John Martin O'Byrne (G) (2)
Robin Frank Oppenheim (M) (1)
Craig Wyndham Orr (M) (1)
Timothy John Otty (L) (1)
David Christopher Owen (M) (1)
Christopher James Francis Parker (G) (2)
Robert Edgar Pearce (M) (1)
Jaqueline Anne Perry (G) (2)
David Perry (L) (1)
Simon Derek Picken (M) (1)
John Peter Julian Pini (G) (2)
Amanda Eve Pinto (M) (2)
Martin Hugh Ninnis Porter (I) (1)
John Mark Heywood Powell (S) (2,3)
Richard James Pratt (G) (2)
Iain Young Purvis (G) (1)
Niall Peter Quinn (S) (2)
Khawar Mehmood Qureshi (M) (1)
David Mark Rainsford (L) (2)
David Jarrett Reade (M) (1)
Simon John Howard Readhead (M) (1)
Bernard Grant Richmond (M) (2)
Patricia Grace Robertson (I) (1)
Martin Rodger (M) (1)
Heather Rogers (M) (1)
Dinah Gwen Lison Rose (G) (1)
John James Rowley (L) (1)
Philip James Sales (L) (1)
Marcus Charles William Scott-Manderson (L) (3)
Kanta Shant (G) (2)
Ingrid Ann Simler (I) (1)
Sarah Louise Singleton (M) (3)
Jonathan Edwin Small (L) (1)
C
hristopher John Francis Sokol (L) (1)
Richard Michael Southern (M) (1)
Ian Michael Stern (I) (2)
Christopher John David Style (S) (1)
Robin Bing-Kuen Tam (M) (1)
Lynn Margaret Tayton (G) (2)
Michael John Tennet (I) (1)
Stuart Alan Trimmer (G) (2)
Jonathan Richard Turner (M) (1)
June Marion Venters (S) (2,3)
Hilaire Alexander Verdan (I) (3)
Nicholas Edward John Vineall (M) (1)
William Francis Waldron (G) (1)
Mark Anthony Wall (L) (2)
Adrian Mark Waterman (I) (2)
Lloyd Williams (I) (1)
Heather Jean Williams (G) (1)
Ian David Winter (I) (2)
Stephen Anthony Worthington (G) (1)
Colin Peter Wynter (I) (1)
Antony James Zacaroli (M)
(1)

QUEEN'S COUNSEL 2006 In seniority order

Richard Francis Dudley Barlow (I) (1)
Vivian Robert Chapman (L) (1)
Niall Peter Quinn (S) (2)
Gerald William Gouriet (I) (1)
Eric Alan Elliott (G) (2)
Jaqueline Anne Perry (G) (1)
Michael John Gadsby Nicholls (M) (3)
Christopher John Francis Sokol (L) (1)
Roderick Stowers Johnson (L) (2)
Richard Eric Horwell (G) (2)
Nicholas Michael Heathcote Williams (I) (1)
Stephen Anthony Worthington (G) (1)
Robert Edgar Pearce (M) (1)
Ian MacLean Bourne (I) (2)
Mark Jonathan Dennis (M) (2)
David Hugh Thomas Jeremy (M) (2)
Stuart Alan Trimmer (G) (2)
John Mark Heywood Powell (S) (2,3)
Andrew John Martin O'Byrne (G) (2)
David Anthony Halpern (G) (1)
Bryan Cox (M) (2)
Christopher John David Style (S) (1)
Stephen Frank Harvey (G) (2)
Gordon Stewart Cole (I) (2)
Simon John Howard Readhead (M) (1)
John Stanislaus Dodd (G) (2)
David Huw Matthias (I) (1)
David Perry (L) (2)
Janet Claire Bazley (L) (3)
Marcus Charles Williams Scott-Manderson (L) (3)
Richard James Pratt (G) (2)
Susan Elizabeth Jacklin (I) (3)
Andrew Fitzroy Stephen Fletcher (I) (1)
Deborah Joanna Janet Bangay (G) (3)
John Peter Julian Pini (G) (2)
Lynn Margaret Tayton (G) (2)
Nicholas Stephen Clarke (M) (2)
Jonathan Rupert Crow (L) (1)
Rosemary Elizabeth Jackson (M) (1)
Stephen Joseph Killalea (M) (1,2)
Paul Michael Mendelle (L) (2)
Lloyd Williams (I) (1)
Michael Flynn John Egan (G) (2)
Nigel Ingram John Dyer (I) (3)
Leslie Adrian Blohm (L) (1)
Tania Veronica Griffiths (G) (1)
Andrew Ralph Fitzmaurice Lenon (L) (1)
Anthony Maurice Cross (M) (2)
Richard Leslie Irvine Gillis (L) (1)
Martin James Simpson Edmunds (M) (2)
David Jarrett Reade (M) (1)
Peter Leonard Arden (G) (1)
Tracy Jane Ayling (I) (2)
Peter Michael Blair (I) (2)
Sarah Louise Singleton (M) (3)
Ian Michael Stern (I) (2)
Heather Rogers (M) (1)
Gilead Patrick Cooper (M) (1)
Nigel Robert Jacobs (M) (1)
Simon Christopher Peter Knox (M) (1,2)
David Christopher Owen (M) (1)
Amanda Eve Pinto (M) (2)
Nigel James Dominic Lickley (G) (2)
June Marion Venters (S) (2,3)
Charles Alexander Cory-Wright (M) (1)
Martin Andrew Forde (M) (1)
Adrian Warwick Hughes (M) (1)
Gillian Irving (I) (3)
Christine Katherine Laing (L) (2)
Sallie Ann Bennett-Jenkins (G) (2)
Kate Victoria Branigan (I) (3)
Rosalind Morag Ellis (G) (1)
Kanta Shant (G) (2)
Mark Lucraft (I) (2)
James Michael Hill (I) (2)
Michael Frederick Richard Holland (I) (2)
Frances Jean Judd (M) (3)
Colin Peter Wynter (I) (1)
Peter John de Peauly Gower (L) (2)
Heather Jean Williams (G) (1)
Louise Mary Blackwell (L) (2)
Matthew Glynn Burkinshaw Collings (L) (1)
Barry Paul Cotter (L) (1)
James Edward Michael Cross (G) (1)
Charles Nairn Geekie (I) (3)
Philip John Jones (L) (1)
Alexander David Nissen (M) (1)
Dominic Thomas Nolan (L) (1)

Philip James Sales (L) (1)
Michael John Tennet (I) (1)
Mohammed Jaffer Khamisa (M) (2)
Joel Nathan Bennathan (M) (2)
Michael Frederick Thomas Bowsher (M) (1)
Evan Huw Davies (G) (1)
Paul Gilroy (G) (1)
Philippa Mary McAtasney (L) (2)
David Mark Rainsford (L) (2)
Mark Anthony Wall (L) (2)
David Julian Goldstone (M) (1)
Lorna Gillian Meyer (I) (3)
John Peter Nicholls (M) (1)
Martin Rodger (M) (1)
Iain Young Purvis (G) (1)
Andrew Dominic Langdon (M) (2)
Christopher James Francis Parker (G) (2)
Richard William Humphreys (I) (1)
Jonathan Marcus Karas (M) (1)
Edward James Wilson Mellor (M) (1)
Craig Wyndham Orr (M) (1)
Martin Hugh Ninnis Porter (I) (1)
Robin Bing-Kuen Tam (M) (1)
Johanne Erica Delahunty (M) (3)
Patrick Michael Evan Gibbs (M) (2)
Andrew John Keyser (M) (1)
Robert Edward Anderson (G) (1)
Martin Alexander Griffiths (I) (1)
Helen Katharine Lucy Malcolm (G) (2)
Philip Charles Angus Moon (M) (1)
Jonathan Scott Nash (G) (1)
William Francis Waldron (G) (1)
Mark Gordon Milliken-Smith (G) (2)
Anthony Joseph Daniel Crean (G) (1)
Anthony John de Garr Robinson (L) (1)
Edwin Geoffrey Johnson (L) (1)
Patrick Francis Limb (M) (1)
John Charlton Gerard Lockey (M) (1)
John James Rowley (L) (1)
Peter John Harrison (I) (1)
Nicholas Robert Johnson (I) (2)
Stephen Charles Wilfrid Kenny (I) (1)
Ingrid Ann Simler (I) (1)
Hilaire Alexander Verdan (I) (3)
David Robert James Alexander (M) (1)
Lance Dominic Piers Ashworth (M) (1)
Robert Graham Bright (G) (1)
Neil Richard Calver (G) (1)
David Scott Ewart (G) (1)
Ruth Sara Margaret Henke (I) (3)
Clive Buckland Lewis (M) (1)
Timothy James Mould (G) (1)
Richard Michael Southern (M) (1)
Antony James Zacaroli (M) (1)
Paul Ainsworth Farrer (G) (2)
Charles Gordon Hyde (M) (3)
Andrew William Baker (L) (1)
Stephanie Nicola Barwise (M) (1)
Simon James Bryan (L) (1)
Bernard Grant Richmond (M) (2)
Adrian Mark Waterman (I) (2)
Ian David Winter (I) (2)
Robin Frank Oppenheim (M) (1)
Paul Jeremy Epstein (M) (1)
Jonathan Richard Turner (M) (1)
Simon Timothy Lofthouse (G) (1)
Patricia Grace Robertson (I) (1)
Nicholas Edward John Vineall (M) (1)
David Andrew Foxton (G) (1)
Richard Hamish Christie (I) (2)
Jennifer Jane Eady (I) (1)
David Leslie Edwards (L) (1)
Stephen Nicholas Atherton (M) (1)
David John Bailey (G) (1)
Simon Derek Picken (M) (1)
Dinah Gwen Lison Rose (G) (1)
Nathalie Marie Daniella Lieven (G) (1)
Thomas Dominic Linden (G) (1)
Lesley Jane Anderson (M) (1)
Michael John Fordham (G) (1)
Khawar Mehmood Qureshi (M) (1)
Timothy John Otty (L) (1)
Jonathan Edwin Small (L) (1)
Mark Oliver Benjamin Muller (L) (1,2)
Michael David Guy Fitton (G) (2)
Clive William Heaton (G) (3)
Indranil Julian Ghosh (L) (1)

Notes for editors

1. The interim scheme was established following the Government's consultation in 2003, Constitutional reform: the future of Queen's Counsel. In light of the consultation, Ministers concluded that they should no longer carry out the task of identifying individual Queen's Counsel, and the legal professions in England & Wales and Northern Ireland agreed to take over that responsibility. They jointly devised a new selection process during 2004, using a framework of defined competencies aimed at identifying excellence in senior advocates. Separate Selection Panels for England & Wales and Northern Ireland were established in early 2005. These are independent of both Government and the professions. The first awards in Northern Ireland were announced on 8 June.

2. Applications were invited in England & Wales in July 2005 and the Panel began its work as soon as applications closed
in September. The Panel made its recommendations to the Secretary of State in May 2006 and the Secretary of State, accepting the Panel's advice, made his recommendations to Her Majesty in June.

3. The award ceremony in Westminster Hall is invitation only.

4. These schemes are known as "interim schemes" because the future of the Queen's Counsel rank has not yet been finally determined. Although the aim of the 2003 consultation was to decide whether the rank should be retained, there was not enough evidence in the responses to allow a decision to be made. The rank is therefore being considered as part of a wider study of the way in which information about the quality of legal services providers is given to users of those services. Ministers hope to take a decision about the study's recommendations during the summer.

5. Details of the competency framework and the selection process can be obtained from the QC Appointments website, http://www.qcapplications.org.uk.

6. The last time Queen's Counsel were appointed in England & Wales was in 2003. Because the two systems of appointment are so different, it is very difficult to produce a meaningful statistical comparison. A full breakdown of the latest applications and appointments, along with equivalent figures from previous years, is below.

Statistical information (substantive rank only)

             1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2006Total        539  492  488  500  511  553  506  456  429  394  443applicantsTotal awards 77   71   66   68   60   69   78   77   113  121  175MaleApplicants   496  450  448  459  465  504  453  405  385  355  374Awards       68   63   62   63   50   60   68   67   101  112  141FemaleApplicants   43   42   40   41   46   49   53   51   44   39   68Awards       9    8    4    5    10   9    10   10   12   9    33EthnicminorityApplicants   11   12   14   12   18   30   24   19   19   23   24Awards       1    1    1    1    4    5    3    3    7    7    10BarristerApplicants   539  492  483  494  504  544  500  444  421  384  431Awards       77   71   66   66   59   68   78   76   115  120  171SolicitorApplicants   -    -    5    6    7    9    6    12   8    10   12Awards       -    -    0    2    1    1    0    1    2    1    4

Percentage of applicants in each category who were successful

Total         14.3 14.4 13.5 13.6 11.7 12.5 15.4 16.9 26.3 30.7 39.5Male          13.7 14.0 13.8 13.7 10.8 11.9 15.0 16.5 26.2 31.5 37.7Female        21.0 19.0 10.0 12.2 21.7 18.4 18.9 19.6 27.2 23.1 48.5White/unknown 14.4 14.6 13.7 13.7 11.4 12.3 14.9 16.9 25.8 30.7 39.2Ethnic        9.1  8.3  7.1  8.3  22.2 16.7 12.5 15.8 36.8 30.4 41.7minorityBarrister     14.3 14.4 13.7 13.4 11.7 12.5 15.6 17.1 27.3 31.3 39.7Solicitor     -    -    0    33.3 14.3 11.1 0    8.3  25.0 10.0 33.3

Percentage breakdowns of applicants and awards by category

              1994  1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2006ApplicantsMale          92.0  91.5 91.8 91.8 91.0 91.1 89.5 88.8 89.7 90.1 84.4Female        8.0   8.5  8.2  8.2  9.0  8.9  10.5 11.2 10.3 9.9  15.3White/unknown 98.0  97.6 97.1 97.6 96.5 94.6 95.3 95.8 95.6 94.2 94.6Ethnic        2.0   2.4  2.9  2.4  3.5  5.4  4.7  4.2  4.4  5.8  5.4minorityBarrister     -     -    99.0 98.8 98.6 98.4 98.8 97.4 98.1 97.5 97.3Solicitor     -     -    1.0  1.2  1.4  1.6  1.2  2.6  1.9  2.5  2.7AwardsMale          88.3  88.7 93.9 92.6 83.3 87.0 87.2 87.0 89.4 92.6 80.6Female        11.7  11.3 6.1  7.4  16.7 13.0 12.8 13.0 10.6 7.4  18.9White         98.7  98.6 98.5 98.5 93.3 93.8 96.2 96.1 93.8 94.2 94.3Ethnic        1.3   1.4  1.5  1.5  6.7  7.2  3.8  3.9  6.2  5.8  5.7minorityBarrister     -     -    100  97.1 98.3 98.6 100  98.7 98.2 99.2 97.7Solicitor     -     -    0    2.9  1.7  1.4  0    1.3  1.8  0.8  2.3

2006: figures for male/female do not total 443 or 100% because one applicant did not declare his/her gender.