A prominent human rights lawyer leads the way for solicitors recognised in the New Year?s Honours list.

Geoffrey Bindman, founder and now senior consultant at London firm Bindman & Partners, received a knighthood for his services to human rights. Mr Bindman said: ?I regard this as an endorsement of the importance of human rights and access to justice, which I have been committed to throughout my career.?

There was a CBE for solicitor Michael Walker, a district judge at Wandsworth County Court and honorary secretary to the Association of District Judges, for services to the administration of justice.

Solicitors to receive an OBE included Vanessa Knapp, partner at City firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, for services to corporate law; Charles Dhanowa, registrar at the Competition Appeal Tribunal, for services to competition law; and Professor Richard Grimes, former director of pro bono at the College of Law, for services to pro bono law.

Other solicitors to receive an OBE were Diana Shindler, legal adviser at the Department of Transport; Judith Walker, Chief Crown Prosecutor for South Yorkshire; and David Williams in the legal services department of the Welsh Assembly.

MBEs were awarded to a number of solicitors including Robert Davies, a partner at Gwent firm The Robert Davies Partnership, for services to the community in south-east Wales, and Tibor Gold, of patent attorneys Kilburn & Strode, for services to intellectual property.