Two high-profile solicitors were among the first honorary silks to be made under the revamped appointment system for Queen's Counsel.



Guy Beringer and Michael Napier, the senior partners at Allen & Overy and Irwin Mitchell respectively, received the award along with four others in recognition of their service to law outside the courts.



Mr Beringer was honoured for his commitment to pro bono work and for his role in advancing international trade in legal services.



Mr Napier, the Attorney-General's pro bono envoy and a former Law Society President, was honoured for his pro bono work and for his work with the Civil Justice Council.



Retired parliamentary counsel Sir Geoffrey Bowman, law professors Paul Davies and Dame Hazel Genn, and the former director of the Serious Fraud Office Rosalind Wright were also honoured.



Mr Beringer said: 'This is a rare privilege which I hope can go some way to highlighting the importance of law firms understanding that they have a real role to play both locally and globally, in being part of the communities in which they practise and also in the economic growth and prosperity of those communities.'



Mr Napier said: 'I'm very grateful for this unexpected appointment that owes much to the patience of my family and the support of my Irwin Mitchell partners for my involvement in access to justice issues over the years.'



Catherine Baksi