The chief executive of the Legal Services Commission and the pro bono leader at City firm Hogan Lovells were among those recognised by the Queen in the New Year’s honours list.

Hogan Lovells pro bono manager Yasmin Waljee received an OBE for services to the Muslim community, in recognition of her contribution to pro bono legal services.

Career civil servant and LSC chief executive Carolyn Downs was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath for her work for central and local government. The LSC said this did not ‘specifically’ relate to her role at the LSC, which she has held since March 2010.

Former LSC commissioner Lionel Joyce was awarded a CBE, while solicitor and senior Crown Prosecution Service lawyer Colin Gibbs received an OBE.

Melanie Field, head of the discrimination law team in the Government Equalities Office, received an OBE.

Elsewhere, Comghall McNally received an OBE for services to legal education in Northern Ireland, and advocate Graham Bell QC of Edinburgh’s Ampersand Stable received the same award for services to the Scottish legal profession.