Women solicitors given Royal stamp of approval in Jubilee birthday honours

SERVICE: Judith Mayhew and Fiona Woolf are made a Dame and awarded CBE respectively

Women solicitors led the way for the profession in the Jubilee birthday honours last weekend, with top City practitioners Judith Mayhew and Fiona Woolf among those recognised.

Ms Mayhew, who has been named in the past as one of the most powerful women in the UK, became a Dame for services to the City of London.

A New Zealand lawyer originally who requalified as a solicitor in 1993, she chairs the policy and resources committee of the Corporation of London, and advises the mayor of London.

She is also a special adviser in the world firm management group at City giant Clifford Chance, having previously worked at Titmuss Sainer Dechert (now Dechert) and Wilde Sapte as was.

Ms Woolf, a CMS Cameron McKenna partner who has sat on the Law Society Council for 15 years, was awarded a CBE for services to the UK knowledge economy and invisible earnings.

She has built from nothing an electricity deregulation practice which has seen her export her skills to 27 countries, including India, Australia, Argentina, Russia and South Africa.

She also pioneered Cameron's Washington DC office.

Her team now consists of 85 lawyers around the world.

Ms Woolf said it was pleasing to receive the recognition, and thanked her firm 'for giving me a lot of rope to build a practice'.

Elizabeth Potter, formerly an employment partner at Royal solicitors Farrer & Co, was named a member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) for services to the Royal household.

She is now an employment tribunal chairwoman.

Joanna Wade, campaigning in-house solicitor at the Maternity Alliance, received an MBE for services to the alliance.

Male solicitors did get a look-in.

Peter Boeuf, the former Chief Crown Prosecutor for London who retired in March, was awarded a CBE.

Stephen Kinsella, managing partner of Herbert Smith's Brussels office and former president of the British Chamber of Commerce in Belgium, received an OBE for services to British commercial interests in the country.

Mr Kinsella said the award recognised his work at the chamber and he paid tribute to his firm for allowing him the substantial time needed for it.

Andrew Keenan, sole principal of a criminal defence firm in south London, received an OBE for services to the Legal Aid Board.

He has served for more than 20 years as first a member and now chairman of the London area committee, now called the funding review committee.

He said: 'It's a great honour for those of us who do the work for the legal aid committees.'

Some notable barristers were also recognised.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, David Calvert-Smith QC, was knighted, while David Pickup, solicitor to Customs & Excise, was named a companion of the Order of the Bath.

Law Commissioner Professor Martin Partington received a CBE for services to the administration of justice, and Jeremy Lever QC a highly prized KCMG - knight commander, the Order of St Michael and St George - for services to European Community and competition law.

Neil Rose