UK Supreme Court confirms next President

The UK Supreme Court has announced that Lord Briggs of Westbourne will step into the shoes of Lord Reed of Allermuir as its President in January.

Lord Briggs was appointed by the King, on the advice of the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor - who in turn took the recommendation of an independent selection commission. He deems it “a great privilege to be appointed President of the Supreme Court and to serve the public by upholding the rule of law”.

Lord Reed, who steps down seven years after assuming office, describes his successor as “a judge of the highest distinction, with previous experience of judicial leadership”.

“He has also demonstrated his commitment to increasing the accessibility and efficiency of the Justice system, both in domestic cases and in those heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. I wish him well in his new role."

Lord Briggs is the first lawyer in his family. He practiced in Lincoln’s Inn at the chambers of Charles Sparrow QC, which later became Serle Court. Specialising in business and property litigation, he took silk in 1994. His previous roles include chair of the Bar Council’s Law Reform Committee, Attorney General to the Duchy of Lancaster, and High Court judge.

At the High Court, he oversaw the extensive and high-profile Lehman collapse proceedings between 2009 and 2013.

Lord Briggs served as a Lord Justice of Appeal from 2013 until his appointment to the Supreme Court in 2017. He led both a chancery modernisation review and a review of the civil courts structure, and served as deputy head of civil justice.

He is a keen sailor and singer.