Blackstone Chambers public law silk appointed High Court judge

One of the leading public lawyers in the country, Michael Fordham QC of Blackstone Chambers, has been appointed as a High Court judge.

Fordham has had a broad practice that spanned civil liberties, environmental law and immigration, with a particular focus on EU & competition law. He represented claimants, defendants and interested parties and acted across the entire range of public law. He took silk in 2006.

His recent cases included the prorogation case in the Supreme Court, the combined appeals of R (on the application of Miller) v the Prime Minister and Cherry and ors v Advocate General for Scotland, where he appeared for the Welsh Government.

Fordham was appointed as a Civil Recorder in 2010 and as a Criminal Recorder in 2012. He was a Deputy Judge of the Upper Tribunal between 2012 and 2018 and was authorised to act as a Judge of the High Court under s9(1) to hear cases in the Queen’s Bench Division in 2013.

His appointment followed an open competition run by the Judicial Appointments Commission and is consequential to the elevation of Mr Justice Phillips.

He will take up appointment on 13 January 2020, assigned to the Queen's Bench Division.

The Judiciary website said it was anticipated that there would be a further two appointments to the High Court in the coming months.