Bar Council welcomes appointment of new Justice Committee Chair

Catherine Atkinson MP has become the new Chair of the Justice Select Committee, taking over from Andy Slaughter MP.

Atkinson was a barrister at Deka Chambers where she had a wide randing practice with particular interests in personal injury, employment, fraud and public family cases.

Responding to the news, Bar Council Chair Kirsty Brimelow KC said: “Warmest congratulations to Catherine Atkinson MP on her election as Chair of the Justice Select Committee. Catherine brings to the role 17 years’ experience at the Bar, including at the publicly funded Bar, and a deep understanding of our justice system. The Bar Council has a strong working relationship with Catherine Atkinson MP through her work chairing the APPGs on Legal and Constitutional Affairs and Access to Justice. 

“She has also been an important and engaged voice on many of the issues that matter to justice and to the profession, including people’s access to justice, legal aid and long-term investment in a stressed and neglected system. I welcome the opportunity to continue working with Catherine Atkinson MP for the benefit of civil, criminal and family justice.”