Kirsty Brimelow KC starts her year-long term as Chair of the Bar Council from 1 January 2026, succeeding Barbara Mills KC. Kirsty practises in criminal, international and public law from Doughty Street Chambers. She is a former Chair of the Criminal Bar Association (2022/3) and was the first female Chair of the Bar Human Rights Committee (2012-18).
As Chair, Kirsty will lead the first all-female leadership team at the Bar Council with Heidi Stonecliffe KC (Crown Prosecution Service) as Vice Chair, Lucinda Orr (Enyo Law) as Treasurer, and Amelia Clegg (BCL Solicitors) as Chair of the Young Barristers’ Committee.
Kirsty has been involved in Bar politics and representation throughout her career, including as a member of the Bar Council Conduct and Complaints Committee and the Bar Council Public Affairs Committee, and as a Bar Council Young Spokesperson from 1998 to 2008. In 2022, as Chair of the CBA, she led negotiations with the government of an historic increase in fees for criminal barristers. This was followed by an increase in prosecution fees.
In 2021, Kirsty was appointed a deputy High Court judge in the King’s Bench Division and in 2022 appointed a Recorder. She is an accredited mediator and acts in conflict resolution. She was part of the Colombian peace process. She is an experienced trainer, facilitator, and conference speaker in international human rights around the world, holding consultancies to the United Nations and OSCE. In the UK, Kirsty led the proposal and drafting of FGM (female genital mutilation) protection orders into law. She also advised Denmark and assisted in changing its sexual offences law to consent-based law. Kirsty worked between 2017 and 2021 in passing the first UN resolution on the elimination of harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks.
Kirsty is a Bencher at Gray’s Inn and was elected to its management committee. In 2018 she was the recipient of both the Pro Bono International Barrister of the Year award and the First 100 Years Inspirational Woman in Law Barrister of the Year award. Kirsty has been selected as The Times Lawyer of the Week on two occasions. She is a trustee of the global environmental charity WWF UK and an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts for her service to human rights.
Kirsty will set out her priorities as Chair of the Bar at her inaugural address on 12 January, but she takes up the position at a critical time for the justice sector. Kirsty will continue to lead the Bar Council’s opposition to government proposals to curtail jury trials in response to the Leveson review of criminal courts. She will also continue to advocate for greater investment across all jurisdictions, especially in criminal legal aid but without losing sight of need in family and civil courts. She will shine a spotlight on children in the justice system.
On becoming Chair, Kirsty Brimelow KC said:
“It is both an honour and a responsibility to serve my profession as Chair of the Bar. I will bring my cross-jurisdictional expertise to overcome challenges and embrace opportunities for barristers and people, delivering and accessing justice. I also will lead with courage and kindness.”