Yorkshire has its first female Queen’s Counsel (QC) practising in Commercial Chancery law after Lisa Linklater from Exchange Chambers took silk on 21 March.
The title of QC is awarded to those who have demonstrated particular skill and expertise in the conduct of advocacy in the higher courts.
Linklater (pictured), who is based at Exchange Chambers in Leeds, specialises in high-value, legally and factually complex shareholder and partnership disputes, corporate insolvency, and commercial litigation in the Business and Property Courts of the High Courts of Justice, as well as appellate advocacy in those fields of practice.
She is recommended as Tier 1 by the Legal 500 in company and insolvency and Band 1 by Chambers UK in commercial dispute resolution.
Linklater is the first female barrister from the North Eastern Circuit practising in the field of Commercial Chancery to take silk and the second female barrister in her practice area from chambers outside of London to be appointed as a QC.
Commenting on her appointment, Lisa Linklater QC said: “I am very honoured and delighted to be appointed Queen’s Counsel. The weeks since the announcement that I was to become a QC have been a whirlwind. So many friends and colleagues from across the legal profession have been so kind and generous with their warm wishes and sage advice, which I really appreciate.”
“It is wonderful to be at today’s appointment ceremony with my parents, husband, children, chambers’ director and chambers’ chief executive, all of whom have supported me in reaching this pinnacle.”
Linklater added: “I am really looking forward to this next chapter in my career and doors opening to new opportunities. With the help of the senior clerking team across each of the three cities in which Exchange Chambers is based, which I very much appreciate, the transition of my practice to silk has been relatively smooth so far.”
Commenting on Linklater’s appointment as QC, Ian Spencer, director for Exchange Chambers in Leeds, said: “We are immensely proud of Lisa. She is blazing a trail for others to follow.”
Christopher Barnes from Exchange Chambers in Liverpool also took silk on 21 March.
Commenting on the appointments, Jonathan I’Anson, chief executive at Exchange Chambers said: “On behalf of everyone at Exchange I would like to congratulate Lisa and Chris. This recognition is very much deserved and is the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication.”
