Congratulations to the newly appointed Silks for 2026

Congratulations to all those barristers who will be sworn in as Silks before the Lord Chancellor at Westminster Hall today.

We are immensely proud that 49 of the 96 new KCs volunteer on our panel, and that a further six are Case Reviewers, donating their time on a monthly basis to assess cases on our behalf. These Case Reviewers are William Davis of 5KBW, Alasdair MacKenzie of Doughty Street Chambers, Richard Mott of One Essex Court, James Weale of Serle Court, Robert Williams of Cornerstone Barristers, and William Willson of South Square Chambers. We feel privileged to work with so many skilled and dedicated practitioners at the Bar who give their time to help people in urgent need of free legal assistance.

Our Chair, Sharif A. Shivji KC, has commented: “Congratulations to all those appointed KCs in 2026. Becoming King’s Counsel is a badge of distinction in advocacy and leadership. It is particularly heartening to see that so many of those recognised have been long-standing pro bono advocates and supporters of our work. Their dedication, skill, and commitment to access to justice are admirable, and we are delighted to see their contributions recognised at the highest level”.

For barristers looking to apply for the KC competition in the future, the Guidance for Applicants states that pro bono cases can be included within the 12 cases listed on your application to demonstrate the competencies assessed. These may include, for example, your ability to become familiar with a new area of law, or working with people from diverse backgrounds.

We are pleased to have produced tailored guidance on how pro bono work can assist with KC applications by illustrating these competencies. The KC appointments website also contains useful videos, including a short video with Chair and Lay Member of the KC Selection Panel Monisha Shah, on how undertaking pro bono work can strengthen an application – watch here.