Legal Professionals Recognized in 2025 New Year Honours List
The New Year Honours list has again shone a spotlight on the legal profession, with a number of lawyers and legal figures receiving prestigious awards.
Top Honours:
- Knighthood: Edward Charles Graham, former senior partner at Freshfields, receives a knighthood for his services to the legal profession.
- Dame Commander of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George: Professor Eleanor Sharpston KC, formerly advocate general at the European Court of Justice.
OBEs Awarded to:
- Ian Karet, partner at Linklaters and former interim chair at the Charity Commission.
- Daniela Luminita Denis-Smith, solicitor and Law Society Council member, was recognised for her work championing women in law through the First 100 Years and Next 100 Years campaigns.
- The Rt. Hon. Emily Thornberry MP, Member of Parliament and former Shadow Attorney General, honoured for her legal career specialising in human rights law.
CBEs Awarded:
- James Edwin Palmer, senior corporate and governance lawyer at Herbert Smith Freehills.
- Charles Pritam Singh Dhanowa OBE, Registrar at the Competition Appeal Tribunal, for services to competition law.
- Christopher Katowski KC, for services to planning.
- Professor Richard Eric Susskind OBE, for services to information technology and law.
Further Recognition
- The list also acknowledges lawyers who played key roles in the post office scandal and those working for the Infected Blood Inquiry, the Crown Prosecution Service, and the Serious Fraud Office.
What fantastic achievements! Congratulations to all the recipients of this year’s New Year Honours! Your dedication and achievements are an inspiration to the entire legal community!!
