As Vice Chair, Claire Davies KC will advocate for a unified approach to tackling challenges facing the bar
Claire Davies KC, a senior criminal barrister and the current Leader of the South Eastern Circuit, has been elected as Vice Chair of the Bar Council of England and Wales for 2027. The appointment was confirmed on 28 April 2026 and will see her join a leadership team that includes Chair Heidi Stonecliffe KC and Treasurer Lucinda Orr.
Davies, called to the Bar by Middle Temple in 1999, practices serious and complex criminal law from Farringdon Chambers in London. Her work spans cases involving homicide, organised crime, fraud and sexual offences, often in multi‑defendant trials. In 2016 she was appointed a Crown Court Recorder and, in 2022, was authorised to try cases at the Central Criminal Court, commonly known as the Old Bailey. That same year she took silk, becoming a King’s Counsel.
As an experienced barrister, Davies combines courtroom practice with educational and professional roles. She serves as a Bencher at Middle Temple, where she contributes to advocacy and ethics training, and is a qualified facilitator for vulnerable witness training. Within her circuit leadership role, she has championed initiatives to support practitioners, including establishing a cross‑discipline mentoring scheme aimed at connecting and developing legal professionals.
Davies has also been prominently involved in the Bar Council’s representation work alongside the Criminal Bar Association. She took part in the Bar’s “Justice needs juries” campaign, which included organising court visits for members of Parliament and providing oral evidence to the Public Bill Committee considering the Courts and Tribunals Bill. Her work reflects ongoing efforts by legal leaders to influence parliamentary scrutiny of justice reforms.
Commenting on her election, Davies said it was an honour to be chosen as Vice Chair for 2027 at a time of significant challenge and change for the publicly funded Bar. She emphasised the importance of unity across the profession in shaping policy decisions and safeguarding the Bar’s reputation nationally and internationally.
Davies set out key priorities for her term, including opposing measures that could curtail jury trials, improving access to justice, and increasing efficiency within the criminal justice system while maintaining practitioner wellbeing. She also highlighted her commitment to retaining existing talent at the Bar, encouraging new entrants into the profession, and supporting efforts to improve equality, diversity and inclusion.
Her appointment will take effect on 1 January 2027, when she will formally join the Bar Council officer team.