Alistair is Chairman of the Bar Council of England and Wales for 2015. Alistair was called to the Bar in 1983 and took Silk in 2000. Practising from Leeds, he is co-Head of Chambers at New Park Chambers.
As 2015 draws to a close, reflections on the past year as Chairman of the Bar
This is my last Chairman’s column for Counsel and I thought that I would set out a few thoughts and reflections which have occurred to me over the course of the past year.
In April, the Government introduced charges into the criminal courts. These charges have proved controversial and there are calls for an urgent review. The Chairman of the Bar, Alistair MacDonald QC, explains the profession’s concerns
One of the last acts of the Coalition Government was, without any sort of debate, to slip into legislation criminal court charges payable by defendants.
In February 2015 the Global Law Summit to celebrate 800 years since Magna Carta takes place in London.
Chairman-Elect of the Bar Council Alistair MacDonald QC explains.
Now is the time to tackle inappropriate behaviour at the Bar as well as extend our reach and collaboration with organisations and individuals at home and abroad
A comparison – Dan Monaghan, Head of DWF Chambers, invites two viewpoints
And if not, why not? asks Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Marie Law, Head of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, discusses the many benefits of oral fluid drug testing for child welfare and protection matters
To mark International Women’s Day, Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management looks at how financial planning can help bridge the gap
Casey Randall of AlphaBiolabs answers some of the most common questions regarding relationship DNA testing for court
Maria Scotland and Niamh Wilkie report from the Bar Council’s 2024 visit to the United Arab Emirates exploring practice development opportunities for the England and Wales family Bar
Marking Neurodiversity Week 2025, an anonymous barrister shares the revelations and emotions from a mid-career diagnosis with a view to encouraging others to find out more
David Wurtzel analyses the outcome of the 2024 silk competition and how it compares with previous years, revealing some striking trends and home truths for the profession
Save for some high-flyers and those who can become commercial arbitrators, it is generally a question of all or nothing but that does not mean moving from hero to zero, says Andrew Hillier
