Professor Richard Susskind has been awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for services to information technology and the law, in a King’s Birthday Honours List that included an OBE for Obelisk Support founder Dana Denis-Smith, and recognition for some of those involved in the Post Office Horizon IT and Infected Blood inquiries.
Susskind has long advocated for better use of technology within the legal profession, particularly within the context of providing much-needed access to justice. He is the author of many books on the future of the legal profession and has also long predicted the disruption that AI will bring. Susskind has already been awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) and now receives the second highest ranking order. His roles include former president of the Society for Computers and Law and now special envoy for justice and AI to the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. He said on LinkedIn: “A huge thank you to all my family, friends, colleagues, clients, and fellow travellers for supporting me over the years in my ongoing efforts to upgrade our legal and justice systems. The journey continues.”
Denis-Smith, in addition to founding Obelisk Support, which helps women to work flexibly in law, is also the founder of First 100 Years, which celebrates the first 100 years of women in legal practice. Her highly-deserved OBE was for services to women in the legal profession. Commenting on LinkedIn, Denis-Smith, who is originally from Romania, said: “I dedicate this special award of an OBE to all those who gave me wings – to dream and fly and try to do what I felt strongly was the right things to do in a country that has been so good to me since I moved to the UK all alone, as a teenager.”
This year’s Honour’s list notably included many of those involved in and affected by the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, including Dr Kay Linnell, a forensic accountant, expert witness, and key adviser to the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance. Dr Linnell receives an OBE for services to justice.
Also receiving an OBE are former subpostmasters Christopher Head, Seema Misra, Lee Castleton, and Jo Hamilton. Head became Britain’s youngest Subpostmaster at the age of 18 but was suspended in 2015, accused of stealing over £80,000, and pursued by the Post Office in a civil case. Misra was eight weeks pregnant with her second child when she was sentenced to 15 months in prison. Castleton was falsely accused of stealing £25,000 and declared bankrupt after a two-year legal battle. Hamilton was wrongly convicted for false accounting in 2006, received a supervision order and had to ‘repay’ £36,000. Computer Weekly journalist Rebecca Thomson, whose research helped to unearth the injustices committed, also receives an OBE.
With regard to the Infected Blood Inquiry, solicitor Emma Morris, the lead solicitor in the inquiry, receives an OBE for public service.
Mainstream legal awards include a knighthood for former Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partner Edward Braham, who is honoured for his services corporate law and business. Former solicitor-turned-Major of London, Sadiq Khan, received a knighthood, and barrister Eleanor Sharpston KC – former advocate general at the European Court of Justice – becomes Dame Commander of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, for services to justice and to the education of law in the UK and Europe.
The Honours awards are recommended by the prime minister, senior government ministers and members of the public. Other awards include:
CBE
Charles Pritam Singh Dhanowa OBE, registrar at the Competition Appeal Tribunal, is honoured for services to competition law.
Barrister Christopher Katowski KC receives the honour for services to planning.
Her Honour Sehba Haroon Storey, Principal Judge, Asylum Support Tribunal. For services to Diversity and Inclusion
Michelle Macleod, For services to Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement in Scotland
James Edwin Palmer, Senior Corporate and Governance Lawyer, Herbert Smith, Freehills. For services to Business and to Law
OBE
Vanessa Caroline Havard-Williams, For services to Legal and Financial Services, to Public Finance and to Tackling Climate Change
Ian Karet, partner at Linklaters and former interim chair at the Charity Commission, for charitable and public service.
Jacqueline Salomë Macdonald-Davis JP, Magistrate Central London Bench. For services to the Administration of Justice and to Volunteering
Soumya Majumdar, Head of Unit, Proceeds of Crime Division, Crown Prosecution Service. For services to Law and Order
Kathryn Marian Roe, Deputy Director, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. For services to Cyber Security
MBE
Professor Vladlena Benson, Professor Aston Business School, Cyber Security Innovation Research Centre. For services to Cyber Security
Samantha Hamber, Head of Criminal Justice Services, St Mungo’s. For services to Tackling Homelessness
Lisa Margaret Haythorne, Senior Solicitor Derbyshire Law Centre, and President Sheffield and District Law Society. For services to Vulnerable and to Homeless People
Beverley Higgs JP, Magistrate Avon, Somerset and Gloucester Bench and Magistrates’ Association Volunteer. For services to the Administration of Justice
Margaret Kirby, solicitor and founder, Legacare, for services to the law and to vulnerable people.
Daniel Kevin Longman JP, deputy chair, Liverpool Bench, receives the award for services to the administration of justice.
Triska Mamand, For services to Law Enforcement
Anna Twomlow, victim and witness care coordinator, at the Serious Fraud Office is honoured for services to the administration of justice.
James White, Officer, National Crime Agency. For services to Law Enforcement