Fiona Shackleton and David Gold to become Tory peers

Payne Hicks Beach partner Fiona Shackleton and Herbert Smith’s former senior partner David Gold are to join the House of Lords as Conservative peers.

Divorce lawyer Shackleton shot to prominence in the 1990s when she acted for Prince Andrew in his divorce from Sarah Ferguson. She went on to act for Prince Charles in his divorce from Princess Diana.

In 2008, she became the highest profile lawyer in the UK after being instructed to act for Paul McCartney in his divorce from Heather Mills (28 August).

Shackleton was featured on the front page of The Sun after it emerged the Mills poured a glass of water over her in the High Court when the settlement was reached (17 March 2008).

Herbert Smith litigator Gold completed a five-year term as senior partner in May. Prior to that he headed the firm’s litigation practice. As head of the firm Gold oversaw its international expansion in emerging markets.

In August, he was revealed as the independent corporate monitor at BAE Systems. The appointment, made by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) in consultation with the defence and aerospace company, came after a settlement with the DoJ, drawn up in the aftermath of an investigation into contract payments (31 August).

Jonathan Marks QC of 4 Pump Court will become a Liberal Democrat peer. The barrister, who was called to the bar in 1975 and made a silk in 1995, specialises in commercial and family law.