New faces line up after Bar election

THE BAR leadership elections have resulted in new faces appearing in the top three positions and the first employed lawyer admitted to the Bar's senior management team.

David Penry-Davey QC was elected as the next deputy chairman, beating current treasurer Martin Bowley QC in what finally became a two-horse race.

Penry-Davey is a criminal and common law barrister at past chairman Anthony Scrivener QC's set at 2-3 Gray's Inn Square. He also followed current Bar chairman Robert Seabrook QC to become leader of the South Eastern circuit, a job which expires when he takes office in January.

New treasurer Michael Blair is a past chair of the Bar Association for Commerce, Finance and Industry and is head of policy and legal affairs at the Sec-urities and Investments Board.

Blair worked at the Lord Chancellor's Department for 21 years, where he was appointed under secretary in 1987. He is the first in-house lawyer to become an officer of the General Council of the Bar.

Bowley's surprise failure to win the deputy chairmanship means he is out of the Bar Council unless he stands for re-election.

A criminal lawyer at 1 Kings Bench Walk, Bowley spent four years as treasurer.