Important Facts of the News
- Six King’s Counsel appointed to the Attorney General’s Senior Treasury Counsel Group.
- The group will support strategic oversight of major government litigation.
- Members will work alongside First Treasury Counsel Sir James Eadie KC.
- Appointees will lead on key cases and provide legal leadership to the Attorney General’s Civil Panel Counsel.
- The group will promote diversity and support career development for junior counsel.
- Appointed by Attorney General Lord Hermer KC and supported by the Government Legal Department.
- GLD handles thousands of litigation cases covering areas such as national security, international law, planning and immigration.
- Announcement published on 6 November 2025.
UK Strengthens Legal Bench for High Profile Public Cases
The United Kingdom has named six senior barristers to form the new Attorney General’s Senior Treasury Counsel Group, a move aimed at boosting the government’s capacity to handle its most complex and high profile legal disputes.
Jonathan Crow KC, Marie Demetriou KC, Kate Grange KC, Tim Otty KC, Jason Pobjoy KC and Julia Smyth KC have been selected to join this group. They will provide strategic advice and share responsibilities with First Treasury Counsel Sir James Eadie KC, who plays a key role in steering major government litigation.
Role and Responsibilities of the New Group
The new Senior Treasury Counsel Group has been created to enhance coordination in important public law cases. Each of the six members will oversee specific matters, which is expected to help ensure that the government benefits from highly focused legal guidance.
Alongside casework, the barristers will take on a leadership role within the Attorney General’s Civil Panel Counsel. This includes encouraging wider representation within the legal profession and helping junior lawyers enhance their skills and experience.
Statements from Government Legal Leadership
According to the Attorney General Lord Hermer KC, the appointed external counsel play a crucial part in addressing significant legal issues facing the country. Their contribution supports government objectives to encourage growth, safeguard communities and deliver positive outcomes for the public. Lord Hermer highlighted the strong expertise and capability of the six appointees, expressing confidence that their involvement will strengthen the government’s legal performance.
Susanna McGibbon KC (Hon), Treasury Solicitor and Permanent Secretary of the Government Legal Department (GLD), noted that GLD deals with thousands of cases and advises on varied legal matters linked to government priorities. She emphasised the importance of experienced external counsel in areas ranging from national security and international law to planning and immigration. McGibbon said that the creation of the group will improve resilience, strengthen strategic oversight and increase efficiency in how external counsel are deployed.
The six appointments were made by the Attorney General and the group will operate with support from the Government Legal Department.