Over 350 women KCs and judges, representing a diverse range of practice areas and circuits, joined in celebrations at the Royal Courts of Justice to mark 75 years since women first ‘took silk’ and became King’s Counsel (KC) – an award for excellence in advocacy in the higher courts. The event, hosted in the Great Hall, was attended by most senior and most junior KCs.
Our female KCs, Adrienne Page (joint Head of Chambers), who recently celebrated 50 years at the Bar and 25 as Silk, and Christina Michalos KC, attended the event.
In 1949, barristers Helena Normanton and Rose Heilbron were the first women in England and Wales to take silk and become KCs under King George VI. Dame Rose Heilbron’s daughter Hilary Heilbron KC (1987) attended the celebration at the RCJ.
She said: “ ℎ ℎ ℎ ’ ℎ ℎ ℎ , 34, ℎ 75 ℎ .”
5RB is proud of its record in giving opportunities to women to practise at the media Bar and of its current 15 women members, who range from the most senior members of chambers, including both Heads of Chambers, to the most junior, Katya Pereira, who we were delighted to welcome as one of two new tenants of 5RB on 1 October 2024.