Alan Mocatta
Encyclopedia
Sir Alan Abraham Mocatta (27 June 1907-1 November 1990) was an English
judge, an expert on restrictive practices and a leader of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews
of Britain.
and New College, Oxford
, he was called to the bar at the Inner Temple
in 1930.
In World War II
he first served as 2nd Lieutenant in 12 LAA Regiment, RA, TA, 1939, but was rapidly promoted to Brigade Major
, 56 AA Brigade, 1940-41; to GSO
(2) AA HQ BTNI, 1941-42; and finally to Lieutenant-Colonel General Staff
, Army Council Secretariat, War Office
, 1942-45. He was awarded the OBE
in 1944.
Returning to his legal career after the end of the war, he was appointed QC
in 1951. He was elected a Bencher
of his Inn in 1960. He served as a Judge of the High Court of Justice
(Queen's Bench Division) from 1961 (the year in which he received his knighthood) to 1981. Also from 1961 to 1981 he was a Member of the Restrictive Practices Court
, of which he was President from 1970.
In 1982 he served as Treasurer of the Inner Temple.
He contributed also to legal literature as joint editor on the 14th-19th editions of "Scrutton on Charter Parties"; editor on the 3rd edition of "Rowlatt on Principal and Surety"; and as a member of the Advisory Panel for the 4th edition of "Halsbury's Laws of England
".
From 1955 to 1956 he was Chairman of the Treasury Committee on Cheque Endorsement.
He was also Chairman of the Council of Jews' College
, 1945-61 and Vice-President of the Board of Elders of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation, London
, from 1961 to 1967, and President from 1967 to 1982.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
judge, an expert on restrictive practices and a leader of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews
Spanish and Portuguese Jews
Spanish and Portuguese Jews are a distinctive sub-group of Sephardim who have their main ethnic origins within the Jewish communities of the Iberian peninsula and who shaped communities mainly in Western Europe and the Americas from the late 16th century on...
of Britain.
Legal and military career
After attending Clifton CollegeClifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
and New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, he was called to the bar at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1930.
In World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he first served as 2nd Lieutenant in 12 LAA Regiment, RA, TA, 1939, but was rapidly promoted to Brigade Major
Brigade Major
In the British Army, a Brigade Major was the Chief of Staff of a brigade. He held the rank of Major and was head of the brigade's "G - Operations and Intelligence" section directly and oversaw the two other branches, "A - Administration" and "Q - Quartermaster"...
, 56 AA Brigade, 1940-41; to GSO
GSO
GSO can refer to:Grid System Operation*General Staff Officer - a military appointment. Variants GSO1, GSO2, GSO3*The IATA airport code for Piedmont Triad International Airport near Greensboro, North Carolina in the United States...
(2) AA HQ BTNI, 1941-42; and finally to Lieutenant-Colonel General Staff
General Staff
A military staff, often referred to as General Staff, Army Staff, Navy Staff or Air Staff within the individual services, is a group of officers and enlisted personnel that provides a bi-directional flow of information between a commanding officer and subordinate military units...
, Army Council Secretariat, War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
, 1942-45. He was awarded the OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1944.
Returning to his legal career after the end of the war, he was appointed QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1951. He was elected a Bencher
Bencher
A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
of his Inn in 1960. He served as a Judge of the High Court of Justice
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
(Queen's Bench Division) from 1961 (the year in which he received his knighthood) to 1981. Also from 1961 to 1981 he was a Member of the Restrictive Practices Court
Restrictive Practices Court
The Restrictive Practices Court is a senior court of record in the United Kingdom. It was created in 1956 to foster competition through enforcement of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1956. Though the Court was overhauled in 1976, by the end of the century, the legislation was perceived as...
, of which he was President from 1970.
In 1982 he served as Treasurer of the Inner Temple.
He contributed also to legal literature as joint editor on the 14th-19th editions of "Scrutton on Charter Parties"; editor on the 3rd edition of "Rowlatt on Principal and Surety"; and as a member of the Advisory Panel for the 4th edition of "Halsbury's Laws of England
Halsbury's Laws of England
Halsbury's Laws of England is a uniquely comprehensive and authoritative encyclopaedia of law, and provides the only complete narrative statement of law in England and Wales. It has an alphabetised title scheme covering all areas of law, drawing on authorities including Acts of the United Kingdom,...
".
From 1955 to 1956 he was Chairman of the Treasury Committee on Cheque Endorsement.
He was also Chairman of the Council of Jews' College
Jews' College
-Origins and Remit Today:Jews' College, now known as the London School of Jewish Studies , was opened in Finsbury Square, London as a rabbinical seminary in 1855 with the support of Chief Rabbi Nathan Adler and of Sir Moses Montefiore, who had conceived the idea for such a venture as early as...
, 1945-61 and Vice-President of the Board of Elders of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation, London
Bevis Marks Synagogue
----Bevis Marks Synagogue is located off Bevis Marks, in the City of London. The synagogue, affiliated to London's historic Spanish and Portuguese Jewish community, is the oldest synagogue in the United Kingdom still in use...
, from 1961 to 1967, and President from 1967 to 1982.