Nicholas Phillips, Baron Phillips of Worth Matravers
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Addison Phillips, Baron Phillips of Worth Matravers, KG
PC (born 21 January 1938) is the President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
. Before 1 October 2009 his title was Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
. He was Master of the Rolls
from 2000 to 2005 and Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
from 2005 until 1 October 2008. He was the first Lord Chief Justice to be head of the English judiciary, when that function was transferred from the Lord Chancellor
in April 2006. On 11 October 2011, it was announced that Lord Phillips will retire early, effective 30 September 2012.
. He has been a Governor of the school since 1975 and has been Chairman of the Governors since 1981. He undertook his National Service
with the Royal Navy
and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
, where he was a commissioned officer. After the two years' service he went to King's College, Cambridge
, where he read law. In 1962, he was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple
, where he was the Harmsworth Scholar. He undertook pupillage at 2 Essex Court chambers (where the QC was the Anglo-American Waldo Porges) but did not obtain tenancy there. He went into practice elsewhere specialising in maritime law. In 1973 he was appointed as Junior Counsel to the Ministry of Defence
and to the Treasury
in maritime and Admiralty matters. In 1978 he "took silk" and became a Queen's Counsel
.
and from 1987 was a full-time High Court Judge
on the Queen's Bench Division, with the customary knighthood. He took an interest in legal training, and was Chairman of the Council of Legal Education from 1992 to 1997. He presided over several complex fraud trials including those covering the Robert Maxwell
pension fund fraud and Barlow Clowes. In 1995, he became a Lord Justice of Appeal
and was appointed to the Privy Council. He was elevated to the House of Lords
as Baron Phillips of Worth Matravers
, of Belsize Park
in the London Borough of Camden
, in 1998.
In early 1999, he was made a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
and in 2000 succeeded Lord Woolf
as Master of the Rolls
. He conducted an inquiry into the outbreak of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
. He was also chosen Vice-President of the British Maritime Law Association and of the UCD Law Society. He served as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
from 2005 to 2008, when he was reappointed as a Law Lord. Since 2008, Lord Phillips was the Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
until he became the first President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
on 1 October 2009. Queen Elizabeth II created him a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter
on 23 April 2011.
, London
. He regularly wakes at 5am and begins work at home before attending the Court. He is a member of Brooks's
and the Garrick Club
. He is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Drapers
and of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights
, and an honorary fellow of the Society of Advanced Legal Studies and University College London
.
He has received honorary degrees of Doctor of Laws (LL.D) from the Universities of Exeter
(1998), Birmingham
(2003) and London
(2004) and the International Institute of Maritime Law, and of Doctor of Civil Law
(D.CL) from City University, London
(2003). He is also the current Chancellor at Bournemouth University
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
PC (born 21 January 1938) is the President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is the supreme court in all matters under English law, Northern Ireland law and Scottish civil law. It is the court of last resort and highest appellate court in the United Kingdom; however the High Court of Justiciary remains the supreme court for criminal...
. Before 1 October 2009 his title was Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
The President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is the head of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. The office is equivalent to the now-defunct position of Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, also known as the Senior Law Lord, who was the highest ranking Lord of Appeal in Ordinary...
. He was Master of the Rolls
Master of the Rolls
The Keeper or Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England, known as the Master of the Rolls, is the second most senior judge in England and Wales, after the Lord Chief Justice. The Master of the Rolls is the presiding officer of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal...
from 2000 to 2005 and Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales is the head of the judiciary and President of the Courts of England and Wales. Historically, he was the second-highest judge of the Courts of England and Wales, after the Lord Chancellor, but that changed as a result of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005,...
from 2005 until 1 October 2008. He was the first Lord Chief Justice to be head of the English judiciary, when that function was transferred from the Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
in April 2006. On 11 October 2011, it was announced that Lord Phillips will retire early, effective 30 September 2012.
Early life
Phillips was educated at Bryanston SchoolBryanston School
Bryanston School is a co-educational independent school for both day and boarding pupils in Blandford, north Dorset, England, near the village of Bryanston. It was founded in 1928...
. He has been a Governor of the school since 1975 and has been Chairman of the Governors since 1981. He undertook his National Service
Conscription in the United Kingdom
Conscription in the United Kingdom has existed for two periods in modern times. The first was from 1916 to 1919, the second was from 1939 to 1960, with the last conscripted soldiers leaving the service in 1963...
with the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Royal Naval Reserve
The Royal Naval Reserve is the volunteer reserve force of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. The present Royal Naval Reserve was formed in 1958 by merging the original Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve , a reserve of civilian volunteers founded in 1903...
, where he was a commissioned officer. After the two years' service he went to King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
, where he read law. In 1962, he was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
, where he was the Harmsworth Scholar. He undertook pupillage at 2 Essex Court chambers (where the QC was the Anglo-American Waldo Porges) but did not obtain tenancy there. He went into practice elsewhere specialising in maritime law. In 1973 he was appointed as Junior Counsel to the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
and to the Treasury
HM Treasury
HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
in maritime and Admiralty matters. In 1978 he "took silk" and became a Queen's Counsel
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...
.
Judicial career
In 1982, Phillips was appointed a RecorderRecorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
and from 1987 was a full-time High Court Judge
High Court judge
A High Court judge is a judge of the High Court of Justice, and represents the third highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales. High Court judges are referred to as puisne judges...
on the Queen's Bench Division, with the customary knighthood. He took an interest in legal training, and was Chairman of the Council of Legal Education from 1992 to 1997. He presided over several complex fraud trials including those covering the Robert Maxwell
Robert Maxwell
Ian Robert Maxwell MC was a Czechoslovakian-born British media proprietor and former Member of Parliament , who rose from poverty to build an extensive publishing empire...
pension fund fraud and Barlow Clowes. In 1995, he became a Lord Justice of Appeal
Lord Justice of Appeal
A Lord Justice of Appeal is an ordinary judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, the court that hears appeals from the High Court of Justice, and represents the second highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales-Appointment:...
and was appointed to the Privy Council. He was elevated to the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
as Baron Phillips of Worth Matravers
Worth Matravers
Worth Matravers is a village and civil parish in the English county of Dorset. The village is situated on the cliffs west of Swanage. It comprises limestone cottages and farm houses and is built around a pond, which is a regular feature on postcards of the Isle of Purbeck.The civil parish stretches...
, of Belsize Park
Belsize Park
Belsize Park is an area of north-west London, England, in the London Borough of Camden.It is located north-west of Charing Cross and situated on the Northern Line. It borders Hampstead to the north and west, Kentish Town and Gospel Oak to the east, Camden Town to the south east and Primrose Hill...
in the London Borough of Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
, in 1998.
In early 1999, he was made a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, commonly known as Law Lords, were appointed under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 to the House of Lords of the United Kingdom in order to exercise its judicial functions, which included acting as the highest court of appeal for most domestic matters...
and in 2000 succeeded Lord Woolf
Harry Woolf, Baron Woolf
Harry Kenneth Woolf, Baron Woolf, PC, FBA, , born 2 May 1933, was Master of the Rolls from 1996 until 2000 and Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 2000 until 2005. The Constitutional Reform Act 2005 made him the first Lord Chief Justice to be President of the Courts of England and Wales...
as Master of the Rolls
Master of the Rolls
The Keeper or Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England, known as the Master of the Rolls, is the second most senior judge in England and Wales, after the Lord Chief Justice. The Master of the Rolls is the presiding officer of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal...
. He conducted an inquiry into the outbreak of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy , commonly known as mad-cow disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease in cattle that causes a spongy degeneration in the brain and spinal cord. BSE has a long incubation period, about 30 months to 8 years, usually affecting adult cattle at a peak age onset of...
. He was also chosen Vice-President of the British Maritime Law Association and of the UCD Law Society. He served as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales is the head of the judiciary and President of the Courts of England and Wales. Historically, he was the second-highest judge of the Courts of England and Wales, after the Lord Chancellor, but that changed as a result of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005,...
from 2005 to 2008, when he was reappointed as a Law Lord. Since 2008, Lord Phillips was the Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
The President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is the head of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. The office is equivalent to the now-defunct position of Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, also known as the Senior Law Lord, who was the highest ranking Lord of Appeal in Ordinary...
until he became the first President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is the supreme court in all matters under English law, Northern Ireland law and Scottish civil law. It is the court of last resort and highest appellate court in the United Kingdom; however the High Court of Justiciary remains the supreme court for criminal...
on 1 October 2009. Queen Elizabeth II created him a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
on 23 April 2011.
Personal life
Phillips is married to Christylle Marie-Thérèse Rouffiac, with whom he has two daughters, and a stepson and stepdaughter, and lives in HampsteadHampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He regularly wakes at 5am and begins work at home before attending the Court. He is a member of Brooks's
Brooks's
Brooks's is one of London's most exclusive gentlemen's clubs, founded in 1764 by 27 men, including four dukes. From its inception, it was the meeting place for Whigs of the highest social order....
and the Garrick Club
Garrick Club
The Garrick Club is a gentlemen's club in London.-History:The Garrick Club was founded at a meeting in the Committee Room at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on Wednesday 17 August 1831...
. He is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Drapers
Worshipful Company of Drapers
The Worshipful Company of Drapers is one of the 108 Livery Companies of the City of London; it has the formal name of The Master and Wardens and Brethren and Sisters of the Guild or Fraternity of the Blessed Mary the Virgin of the Mystery of Drapers of the City of London but is more usually known...
and of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights
Worshipful Company of Shipwrights
The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London.The Shipwrights' Company has not, unlike other Livery Companies, ever received a Royal Charter; instead, it is considered incorporated "by prescription" because the body had for a long time used this title...
, and an honorary fellow of the Society of Advanced Legal Studies and University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
.
He has received honorary degrees of Doctor of Laws (LL.D) from the Universities of Exeter
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
(1998), Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
(2003) and London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
(2004) and the International Institute of Maritime Law, and of Doctor of Civil Law
Doctor of Civil Law
Doctor of Civil Law is a degree offered by some universities, such as the University of Oxford, instead of the more common Doctor of Laws degrees....
(D.CL) from City University, London
City University, London
City University London , is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1894 as the Northampton Institute and became a university in 1966, when it adopted its present name....
(2003). He is also the current Chancellor at Bournemouth University
Bournemouth University
Bournemouth University is a university in and around the large south coast town of Bournemouth, UK...
Styles
- Nicholas Phillips Esq (birth–1978)
- Nicholas Phillips Esq QC (1978–1987)
- The Hon Mr Justice Phillips (1987–1995)
- The Rt Hon Lord Justice Phillips (1995–1999)
- The Rt Hon The Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers PC (1999–2011)
- The Rt Hon The Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers KG PC (2011–present)
See also
Decided cases- Moore Stephens v Stone Rolls LtdMoore Stephens v Stone Rolls LtdMoore Stephens v Stone Rolls Ltd [2009] is a leading case relevant for UK company law and the law on fraud and ex turpi causa non oritur actio...
[2009] UKHL 39 - Great Peace Shipping Ltd v Tsavliris Salvage (International) Ltd (2002)
- Shogun Finance Ltd v HudsonShogun Finance Ltd v HudsonShogun Finance Ltd v Hudson [2003] is an English contract law decided in the House of Lords, on the subject of mistaken identity as a basis for rescission of a contract. The case has been the subject of much criticism in failing to effectively clarify the area of mistake to identity.-Facts:A rogue...
[2004] UKHL
External links
- Dyer, Clare, He pointed a finger where it ought to be pointed. He didn't go over the top ... He has shown himself to be politic, The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, 23 September 2005. - BSE enquiry, UK government
- Ministry of Justice: President, Supreme Court
- Lord Phillips interviewed by ReConstitution, in which he expresses views on the new Supreme Court and the role of the Judiciary.