William Blair QC

Mr Justice William Blair was sworn in on wednesday as a Justice of the High Court.

As the name suggests, he is Tony Blair's older brother, however he is more appropriately renowned as oneh of the UK and indeed the World's foremost authorities on Domestic and International Banking and Finance Law and was until his appointment, a Banking and Finance Silk practising from out of 3 Verulam Buildings.

He was also a Visiting Professor of Law at the London School of Economics and was called to the Bar in 1972 and was appointed QC in 1994.

I could possibly go on about his substantial CV but shall not, the focus of this post being in the most simple sense to genuinely salute a true gentleman of the Bar and a true symbol of what the Legal profession ought to represent.

I first met Bill Blair- as he introduced himself to me- in 2005 in the course of a Commercial Litigation matter in which I represented a set of defendants and which he appeared on behalf of the Plaintiff. His demeanour throughout the case was extremely humble, highly knowledgable as you would indeed expect, fair and totally professional. Whilst we were on opposite sides of an extremely bitter and contentious matter, one could not but be impressed by his professionalism, integrity and sense of propriety.

There are very few men deserving of elevation to the Higher Bench and Bill Blair is or at least should be a shining example to the Legal profession in the widest global context. I extend my sincere and genuine congratulations to a man whom I truly respect and admire.

Being a Lawyer is just a job not a mark of status- Mr Justice Blair plainly epitomises this ethos