Lord Phillips returns to chambers as arbitrator

Lord Phillips, who retired as president of the Supreme Court at the end of September, is to rejoin Brick Court as an arbitrator. He was Master of the Rolls and Lord Chief Justice before becoming the Supreme Court's first president.

He remains a non-permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong and president of the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre.

Lord Phillips practiced as a commercial barrister and silk at Brick Court chambers in the 1970s and 1980s.

Jonathan Hirst QC, joint head of the chambers, said Lord Phillips had made an 'immense' contribution to the development of the laws of England and Wales.

'He rejoins chambers to augment a very successful group of international arbitrators whose reputation is truly global.'

When it was announced in July that Lord Neuberger would succeed him, Lord Phillips said: 'Identifying a successor to lead the Supreme Court into the next phase of its life was inevitably a task I approached with mixed feelings '“ a degree of pride in preparing to hand over leadership of an organisation which has maintained a smooth and efficient service as the UK's highest court following the significant changes brought about by the Constitutional Reform Act, but also an element of sadness in leaving that same organisation.

'But in Lord Neuberger I know we have an extremely talented new president, who brings not only a wealth of judicial experience but the ability to lead a collegiate court.'