The Rt Hon Lord Justice Colin Birss has been appointed Chancellor of the High Court and head of the Chancery Division with day to day responsibility for the Business and Property Courts.
Renowned for embracing technology and the current Lead Judge for Artificial Intelligence, Birss is ‘well placed to both lead the Chancery Division and handle the diverse cases coming before the Business and Property Courts’ said Law Society of England and Wales vice president Brett Dixon.
At the swearing in ceremony the Lady Chief Justice said:
“I am – we all are – delighted to welcome Colin as he takes up appointment. The Chancery Division is in extremely safe and able hands. I am in no doubt that he will make a fine Chancellor… With the utmost warmth we wish him well as he takes up his important duties.”
Andrew Waugh KC, representing the Bar of England and Wales. said:
“In addition to his judicial role as a Judge of the Court of Appeal, Sir Colin also undertook the role of Deputy Head of Civil Justice and has become widely known for embracing technology in the legal system, particularly artificial intelligence – serving as the Lead Judge for Artificial Intelligence, guiding AI integration within the judiciary but with all the caveats and caution that embracing such technology requires. As Chancellor of the High Court, Sir Colin’s contributions will no doubt continue unabated and, in those endeavours, we wish him every success.”
The Rt Hon Lord Justice Colin Birss was called to the Bar in 1990 and took Silk in 2008. He started his judicial career as a Deputy Chairman of the Copyright Tribunal in 2009. He was appointed as a Senior Circuit Judge in 2010, as a High Court Judge assigned to the Chancery Division in 2013 and as a Judge of the Court of Appeal in 2021. He became the Deputy Head of Civil Justice in 2020 and is currently Lead Judge for Artificial Intelligence. On his appointment he added
“I am honoured to be sworn in as Chancellor of the High Court and I am excited to bring the experience I have gained as Deputy Head of Civil Justice to this unique role. I look forward to working with all the judges of the Business and Property Courts to provide access to justice and ensure timely and fair resolution of the disputes in these courts, promoting the rule of law. The Business and Property Courts, with their home in the Rolls Building and specialist courts across England and Wales, are key to the UK’s position as a leading centre for international dispute resolution, and I will continue the work of my predecessors to maintain that position.”
