Masters of the Bench

John was born in Belfast and grew up in Warwickshire, near Stratford-on-Avon. He studied law at New College, Oxford, Clare College, Cambridge and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and taught law at Illinois and New College.  Before studying law he was a residential social worker at a community home school in Airdrie, Scotland.  He spent some time working in law firms in Chicago before coming to the Bar. He has spent his career at 11KBW Chambers, where he is now Joint Head.  He specialises in employment law and related areas of commercial, public, and European law.  He was appointed Recorder in 2004 and was Chair of the Employment Law Bar Association from 2005-7.  John is a Judge of the Administrative Tribunal of the Bank for International Settlements, and Standing Counsel to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.   John is a governor of Warwick School and of Aldwickbury School, Harpenden, where he lives.  He is married to Suzie and has four children, Sophie, Emma, Paddy, and Izzy.  He has many interests outside the law, including reading, theatre, travel, tennis, and football, but hates gardening.