Sarah Falk

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lady Justice Falk
Falk in 2022
Lady Justice of Appeal
Assumed office
2 November 2022
MonarchCharles III
High Court Judge
Chancery Division
In office
1 October 2018 – 2022
MonarchsElizabeth II
Charles III
Personal details
Born
Sarah Valerie Falk

(1962-06-01) 1 June 1962 (age 61)
NationalityBritish
Alma materSidney Sussex College, Cambridge

Dame Sarah Valerie Falk, DBE PC (born 1 June 1962)[1] is a British Court of Appeal judge. She was previously a High Court judge and senior Judicial Appointments Commissioner.

Career[edit]

Falk studied law at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, and was admitted as a solicitor in 1986. Specialising in corporate tax she became a partner in Freshfields in 1994, notably working on the corporate restructure of EMI in 2011.[2][3][4][5]

During her career at Freshfields, Falk noted she experienced sexism despite being a partner. In an interview, she said during her time there she would often be the only female attending meetings and male her colleagues in those meetings would demonstrate selective hearing, with a male colleague repeating a point she had made earlier which then would be treated as a good idea.[6]

In 2015 she was appointed as a deputy judge of the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber) having left Freshfields partnership while still working on a consultancy basis until 2018.[3][1]

High Court appointment[edit]

On 1 October 2018 she was appointed as a High Court judge.[3][7] She received the customary Damehood in 2019.[8]

On 1 October 2019, she was appointed as a Judicial Commissioner of the Judicial Appointments Commission. She retired from the post on 30 September 2022.[3][8]

Court of Appeal and Privy Council appointment[edit]

Her appointment to the Court of Appeal was announced on 2 November 2022.[9] On 14 December 2022 Falk was appointed to the Privy Council, entitling her to the style The Right Honourable for life.[10]

Personal life[edit]

Falk married Marcus Flint in 1985, she has one son and one daughter. She has an interest in classical music, dog walking and horse riding.[1]

She acted as chair of the ProCorda Trust, a youth music organisation, between 2008 and 2018.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Falk, Hon. Dame Sarah (Valerie), (born 1 June 1962), a Judge of the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, since 2018". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 2019. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U291379. ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Freshfields and A&O veterans among five new High Court judges". 1 Attorneys. 1 October 2018. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d "New Commissioner appointed to the Judicial Appointments Commission". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 16 March 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  4. ^ "High Court Judge Appointments". www.judiciary.uk. 15 November 2019. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  5. ^ "High Court Judges 2018 | Judicial Appointments Commission". www.judicialappointments.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Sarah Falk Biography". First 100 Years. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Freshfields and A&O veterans among five new High Court judges". Lawyer firms NEWS. 1 October 2018. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Warrants Under the Royal Sign Manual | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Mrs Justice Sarah Falk (judicial) | Judicial Appointments Commission". www.judicialappointments.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  10. ^ "Orders for 14 December 2022" (PDF). Privy Council Office. Retrieved 30 December 2022.