Seven members appointed to the Civil Justice Council

The Lord Chancellor has approved the appointments of Andrew Brookes, Naomi Creutzfeldt, Frances Harrison, Owain James, Jane Portas, Tim Sawyer and Nigel Teasdale as members of the Civil Justice Council.

The Lord Chancellor has approved the appointment of the following members of the Civil Justice Council (CJC) for 3 years from 23 January 2026:

The CJC is an advisory body established under the Civil Procedure Act 1997. It reviews the civil justice system and advises the judiciary, government and rule-makers on reform, accessibility, fairness and efficiency.

Appointments are made by the Secretary of State for Justice and regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Andrew Brookes is a solicitor specialising in housing law and a Partner at Anthony Gold Solicitors LLP. He has over 30 years’ experience practising across courts and tribunals and has previously served as a Deputy District Judge.

Naomi Creutzfeldt is Professor of Law and Society at the University of Kent. Her work focuses on administrative and civil justice systems, including alternative dispute resolution, access to justice and consumer protection.

Frances Harrison is a specialist in consumer affairs with experience in local authority advice services and national consumer policy. She is a former Head of Policy and Research at the National Consumer Council and currently holds roles with ombudsmen and consumer codes bodies.

Owain Rhys James is a barrister at Civitas Chambers in Cardiff with a broad civil practice. He sits as a Deputy District Judge and practises bilingually in Welsh and English.

Jane Portas OBE is a chartered accountant and former partner at KPMG and PwC. She has held senior roles in insurance regulation and financial services, including at the UK financial services regulator.