As chairman of the Bar Council of England and Wales in 2007, Geoffrey Vos, QC, forcefully represented the profession on key issues such as preserving independence in the face of the Government's legal services reforms, cuts to legal aid, promoting diversity, improving standards and — of course — retaining wigs and gowns. He even (infrequently) wrote a blog. But Vos, 53 today, was a heavyweight at the Bar long before he was chairman of it. Head of chambers at 3 Stone Buildings, he is one of a handful of leading commercial silks, not to mention one of the highest earners. But he effectively took up the cudgels on behalf of the legal aid end of the profession as well as pressing the case for greater access to the Bar for those without funds or connections. He is the son of a Bermondsey leather merchant. Most recently, he has been involved in the battle between the high street banks and the Office of Fair Trading over overdraft charges, the biggest commercial case of the year. A wine and photography buff, Vos is also a deputy High Court judge. He continues his commitment to the less advantaged in society through the Social Mobility Foundation, which last year appointed him its chairman.

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