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:
- Andrew Brookes, Housing member
- Naomi Creutzfeldt, Academic member
- Frances Harrison, Consumer member
- Owain James, Welsh representative member
- Jane Portas, Insurance member
- Tim Sawyer, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) member
- Nigel Teasdale, Solicitor member
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.
Biographies
Andrew Brookes
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
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
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
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
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.
Tim Sawyer
Tim Sawyer has spent most of his career in banking and financial services. He has held senior executive roles in the UK and internationally, including as Chief Executive of Bank of Maldives and the Start Up Loans Company.
Nigel Teasdale
Nigel Teasdale is Global Commercial Director for Insurance at DWF. He has extensive experience in the insurance sector and has contributed to policy discussions on insurance and civil justice reform