The Bar Council has elected Timothy Dutton QC of Fountain Court Chambers as its new chairman, the body announced today (27 July).

Dutton – the current vice-chairman of the Bar – will take up the post on 1 January, 2008, after standing unopposed in an election process. He will replace Geoffrey Vos QC of 3 Stone Buildings in the role, which carries a one-year term.

Dutton was called to the Bar in 1979 and took silk in 1998. His practice covers commercial, public law and professional negligence work.

He was leader of the South Eastern Circuit between 2004 and 2006, during which time he was heavily involved in legal aid issues. More recently he was chairman of the Bar's Carter Response Group.

Commenting on the appointment of his successor, Vos said: "I know [Dutton] will sustain the important work the Council has been doing this year on widening access to the profession, ensuring the survival of a properly-funded legal aid system and improving and then implementing the Legal Services Bill for the benefit of the consumer and the profession alike."