Former Simmons & Simmons senior partner Bill Knight has been awarded an OBE in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Knight, who was chairman of the Financial Reporting Review Panel until retiring in March this year, has been awarded the honour for services to financial regulation. He was succeeded as chairman of the regulator by former Herbert Smith partner Richard Fleck after spending eight years in the role.

Since retiring as Simmons' senior partner in 2001, Knight (pictured) has retained his links with the legal profession, and has been a vocal proponent of the need for partners to be proactive in developing their post-law careers.

He recently teamed up with ex-Allen & Overy (A&O) and Slaughter and May senior partners Guy Beringer and Tim Clark, as well as RollOnFriday founder Matthew Rhodes, to launch a new service intended to help partners find non-executive positions with charities. The venture, which currently has the working title BCKR, is expected to formally launch in the summer.

Knight said he was especially pleased with the recognition of the work of the Financial Reporting Review Panel, which is formed of senior retired practitioners who check company accounts, working for no remuneration.

He said: "I am very pleased, in particular because it is also a tribute to the Financial Reporting Review. It is a very British way of doing things, it is very effective and sensible, and I am pleased that has been recognised in this way."

In recent years Knight has also chaired the judging panel for the British Legal Awards. He will be succeeded this year by City of London Law Society chairman and former Travers Smith senior partner Alasdair Douglas.

Other lawyers included in this year's honours list include Paul Jenkins QC, the chief executive and permanent secretary of the Treasury Solicitor's Department, who has been knighted as a member of the Order of the Bath. Jenkins, who joined the Government Legal Service from the Bar in 1979 , has recently faced media scrutiny for his role in the appointment of culture secretary Jeremy Hunt to oversee News Corp's bid for BSkyB.

Meanwhile, Tom Crighton Murray, director of Legal Services and Applications at the Scottish Legal Aid Board, has received an OBE for services to the legal system in Scotland, with mediator Clive Callman at ADR Chambers knighted for services to law, education and charity,

Jason Hadden of St Ives Chambers has been handed an MBE for services to pro bono legal services, with district judge Nicholas Crichton receiving an MBE for services to the family justice system.

Click here for the full Queen's Birthday Honours List.