Herbert Smith Freehills alternative legal services head Libby Jackson has received an MBE in this year's Queen's birthday honours list.

She was given the honour for services to the Northern Ireland economy and innovation in law.

Jackson told Legal Week: "I'm over the moon – it was so unexpected and I'm very excited."

After joining legacy Herbert Smith as a City trainee in 1994, Jackson relocated to Belfast in 2011 to launch HSF's first legal services office.

Since then, the firm's operations covering legal and technology services have expanded across the globe. Jackson now heads up the global operation, with offices spanning London, Belfast, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, New York, Shanghai, Johannesburg and Hong Kong.

She added: "I've been very lucky to be given the opportunity by the firm to take a leap in my career. To go somewhere new and build a new type of business is really amazing.

"This honour is very much shared with so many people in the team who have worked so hard along the way."

White & Case City-based banking partner and Africa group director Joshua Siaw has also been appointed MBE. He was recognised for his services to the law, UK legal services and to young people, as well as his contribution to UK trade and investment globally, particularly in Africa.

Siaw was the only lawyer to support UK Prime Minister Theresa May on her trade mission to Africa last autumn, and was also appointed to the Prime Minister's UK-Africa FinTech Investment Advisory Group.

Last year, former Serious Fraud Office head David Green was knighted in the Queen's birthday honours list, before joining Magic Circle firm Slaughter and May in the autumn.