Dame Victoria Sharp DBE, President of the King’s Bench Division

Dame Victoria Sharp read law at Bristol University, was called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in 1979 and took silk in 2001. She became a Recorder in 1998-2008.

She was appointed as a Deputy High Court Judge in 2008, and a High Court Judge of the Queen’s Bench Division (now King’s Bench Division) in 2009.

She was a Presiding Judge on the Western Circuit from 2012 to 2013. She was appointed as a Lady Justice of Appeal in 2013.

She was appointed as the Vice-President of the Queen’s Bench Division (now King’s Bench Division) in January 2016, and President of the Queen’s Bench Division in June 2019.

In February 2020, she was appointed as Deputy Head of Criminal Justice.

Dame Victoria succeeded Sir Brian Leveson and is the first woman to hold the position of President of the Queen’s Bench Division and subsequently is the first woman to hold the position of President of the King’s Bench Division.