Aucklanders among last QCs

Bruce Gray (left) and Brian Keene after a ceremony in the High Court at Auckland, appointing them as Queen's Counsel. Picture / Richard Robinson

Auckland barristers Brian Keene and Bruce Gray yesterday received what could be the last Queen's Counsel appointments to be made before the title is scrapped next year.

The prestige rank, distinguishing the country's leading lawyers, is due to be replaced with the title of Senior Counsel.

However, until that time, QCs still could be appointed, said the Office of Attorney-General, Michael Cullen.

Existing QCs, numbering about 80, will retain the title of Queen's or King's Counsel - depending on the reigning monarch's gender - which goes back 400 years in England.

Keene and Gray joined the ranks of other QCs at a ceremony in the High Court at Auckland.

Keene became the litigation partner of Morpeth Gould in 1973 and moved to the independent bar in 1993, specialising in public securities and takeovers work, company law, professional liability and arbitration and mediation.

Gray became a partner of Bell Gully in 1985 and a barrister in 2002, specialising in telecommunications and competition law, media law and defamation, tort and liability and sports law.

In another legal appointment this week, Lyn Stevens, QC, was made a judge in the High Court, sitting in Auckland.