Newsroom

OFT appoints new General Counsel

88/08    24 July 2008

The OFT has appointed Frances Barr to the post of General Counsel.

Frances joined the OFT in 1998, and is currently a Legal Director. She trained and worked for law firm Slaughter and May and has worked on secondments to the then Department of Trade and Industry and the Competition Commission.

Frances has worked on a range of issues at OFT including the development of the framework for the Competition Act 1998, and the first judicial reviews of mergers to be heard by the Competition Appeals Tribunal under the Enterprise Act, as well as key Competition Act cases.

The General Counsel role combines responsibility for advice on competition and consumer law, public law, litigation and consumer credit adjudication. Frances will also act as Head of Legal Profession at the OFT.

John Fingleton, OFT Chief Executive said :

'I am extremely pleased to welcome Frances to the position of OFT General Counsel. She brings a great deal of experience in both the private and public sector, and will play a vital role in helping the OFT deliver high impact outcomes for consumers.'

Frances Barr said:

'I am delighted to be taking on this new role at an exciting and challenging time for the OFT. In an increasingly litigious environment, my background and experience of both the competition law regime and the public law context will enable the OFT to ensure that it can deliver high impact outcomes which are legally robust. In my role as Head of Profession, I want to develop the legal talent within the OFT and recruit to build a dynamic team recognised for its legal excellence and able to deliver the OFT's mission.'

Frances will take up position as OFT General Counsel on 1 August 2008.

NOTES

1. This position was subject to open competition having been advertised both internally and externally.

Back to:2008