Masters of the Bench

Derek Wood CBE KC has been a member of Falcon Chambers since 1965. His practice covers all aspects of property law, especially landlord and tenant. He was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 1978 and has sat as a Recorder and Deputy High Court Judge.  He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a Chartered Arbitrator. He is a Bencher of the Middle Temple and was Treasurer in 2006. He has served as chairman or member of various Government advisory committees on property, planning, transport and rating and has been awarded the CBE for services to property law. He was Principal of St Hugh’s College Oxford from 1991 to 2002 and is an Honorary Fellow of St Hugh’s College and University College Oxford.

Between 2008 and 2011 Derek carried out reviews on behalf of the Bar Standards Board on the Bar Vocational Course, pupillage and Continuing Professional Development. Since 2011 he has served as Director of Advocacy in the Middle Temple. He was chairman of the Research and Development Committee of the Advocacy Training Council, and has been appointed Chair of the Governors of the newly-established Inns of Court College of Advocacy.