Faculty elects new Vice-Dean

TONY Lenehan KC has been elected as the new Vice-Dean at the Faculty of Advocates.

“The Faculty of Advocates has been very fortunate to have had, as our Vice-Dean for the last four years, the then Ronnie Renucci KC. His tireless efforts on behalf of the criminal bar and all at Faculty – during Covid and in coping with its wake – stands testament to the dedication of Faculty members towards the administration of justice in this country,” said the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, Roddy Dunlop KC.

“On his elevation to Lord Renucci, we were fortunate to have a keenly contested election between two excellent candidates – the current Treasurer, Ruth Crawford KC, and the current president of the Faculty of Advocates Criminal Bar Association (FACBA), Tony Lenehan KC. 

“Following a campaign which saw a very healthy turnout across the board, Mr Lenehan KC has been elected. His efforts as President of FACBA since taking over from Mr Renucci in 2020 plainly paid dividends. I look forward to working with him and am very pleased to have him on board. 

“My consolations to Ms Crawford KC. She has been an excellent Treasurer, as can be seen from the fact that her re-election to that position recently was unopposed. We are very fortunate to have two such excellent and dedicated counsel in the leadership group at Faculty, all of whom will continue to strive to improve access to and the administration of justice in Scotland,” said Mr Dunlop.

Commenting on his election Mr Lenehan said: “It is an honour indeed to join the august list who have held this office. The unique and important resource which the Faculty of Advocates represents in Scottish public life resonates at this time of great change in our justice system, and I will strive to continue Faculty’s positive contribution where I can."

Mr Lenehan, who called to the Bar in 2005 and took silk in 2022, is an experienced specialist criminal counsel involved in all aspects of criminal defence practice and has been an ad hoc advocate depute since 2009. He has had extensive involvement on the Faculty of Advocate’s behalf with the Scottish Government and Parliament over the course of the recent Victims and Vulnerable Witnesses Bill.