Dacheng Lawyer Invited to Serve as Assessor for the Promotion Review of King's Counsel in the UK

Zhu Yongrui, Senior Partner of Dacheng Beijing Head Office and Hong Kong Office, has been invited to serve as an Assessor for the 2026 King’s Counsel (KC) promotion review in the United Kingdom.

 

King’s Counsel (KC) is a lifelong honorary title conferred on outstanding lawyers in England and Wales and certain Commonwealth jurisdictions, in recognition of their distinguished achievements in higher courts, tribunals and arbitrations. Appointments are primarily made to Barristers; Solicitors with exceptional contributions may also be recognized.

 

The assessment and recommendation include evaluating candidates' performance, providing feedback and endorsing candidates to the Selection Panel. Review criteria cover legal knowledge and application, written and oral advocacy, teamwork, and commitment to diversity. Based on recommendations, the Selection Panel submits proposals to the Lord Chancellor, who presents them to the King of the United Kingdom for formal approval by Letters Patent. The title is held for life even after retirement from practice. Following the return of Hong Kong SAR to China in 1997, KC was renamed Senior Counsel (SC), a title also used in Singapore and other jurisdictions.

 

The Selection Panel is independent of the Bar Council, the Law Society and the government, comprising distinguished individuals from various sectors. Chaired by Ms. Monisha Shah, a leader in commercial communications and digital media, the 2026 Panel has 11 members, 8 of whom are from legal and judicial fields.

 

Zhu Yongrui is qualified as a Solicitor in England and Wales. With over 20 years of experience handling international arbitration cases under UK law, he has worked and trained at Solicitors’ firms and Barristers’ chambers in London, maintains extensive cooperation with UK legal circles, and possesses in-depth knowledge of the UK judiciary.