Anthony Frank ScrivenerQC (31 July 1935 – 27 March 2015) was a British barrister. His high profile clients led him to becoming one of the highest paid barristers in the UK, commanding the first £1 million brief. He spent a period as chair of theBar Council, where he pushed for reform.
Frank Bertram Scrivener was born inCanterbury,Kent on 31 July 1935. His father, Frank Bertram Scrivener was a shopkeeper and ironmonger and his mother was Edna Isabella Agnes, née Mather. Known to his friends as 'Scriv', he added “Anthony” to his name.[1][2][3]
He was educated atKent College, andUniversity College London, where he read law and graduated in 1957, then beingcalled to the bar atGray's Inn in 1958. He lectured in law inGhana for two years, returned to the UK and became a QC in 1975.[1] He was elected chairman of theBar Council in 1990 and used the appointment to push through reforming measures.[4]
Scrivener's clients included notable individuals such as SirRichard Branson,Gerry Conlon of theGuildford Four,Jack Lyons of theGuinness Four,Lee Clegg,Ken Livingstone,Joseph LyonsAsil Nadir,Tony Martin,Peter Godber, DameShirley Porter andWinston Silcott.[1] Scrivener was one of the highest earning members of the bar, including the first £1 million brief for one of the members of theCarrian Group fraud trial. Despite this, he was a strong supporter oflegal aid, and includedpro bono work in his practice.[1]
In 1989, Scrivener became the vice-chairman of theBar Council, and became chair in 1990. There he instigated a number of reforms tothe law of England and Wales, as well as pushing for reforms further to open up the bar to ethnic minorities and women.[1]
Scrivener married three times; to Sheila Mary Arnott (1958), to Irén Becze (1964) and to Ying Hui Tan, a barrister (1993).[1] Scrivener died on 27 March 2015, at Rendlesham Care Centre, Rendlesham, Suffolk, aged 79 from complications caused byParkinson's disease.[5][1]
{{cite book}}:|website= ignored (help)