Lady Justice Whipple
Court of Appeal Civil DivisionCourt of Appeal Criminal DivisionBiographies
Lady Justice Philippa Whipple originally qualified as a solicitor, working in the tax department of a city firm for some years before changing tracks and requalifying as a barrister. As a barrister, she practised from chambers in London, in 2010 becoming a Queen’s Counsel (as it then was). She specialised in public law, medical law and tax. From 2010 to 2012, she was Counsel to the Detainee Inquiry chaired by Sir Peter Gibson to consider whether British intelligence officers were implicated in the improper treatment of detainees held by other countries in the aftermath of 9/11.
Her judicial career started in 2005 when she was appointed a Recorder on the Western Circuit, sitting in crime and latterly in civil. In 2013, she became a Deputy High Court Judge. In 2015 she was appointed a High Court Judge assigned to the Queen’s Bench Division (as it then was). In 2021 she was appointed to the Court of Appeal where she now sits. As a judge, she has been involved in a wide range of civil and criminal cases, at first instance and on appeal.
From 2016 to 2019 she was a Judicial Commissioner of the Judicial Appointments Commission. From 2018 to 2021 she was a Presiding Judge of the South Eastern Circuit, leading that circuit during the pandemic. In 2023 the Lady Chief Justice appointed her to the role of Lead Judge for Diversity and Inclusion, Leadership Development and Wellbeing, and in that capacity she sits on the Judicial Executive Board.
She is a bencher and trustee of Middle Temple where she is a member of the Appointments Committee and the Talent Retention Steering Group. She is an honorary fellow of Merton College, Oxford and is President of the College’s alumni association where her focus has been on establishing a mentoring programme for recent graduates.
She is married with three grown up children.