Government names McGibbon as Treasury Solicitor, head of Government Legal Department

McGibbon succeeds Jonathan Jones QC, who resigned in September 2020  amid reports of his unhappiness at government plans to overwrite, through the UK internal market bill, parts of the EU Withdrawal Agreement in relation to Northern Ireland.

McGibbon, who is expected to take up the role on 8 March, is currently Director General, Government Legal Department and Director General Legal Group, Department for Work and Pensions, where she leads and manages the Government Legal Department, as a member of the Board and Executive Committee, in support of the Treasury Solicitor. She is also a member of the DWP Executive Team.

Prior to that she was Director of Litigation at GLD, conducting domestic litigation on behalf of most government departments.

The Attorney General, Suella Braverman, said: “I am delighted that Susanna McGibbon will be the next Treasury Solicitor. Susanna is not only one of the Government’s best lawyers but also one of our best leaders and this was evident in the role she played in co-ordinating the Government’s legal response to the pandemic. I know that Susanna will be an excellent leader of the Government Legal Department and I look forward to working with her.”

McGibbon said: “I am deeply honoured to be the next Treasury Solicitor. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to lead the Government Legal Department, an outstanding legal organisation committed to the highest standards of professionalism, at this important time for our country. I want to pay tribute to colleagues across the Department for their incredible work supporting the full range of government priorities in these challenging circumstances.

“I am looking forward to leading GLD in tackling the challenges and embracing the opportunities of 2021 and beyond. I want to thank Peter Fish and Jonathan Jones for their immeasurable contribution to the Government Legal Profession and wish them well for the future.”