High-court judge Sir Terence Etherton has been made a Lord Justice of the Court of Appeal - the second-highest court in England and Wales.
Sir Terence, 57, was promoted partly in recognition of his work as chairman of the Law Commission for England, Wales and Ireland, in addition to his service in the High Court.
He tells People: "It's a great honour to be appointed to the Court of Appeal. It reflects that high standing of the Law Commission and the reports we produce."
A graduate of Cambridge University, Sir Terence was called to the Bar by Gray's Inn in 1974 and appointed Queen's Counsel in 1990.
He was made a High Court Judge in 2001 and assigned to the Chancery Division.
He is also a former member of the British sabre fencing team, which won gold at the Commonwealth Championships in 1978, before he qualified for the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
Home is in West London. He is a member of West London Synagogue.