In Memory of Timothy Dutton CBE, KC by Geoffrey Williams KC

It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Timothy Dutton.

I first met Tim when as a Solicitor I was dealing with a difficult High Court appeal brought by a very obstructive Solicitor who had been struck off the Roll by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Tim was then a junior barrister at Farrar’s Building and I provided his first brief in Solicitors’ disciplinary work.  Needless to say the case was resolved in favour of our client the predecessor of the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

It was immediately apparent that Tim was blessed with extremely high intellectual abilities and an enormous capacity for hard work.  Thereafter we became firm friends and worked both together and on opposite sides on a regular basis.  Tim exhibited the highest professional standards at all times and had the complete respect of all those he appeared before or indeed against.

 

Speaking for myself I regarded Tim as the foremost barrister of his generation and it was my good fortune to meet him. His professional achievements have been well chronicled elsewhere and I need not dilate upon them here. On a personal level, Tim was possessed of great charm and he and Sappho showed particular kindness towards me and my late wife Kathy.  He was a devoted family man and was always generous in providing help to those who requested it.

 

My thoughts and indeed those of all here at Farrar’s, go out to his widow Sappho and daughter Pia both of whom are barristers.  Tim fought his long illness with great fortitude and, typically of him, worked almost until the end.  He will be sorely missed.  His family and the Bar have lost a great man.

---

• Share article:

---