Sir Stephen Brown
3rd Oct 2025
It with great sadness that we announce the death of Sir Stephen Brown PC GBE at the age of 100 on 1st October 2025. Sir Stephen was a popular, well-respected and liked member and head of 1 Paper Buildings, prior to the formation of Crown Office Chambers. He enjoyed an extremely distinguished career as a barrister and then as a judge, but we particularly remember him for his unwavering kindness to all.
Sir Stephen was called to the Bar in 1949. He initially practised in Birmingham but joined 1 Paper Buildings on taking silk in 1966. After only 9 years in silk, in 1975, he was appointed to the High Court bench. He sat in the Family Division and thereafter the Queen’s Bench Division. He was the Presiding Judge of the Midland and Oxford Circuit from 1977 to 1981. His time as a puisne judge was short, as he was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 1983. He was President of the Family Division from 1988 to 1999, and was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire for services to the Family Court System.
Our thoughts are with Sir Stephen’s family at this time.
