Cecilia Xu Lindsey is the first female Chinese national to be issued with a practising certificate to practise in the independent Bar of England and Wales.
Cecilia Xu Lindsey joins First 100 Years for a discussion about her life and career. According to the Bar Council’s records, Cecilia is the first female Chinese national (including people from Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland of China) who was issued with a practising certificate to practise in the independent Bar of England and Wales. She practises at 9 Stone Buildings Barristers’ Chambers in Lincoln’s Inn in London.
She is well respected in Commercial Law, Company Law, Banking Law & Financial Services and Dispute
Resolution, and is often instructed by international lawyers and clients for advice on English law and
representation in English courts and international arbitrations.
Cecilia Xu Lindsey was born and raised in China. She received primary education from her parents and
then in state schools in China. She studied her first degree, BA (Hons) in International Trade in the early 1990s, when China opened to the world and embarked on series of reforms in its social, legal, banking, accounting and industrial systems. She came to the UK to study her higher degree in 1997 and achieved an LLM in International Commercial Law at the University of Nottingham in 1998.
She continued to read English law and completed the Bar Vocational Course in London, and was called
to the Bar in 2012, having forged a career in commerce and international development in both China and
the UK for over ten years and served over eight years in City law firms in London before joining the
independent Bar of England and Wales in 2014. She publishes widely and gives talks on English legal
topics. She also accepts appointments as Arbitrator for international arbitrations. At the 20th anniversary of her graduation at the University of Nottingham, in 2018, she was awarded the “Alumni Laureate Award – the Special Excellence Award” by the University for her professional achievement as being the first female Chinese national to be issued with a practising certificate to practise in the independent Bar of England and Wales.
Cecilia Xu Lindsey brings unique contribution to the English Bar. She also has the honour of regularly
welcoming visiting delegations from overseas particularly the Far East for professional cooperation and
exchange. She brings distinctive view and advice on China-related matters. With the economic cooperation and cultural exchange between the UK and China becoming more frequent, her contribution
in promoting cross jurisdictional exchange and development on Rule of Law among legal professions are
greatly reciprocated in but not limited to the UK.
Why First 100 Years is Important
Cecilia Xu Lindsey: “The First 100 Years reminds us of how our societies have come through. This
celebration highlights the achievement particularly in equality and inclusivity among the legal professions in the UK. Whilst the UK maintains as the leader in promoting equality worldwide, we must remind ourselves that there are women elsewhere who are still confronted with inequality because of their gender. I am extremely honoured to take part in the First 100 Years. I am also excited to continue to inspire others, as well as being inspired by others including Lady Arden and Dame Linda Dobbs.”
