The Master of the Rolls, Sir Geoffrey Vos, has retired after almost three decades as a judge.
Vos has been head of civil Justice and second most senior judge in England and Wales since 2021, having served as Chancellor of the High Court from 2016.
As Master of the Rolls, Vos also served as President of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal, with responsibility for the deployment and organisation of judges’ work within it.
Vos said: “It has been a privilege to undertake this historic role at a time when technological change is faster than ever. I have much enjoyed leading the charge for the responsible use of new technologies in our civil courts, whilst maintaining human judicial decisions at the heart of the system.
“I am proud of the advances we have made over the years in digitalisation, reducing paper-dependency in civil justice and improving access to justice for all. These advances would not have been possible without the cooperation, innovation and good humour of judges across the system. I want to thank them for all that they contribute towards the administration of justice.”
He was appointed as a deputy High Court judge in 1999, going on to sit in the Courts of Appeal of Jersey and Guernsey for four years from 2005, before being appointed a High Court Judge in October 2009 and a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2013.
During his 13 years in the Court of Appeal, he heard some of the most complex and legally significant cases across civil, family and tribunal law. And during a decade in senior judicial leadership, Vos has been an advocate for the modernisation and digitalisation of civil justice.
As head of civil justice, Vos has been a champion of the important work of County Courts across the country. During his tenure he has visited more than 100 courts across England and Wales to better understand the experiences of court staff and users.
In addition to his judicial duties, Sir Geoffrey is a member of the LawtechUK Panel. He was instrumental in establishing the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce in 2018, and the International Jurisdiction Taskforce in 2025. He is Vice President of the European Law Institute.
In his retirement, Vos will continue his work with ELI, the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce and the International Jurisdiction Taskforce. He will also chair the steering group of the Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts.
