Lord Falconer is an English barrister and partner in Gibson Dunn's London office. His practice focuses on commercial advocacy in courts and arbitral tribunals. He is a member of the UK House of Lords, appointed in 1997 as Prime Minister Blair's first appointment to the Lords. Before that he had spent 25 years as commercial advocate and QC. He was appointed Solicitor-General in May 1997. Thereafter he was Housing Minister and Criminal Justice minister. He was Lord Chancellor between 2003 and 2007. During his term of office he led the creation of the UK Supreme Court, the Judicial Appointments Commission and the first Speaker of the House of Lords.