The Office of Fair Trading has promoted Frances Barr, a veteran legal director, to the role of senior lawyer at the watchdog.

Ms Barr will take up the position of general counsel on August 1. In her new role, she will be chief legal adviser to the OFT board and oversee almost 100 lawyers.

She replaces Brian McHenry, a long-serving Government lawyer who stood down last year to become a deacon in the Church of England.

John Fingleton, chief executive of the OFT said: "I am extremely pleased to welcome Frances to the position. She brings a great deal of experience in both the private and public sector, and will play a vital role in helping the OFT deliver high impact outcomes for consumers."

Ms Barr, who trained at Slaughter and May, the City law firm, joined the OFT in 1998.

She was involved in the formation of the Competition Act 1998 and the first judicial review of mergers heard by the Competition Appeals Tribunal under the Enterprise Act. She was also seconded to the then Department of Trade and Industry and the Competition Commission.

Ms Barr said: "I am delighted to be taking on this new role at an exciting and challenging time for the OFT.

"In an increasingly litigious environment, my background and experience of both the competition law regime and the public law context will enable the OFT to ensure that it can deliver high impact outcomes which are legally robust."

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