The Treasurer’s Welcome Message 2026
Elspeth Talbot Rice KC succeeds The Hon Sir Paul Morgan as Treasurer of Lincoln’s Inn. Read her message to members as she begins her year as Treasurer.
My goal is to throw the familial arms of the Inn wide open, to continue to make the Inn a place where everyone feels welcome and where all members, from whatever walk of life, wish to be involved and play an active part. Everyone is welcome.
Elspeth Talbot Rice KC, Treasurer of Lincoln's Inn 2026
May I take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy and healthy new year and a year of realising aspirations.
I am honoured, excited and thrilled in equal measure to serve as Treasurer of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn for 2026, an institution which, 35 years ago, opened its arms to me, a proud northerner with no connections to the bar whatever, which bestowed on me a scholarship to help me through my pupillage year, and which has been a rock of stability, support and friendship ever since.
I take over as Treasurer with heartfelt thanks to my predecessors, and particularly to my immediate predecessor, the Hon Sir Paul Morgan who has been an inspiration over the past year and has led the Inn brilliantly, particularly in the debate over the question of timing of Call which was conducted in an exemplary fashion. At the beginning of his year Paul hoped for a broad consensus to be achieved on this topic. After a detailed impartial briefing and a very civilised debate, an overwhelming consensus was achieved. Where that important aspect of professional life goes remains to be seen, but the Inn’s view on it is clear.
Paul’s are very big boots to fill. I will do my very best to lead the Inn in the forward momentum which my predecessors have created, celebrating our old traditions in a modern and inclusive environment which recognises and condemns bullying and harassment of any kind. I will be relying in that endeavour on the help of our terrific Executive Team, led by Emma Hopkins, and on my fellow Benchers and particularly those on the Cursus and all those who give selflessly of their time and experience, especially to the Inn’s student and educational activities. We will go forward as a team, as my firm belief, having played team sports all my life, is that a team which operates as a team is always stronger than a collective which does not.
In that vein, the Inn relies on all its members as well as its executive for the great work which it delivers, whether in its exceptional educational offering, in keeping and maintaining our historic buildings, in its work to show all that the bar is for anyone with the wherewithal, appetite and energy to do the work of a barrister or in the many other aspects of the Inn’s life which make it the unrivalled collegiate place which it is – our events, our scholarships, our library, chattels, and so much more, to say nothing of all the work which goes on behind the scenes to deliver the visible aspects of Inn life, such as finances, catering, staff and human resources, governance, the list goes on (and on). Members of Lincoln’s Inn, we are hugely fortunate to be part of something so historic which is dedicated to the highest standards in the upholding of the rule of law. I therefore welcome and encourage all members who may not yet have had the opportunity to get involved (or perhaps thought it was not for them) to join in giving something back to the Inn which has supported them, and thereby to be part of the continuation of more than 600 years of history. At least come and find out more at our ‘Make an Impact’ event on 27 January at 18:00 in the Ashworth Centre.
My goal is to throw the familial arms of the Inn wide open, to continue to make the Inn a place where everyone feels welcome and where all members, from whatever walk of life, wish to be involved and play an active part. Everyone is welcome. I will rely on all members to be with me on that mission, and I will do my utmost to make it a fun and energetic one.
I look forward to the year enormously, and thank my fellow benchers for giving me this huge privilege.
About Elspeth Talbot Rice KC
Elspeth Talbot Rice was called to the Bar by Lincoln’s Inn in 1990 and took Silk in 2008. She is head of chambers at XXIV Old Buildings, Lincoln’s Inn and specialises in contentious Chancery matters, in particular international trust disputes.
Since becoming a Bencher in 2012, Elspeth has served on a number of committees including chairing the Hospitality, Events and Dining Committee and serving on the Finance and General Purposes Committee, the Library Committee and the Planning and Development Group.
Elspeth was born in Newcastle upon Tyne and educated in Sunderland, Helmsley, Brighton and Durham. She lives in Hampshire with her husband, three daughters, horses and a dog. She enjoys the outdoors, family life, riding horses, food, and wine.
