A BARRISTER from Worcester has been appointed to the Queen’s Counsel (QC) in a ceremony in the Houses of Parliament – and he might be the youngest ever in history.

Edward Cumming, who was just 34-years-old when the assessment process began, was officially appointed to the prestigious rank on Monday, overseen by the Lord Chancellor in Westminster Hall.

A commercial chancery barrister, Mr Cumming was born in Worcester and attended The King’s School.

He said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed a QC – but at the same time very humbled.

“I hope to be able to repay the faith shown in me by the many people who have supported me and provided me with such fantastic opportunities over the years.”

The award of QC is made for excellence in advocacy in the higher courts of England and Wales.

The appointments are made by the Queen on the advice of the Lord Chancellor, following consideration by the independent QC Selection Panel.

On Monday, Lord Chancellor, David Gauke MP, gave Mr Cumming his ‘Letters Patent’ from Her Majesty.

When in court, QCs wear a special gown made of silk, that only they can wear, which has led to their nickname of ‘silks’.

Mr Cumming, who studied law at Downing College, Cambridge – where he was president of the Cambridge Union – has been involved in some colourful cases in recent years.

These have included acting for the Libyan Investment Authority as it sought to recover $1.2billion of derivative trades from Goldman Sachs, and again in bribery claims against the investment bank SocGen for $2.1billion.

Mr Cummings also acted on behalf of Viscount Weymouth in his claim to remove one of the trustees of the famous Longleat Estate in Wiltshire, and last year argued a case in the Supreme Court.

Mr Cummings completed pupillage at his current set of chambers, XXIV Old Buildings, in Lincoln’s Inn, in 2007, after being called to the Bar by Middle Temple a year earlier.

“Being a barrister is, I think, one of the best jobs in the world,” he said.

“It can be tough at times, but there is nothing like giving a voice to your clients that they might not otherwise have.”