The barrister who made history by cross-examining Prince Harry has been recognised as one of the most influential figures in the legal profession.
Andrew Green KC, of Blackstone Chambers, has been included in The Lawyer magazine’s Hot 100 2026, which highlights lawyers judged to have had a significant impact on the sector over the past year.
Mr Green became the first barrister to cross-examine a member of the Royal Family in more than 130 years when he questioned the Duke of Sussex during the Mirror Group Newspapers phone-hacking trial in 2023. The previous instance occurred in 1891, when Sir Edward Clarke examined the then Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII.
The High Court proceedings drew international attention and marked a rare moment of direct legal confrontation involving a senior royal. In its profile, The Lawyer noted that Prince Harry later described the experience as “a bad experience with Mr Green”.
Mr Green, who acted for Mirror Group Newspapers, later said that the eight hours spent cross-examining the Duke were “the most extraordinary experience” of his career.
Although the case brought unusual public scrutiny, The Lawyer said Mr Green’s wider reputation rests on his work in complex commercial disputes, where he has become one of the Bar’s most frequently instructed advocates.
Called to the Bar after initially considering a career in business, he took silk in 2010 and is regularly instructed by major international law firms in high-value litigation.
His recent cases include acting for HSBC in the Eclipse litigation, for AXA in a £675 million payment protection insurance claim against Santander, and for BM Brazil in a substantial mining contract dispute.
The Hot 100 list is published annually and recognises lawyers whose work is considered to have shaped the profession during the previous year.
