Freshfields partner Knapp handed OBE

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer corporate partner Vanessa Knapp has been awarded the Order of the British Empire as part of the Queen's 2007 New Year Honours list.

Knapp has been awarded the honour for services to corporate law as the UK representative on the Company Law Committee of the Council of the Bars and Law Societies of the European Union (EU).

Knapp is also a member of the corporate governance and company law advisory group established by the European Commission, as well as being a member and former chair of the Law Society company law committee and the City of London Law Society company law sub-committee.

Knapp, a partner at Freshfields since 1988, was also involved in the review of UK company law that led to the enactment of the Companies Act 2006.

Knapp commented: "I have been involved in law reform in the UK and more recently Europe for some while now. It is important that UK law and laws around the EU allow businesses to flourish. It is an honour that my work in this area has been recognised."