Her Honour Frances Kirkham CBE BA AKC CArb qualified as a solicitor in England & Wales in 1978. She was a commercial and construction and engineering law specialist. In 2000, Frances was appointed the Technology and Construction Court (TCC) judge in Birmingham, a post she held until her retirement from the bench of England & Wales in 2011.

Frances is a Justice of the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre, dealing with cases at first instance and appellate level.

Frances sits as an arbitrator in high-value energy, major infrastructure, construction, engineering and commercial disputes across the world.

In 2009, Frances acted as coroner in the Lakanal House inquests following a fire at a residential tower block in London, in which six people died and over twenty were injured.

In addition to accepting appointments as arbitrator, Frances also accepts appointments in other forms of ADR including as adjudicator, expert determiner and mediator.

Frances is widely recognised for her contribution to law and the administration of justice. For example, she was awarded Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2011, and has received the Clare Edwards award from the Technology & Construction Court Solicitors Association (TECSA), a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Birmingham Law Society, and the award of honorary lifetime membership of the Society of Construction Law.