Patrick Swaffer
{{Short description|British media lawyer (born 1951)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Patrick Swaffer
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|02|12|df=y}}
| birth_place = London, England
| alma_mater = University of Exeter
| yearsactive = 1974–present
| occupation = Media lawyer
| known_for = Former president of the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC)
| spouses =
| children = 3
}}
Patrick Swaffer (born 12 February 1951) is a British lawyer who has worked in a wide variety of media organisations. Formerly a legal advisor to the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), he was appointed its president by the BBFC's Council of Management after an open competition on 17 October 2012, serving in the role for a decade. Swaffer is known for his input to the Media/Entertainment industry.http://www.gdlaw.co.uk/profiles/patrick-swaffer {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}
Career
Patrick Swaffer was born and raised in London.{{cite web|url=https://www.exeter.ac.uk/about/honorarygraduates/2022/timetable/ceremony6_swaffer/|title=Honorary graduates 2022|publisher=University of exeter|access-date=11 September 2022}} He graduated from the University of Exeter with a law degree in 1973.{{cite web|url=https://www.exeter.ac.uk/alumnisupporters/news/giving/title_53370_en.html|title=Alumni inspire law firm to support students|publisher=University of Exeter|date=1 April 2008}} In 1974, he joined Goodman Derrick solicitors as a senior and managing partner and completed his training for this position in 1976; he became a partner to the firm in 1979 in the Media department, in 2009 he became a consultant to that firm.http://www.chambersandpartners.com/uk/Firms/99999999-72900/10386 {{Dead link|date=February 2022}} Swaffer also sits as a recorder in the Crown Court on the South Eastern Circuit. He is currently a partner in Media Compliance Services LLP.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/about-us/news/bbfc-announces-new-president|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129052555/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/about-us/news/bbfc-announces-new-president|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 29, 2020|title = BBFC Announces New President|date = 17 October 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mcsllp.co.uk/patrick-swaffer|title=Patrick Swaffer|publisher=Media Compliance Services LLP|access-date=23 June 2022}}
Formerly a legal advisor to the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), Swaffer became its president in 2012, succeeding Sir Quentin Thomas.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19979457|title=BBFC announces Patrick Swaffer as new president|work=BBC News|date=17 October 2012}} It was announced in September 2022 that after a decade in the role Swaffer would be stepping down as president of the BBFC, to be replaced by Natasha Kaplinsky, effective from 17 October.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/about-us/news/bbfc-announces-natasha-kaplinsky-obe-as-new-president|title=BBFC announces Natasha Kaplinsky OBE as new President|website=BBFC|date=28 September 2022|access-date=18 October 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/natasha-kaplinksy-appointed-bbfc-president/5174872.article|title=Natasha Kaplinksy appointed BBFC president|website=Screen Daily|first=Ben|last=Dalton|date=28 September 2022|access-date=18 October 2022}}
Swaffer chairs the board of the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum.{{cite web|url=https://www.bdcmuseum.org.uk/visit/about-the-bill-douglas-cinema-museum/|title=About the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum|publisher=The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum|access-date=11 September 2022}}
Personal life
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- Mark Allison, [https://exepose.com/2016/10/10/an-interview-with-patrick-swaffer-president-of-the-bbfc/ "An interview with Patrick Swaffer; president of the BBFC"], Exeposé, 10 October 2016.
- [https://archive.today/20130707073330/http://hanleyltc.org.uk/hanleyabout.html]
{{Authority control}}
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{{succession box
| title = President of the British Board of Film Classification
| years = 2012–2022
| before = Sir Quentin Thomas
| after = Natasha Kaplinsky
}}
{{end box}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Swaffer, Patrick}}
Category:20th-century British lawyers