After leaving Pinsents, Banning also campaigned to ensure that people with terminal illnesses were prioritized for COVID-19 vaccines—a push that earned him several mentions in Parliament.

Banning’s contributions to the legal industry were recognised at the 2022 British Legal Awards, where he was bestowed with the Law.com International’s Law Firm Leader of the Year.

In a statement, his former firm Pinsent Masons paid homage to a “highly respected and widely known legal communications professional”.

Friend and Pinsent Masons board member, Alastair Morrison, led tributes, saying: “The legal industry has lost an exceptional communicator, strategist and innovator, and we have lost a dear friend. Throughout his illness he was always delighted to offer his insights, advice and counsel and was always on top of change. Our thoughts and prayers are with Fred’s wife, Lesley, his two young sons Ollie and Charlie, and his family at this difficult time.”

Banning first joined law firm McGrigors, which would merge with Pinsent Masons in 2012, in the summer of 2010. Prior to that he was also a business development and PR advisor at international law firm Hogan Lovells.