Mr Shiels QC was excited about his new appointment, and said it was recognition of his skill and reputation which he had worked hard to establish for more than 30 years.
''It's quite rare. There hasn't been one [a Queen's Counsel appointment] in Otago for about 15 years.
''The last one was Dr Royden Somerville. Now we have four in Otago.''
The court was packed with family, friends and colleagues for the formal ceremony yesterday, at which Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias said appointing someone as Queen's Counsel was a ''rare distinction''.
''It confers entitlement to precedence in the courts of New Zealand,'' she said.
''This rank exists to encourage the highest standards of probity, competence, and independence in legal representation in the courts.''
Chief Justice Elias said Mr Shiels was known for his attention to analysis of his argument and the clarity of its expression.
''You have a reputation for being careful and conscientious in your work and someone who observes the very highest ethical standards.
''You are someone who is relied on by other practitioners for advice. And there is no higher compliment than that.''
Mr Shiels graduated from the University of Otago and began his law career at Paterson Lang in 1979 where he spent 17 years - 13 as partner.
He became a barrister sole in 1992, working mainly in civil and tribunal law, with some criminal law.
He has also been actively involved with both the Law Society and the Bar Association during his career, serving on Law Society committees, the council and its board.
Mr Shiels was one of 26 Queen's Counsels appointed by Attorney-general Christopher Finlayson earlier this year.
It was the first appointment round of QCs since 2007, following changes to the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act earlier this year, restoring the title of Queen's Counsel and restricting appointments to barristers sole.
