Presidents’ and Secretaries’ Conference
16 July 2021, 1.30pm-6.00pm
Meet the Speakers
1.30pm Welcome from our President
I.Stephanie Boyce, President, Law Society of England & Wales
I. Stephanie Boyce is President of the Law Society. She is also the 177th person, the sixth female, the first Black office holder, the first person of colour and the second in- house solicitor in almost fifty years to become president of the Law Society of England and Wales.
1.40pm What the Law Society is Doing
Louise Hanson, Executive Director, Law Society of England & Wales
Louise is the Executive Director of Membership and External Affairs at the Law Society. Her remit includes Member Experience & Services, Commercial & Partnerships, Gazette Editorial, Diversity & Inclusion, Policy and Public Affairs.
Paola Uccellari, Director of Policy, Law Society of England & Wales
Paola is Director of Policy at the Law Society. The Policy Team covers a broad remit including justice, private, commercial & civil law, public and criminal law, legal policy and regulatory affairs.
1.50pm Plenary One: Identifying and Delivering Value to Members
Freddie Storrar, President, Cheshire and North Wales Law Society
Freddie is President of the Cheshire and North Wales Law Society. He is also a solicitor specialising in corporate Law including acquisitions, disposals and corporate governance.
Paul Clark, President, South Cheshire Law Society
Paul is President of the South Cheshire Law Society and the managing director of Spall Clark Solicitors. He has over 10 years of legal experience in private client work and has a specialist focus on international matters. He is a director and founding member of South Cheshire Law Society.
Janine Smith, Vice President, Nottinghamshire Law Society
Janine is Vice President of Nottinghamshire Law Society. She is also Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS East Midlands.
Victoria Bytel, Director of Member Experience and Services, Law Society of England & Wales
Victoria is Director of Member Experience and Services. The Member Experience & Services team leads the consistent delivery of membership services and products, directly and working in partnership across the organisation.
Moderator: Valeria Mancheva, Head of Membership Engagement and Services, Law Society of England & Wales
Valeria is head of The Membership Engagement & Services team which is responsible for leading on the membership engagement strategy and the development of the member offer.
3.00pm Plenary Two: Championing Diversity and Inclusion: practical ideas to engage members locally
Karen Bailey, EDI Committee Chair and EDI Director, Birmingham Law Society
Karen is the EDI Committee Chair and EDI Director of Birmingham Law Society. She is also Principal Solicitor of Bailey Wright & Co. She set the practice up in June 1996. She was the first African-Caribbean woman to set up a practice in Birmingham City Centre.
Gina Samuel-Richards, Deputy Vice President, Leicestershire Law Society
Gina is Deputy Vice President of Leicestershire Law Society. She is also a Family Solicitor, dealing with issues around matrimonial, ancillary relief, private & public children’s law and domestic violence.
Moderator: Professor Sara Chandler QC (Hon), Council Member, Chair of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Law Society of England & Wales
Sara Chairs the law Society’s committee on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. She is also a housing solicitor specialising in landlord and tenant law. In 2016, Sara was bestowed with an Honorary QC. She was recommended for her work on pro bono and human rights.
3.30pm Breakout A: Access to Justice - Court Reform and Legal Aid
Richard Miller, Head of Justice, Law Society of England & Wales
Richard is the head of the Justice team, overseeing the Society's work on legal aid, pro bono, the Court Modernisation programme, solicitor judges and advocacy, and civil justice.
Moderator: Ellie Cronin, Policy Adviser, Law Society of England & Wales
Ellie is a Policy Advisor within the Legal Aid Team specialising in Family and Mental Health.
3.30pm Break-out B: Tell the Legal Services Board: what are the risks and benefits from unregulated providers in legal services?
Tom May, Research Manager, Legal Services Board
Tom is Research Manager at the Legal Services Board and has over 15 years experience working as a researcher across a range of sectors.
Moderator: Patrice Neita, Insight Manager, Law Society of England & Wales
Patrice is Insight Manager at the Law Society working within the Strategic Insight & Influence team.
3.30pm Breakout C: Professional Indemnity Insurance and the Solicitors’ Indemnity Fund
Nick Gurney-Champion, Council Member, Law Society of England & Wales
Nick chairs the Law Society’s Professional Indemnity Insurance Committee. He is a Solicitor at Biscoes Solicitors with experience in commercial property and land law. Prior to joining Biscoes, Nick also ran his own firm for many years.
Ryan Senior, Senior Vice President, Paragon Brokers
Ryan is Senior Vice President at Paragon Brokers.
Moderator: Lubna Shuja, Vice President, Law Society of England & Wales
Lubna Shuja is the vice president of the Law Society of England and Wales. She will become the first Asian president in October 2022.
3.30pm Breakout D: Building Engagement with the Law Society and with Each Other
Valeria Mancheva, Head of Membership Engagement and Services, Law Society of England & Wales
Valeria is head of The Membership Engagement & Services team which is responsible for leading on the membership engagement strategy and the development of the member offer.
Sabina Ampofo, Membership Engagement Lead, Law Society of England & Wales
Sabina is the Membership Engagement Lead at the Law Society. Amongst other things she leads the engagement of inhouse, small law firms and junior lawyers.
Moderator: Peter Watson-Lee, Council Member, Law Society of England & Wales
Peter is a member of the national Law Society’s Council and a member of the national Law Society’s Membership and Communications Committee. He is also head of the Family Law Department at Williams Thompson Solicitors.
3.30pm Breakout E: Member Engagement Locally - topics and activities which members of local law societies find engaging and ideas and plans for their delivery
Alexandra Gordon, President, Kent Law Society
Alexandra is President of Kent Law Society. She is a Partner at Brachers Solicitors where she advises clients in respect of tax and estate planning, the preparation of wills, trust creation, estate administration and lasting powers of attorney.
Emma Doughty, President, Harrogate Law Society
Emma is President of Harrogate Law Society, having previously served as Vice President. She is a partner at Harrogate Family Law, specialising in divorce and family matters.
Mark Kiteley, former President, Bournemouth & District Law Society
Mark is the Immediate Past President of Bournemouth Law Society, having served as its Honorary Secretary for many years. Mark also chairs the Bournemouth Law Society compliance conference, and sits as a member of the Law Society’s Professional Indemnity Committee.
Moderator: Bhavni Fowler, Key Account Manager, Law Society of England & Wales
Bhavni works within the Key Accounts Team at the Law Society.
4.20pm Plenary Three: Attracting and Engaging Members
Charlotte Perry, President, Worcestershire Law Society
Charlotte is currently President of the Worcestershire Law Society and a Partner at QualitySolicitors Parkinson Wright. Charlotte was awarded the Worcestershire Law Society's Paralegal of the Year 2016, appointed Vice-Chair of the Worcestershire Junior Law Society 2017 and Chair of the Worcestershire Junior Law Society November 2018.
Jordan Brown, President, Scarborough Law Society
Jordan is President of Scarborough Law Society and a solicitor at Thorpe & Co Solicitors specialising in property, wills and probate.
Laura Uberoi, Council and Board member, Law Society of England & Wales
Laura Uberoi is a Law Society Council member for junior lawyers 0-5 years’ post- qualified experience. She is a honorary secretary for the City of Westminster & Holborn Law Society.
Mumtaz Hussain, President, Surrey Law Society
Mumtaz is the President of the Surrey Law Society, having joined the committee in 2016. She is a civil litigation solicitor and former sole practitioner.
Moderator: Valeria Mancheva, Head of Membership Engagement and Services, Law Society of England & Wales
Valeria is head of The Membership Engagement & Services team which is responsible for leading on the membership engagement strategy and the development of the member offer.