City solicitor Nick Emmerson today succeeded Lubna Shuja as president of the Law Society of England and Wales. His pledges for the coming year include boosting the appeal of Chancery Lane to the regions, and promoting domestic legal services to overseas markets.
Chancery Lane’s 179th president is a partner at Lewis Mathys Emmerson, specialising in international capital market transactions and cross-border M&A. He is fluent in Japanese and spent seven years of his career working in Japan. He has also worked in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Yorkshire born and bred, Emmerson has represented Leeds on the Law Society Council since 2015 and is a former president of Leeds Law Society.
Emmerson said: ‘I am honoured to serve as Law Society president. It is critical that we continue to focus on improving the justice system, upholding the rule of law and supporting members.
‘I am eager to lead a profession that is both outward-facing and internationally minded. In an increasingly interconnected world, I have adopted a global approach to my work. I have coupled this approach with both regional experience and time in the City. This triangle of experience will allow me to bring a fresh perspective to the Law Society and strengthen the future of the profession.
’Solicitors play an essential role in our economy and society. During my presidency I look forward to promoting the legal services sector as an economic powerhouse and the profession benefiting local communities and wider society as well.’
Emmerson’s focus on ‘regionality’ will involve working closely with local law societies. He added: ’Solicitor firms provide local expertise and high-quality jobs and prospects for people in every town and city across England and Wales. These firms play a critical role in the local ecosystem of each region. They are well acquainted with the key issues and concerns that each region faces.
‘As president, I am eager to hear their stories and ensure their voices are heard on the national stage. This is particularly important as legal aid deserts continue to rise in the North. We must adopt a regional focus in our work, so that justice is accessible in all parts of the country. By recognising the local value of our profession, we can support members and communities in regions across England and Wales.’
