Chief executive and office holders
President – Paul Marsh
Vice president – Robert Heslett
Deputy vice president – Linda Lee
Chief executive – Des Hudson
President – Paul Marsh
Paul
Marsh was first elected to the Law Society Council in 1987, was re-elected
in 1999 and again in 2007 to represent the Surrey constituency. He was Chairman
of the Solicitors Indemnity Fund (SIF) between 2003 - 2006.
Paul has played a leading role in voicing the profession's criticisms of Home Information Packs (HIPS) legislation; he is now committed to ensuring that solicitors remain at the centre of the conveyancing process. He has also been a member of the Representation Board, the Finance Sub-Committee, Indemnity Insurance Committee and chaired the Conveyancing and Land Law Committee.
Paul, 60, is a consultant at Surrey law firm Downs Solicitors LLP and specialises in property work. He has been married to Sheila for 36 years and they have three children. His interests include spending time with his family, gardening and vintage cars.
Paul became president at the Law Society AGM on 17 July 2008 and will serve for one year.
Vice president – Robert Heslett
Robert
Heslett has represented the constituency of Leeds on the Law Society's Council
since 2001. He has served on the Corporate Governance Board, Finance and
Resources Board, Indemnity Insurance Committee and Scrutiny Committee.
Robert is a partner with Beachcroft LLP having served as managing partner from 1999 until 2005 and before that as senior and managing partner of Wansbroughs Willey Hargrave, 1989-99.
Legal specialisms cover transport licensing and negligence of professionals including solicitors, accountants, surveyors and architects.
Chairman, Yorkshire Region Duty Solicitor scheme 1983-86; President, Leeds Law Society 1988-1989; Deputy Stipendiary magistrate, Hull -1988-93.
From 1999 Robert has led the continuing development of Beachcroft, contributing to its current recognition as one of the UK's leading national commercial firms of solicitors.
Robert became vice-president at the Law Society AGM on 17 July 2008 and will serve for one year.
Deputy vice president – Linda Lee
Linda Lee has been a Council Member for Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland since 2003 and is involved in the activities of both her local law societies: Leicestershire and Rutland, and Northamptonshire. Leicestershire will celebrate their 150th anniversary in her presidential year.
Linda is Chair of the Legal Affairs and Policy Board, which deals primarily with promoting the solicitors’ profession and also specific topics of law reform.
Linda is a specialist in clinical negligence and coronial law. She is currently an in-house consultant for Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA), a charity promoting better patient safety and justice for people affected by medical accidents.
Linda began her career whilst raising her three daughters. She trained in a trade union firm, Hopkins based in Mansfield, before moving to Shoosmiths in Northampton.
She lectures in clinical negligence and coronial law across the country, is editor of the AvMA section of Clinical Risk a specialist medico-legal publication and undertakes pro bono work for the Road Victim's Trust in Bedford.
Linda is passionate about promoting the profession and ensuring every solicitor can achieve their potential so that they can thrive in the new legal services market.
Chief executive – Des Hudson
Des Hudson was born in Halifax, Yorkshire, and graduated in law from the University of Leeds in 1977. He qualified as a solicitor in 1980 and worked in private practice until 1987. During that time he became a salaried partner in a major provincial law firm in the north west of England, specialising in crime and child protection work.
In 1987 Des joined the Yorkshire Building Society as an assistant solicitor and held a number of positions during five years there. In 1992 he took up the post of head of lending at the Britannia Building Society. In 1995 he became operations director of Britannia Life, and in the following year he was made managing director.
In 1998 Des joined SMG (Scottish Media Group) to become chief executive of their publishing division and was appointed a director of SMG plc in 1999.
Des joined the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland in September 2004 as chief executive designate, subsequently becoming chief executive.
On 4 September 2006 Des took up the position of chief executive of the Law Society of England and Wales.
He is married with three children.