Office holders and chief executive

The Law Society has three elected office holders, who represent the organisation at home and abroad. Learn more about the office holders and our chief executive.

President: Richard Atkinson

Richard Atkinson stands smiling on the red-carpeted stairs in the Law Society in London. Richard is a white man with short dark grey hair wearing a dark grey pinstriped suit, white shirt and gold polka dot shirt.Richard Atkinson became the 180th president of the Law Society of England and Wales in October 2024.

Richard is a managing partner at Tuckers Solicitors LLP and specialises in criminal law, focusing on serious crime litigation.

He is a solicitor advocate and has appeared in several high-profile cases.

With over 30-years’ experience, Richard has served as chair of our Policy and Regulatory Affairs Committee and is a current member of our Criminal Law Committee.

He was elected to our Council representing members in Kent in 2016. He aspires to promote justice and the rule of law both in the UK and internationally.

Learn more about Richard and his presidential year plan

Vice president: Mark Evans

Mark Evans stands in a panelled room at the Law Society in London. Mark is a white man with short dark grey hair. He wears a navy suit, white shirt and red, white and silver striped tie.Mark Evans is the vice president of the Law Society. He will become president in 2025.

Mark practised property and private client law for more than 28 years at a cross-border general high street law firm with offices in North Wales and Chester.

Currently, he teaches various courses on real estate, private client and professional skills at the University of Law, based at the Manchester campus.

Mark was a member of our Wales Committee for nine years and acted as chair for four of those years.

He has been on our Council for more than eight years and was a former president and chair of the Cheshire and North Wales Law Society.

Deputy vice president: Brett Dixon

Brett Dixon stands smiling in the Law Society library in London. Brett is a white man with short dark grey hair, a cropped grey beard and glasses. He wears a navy suit, white shirt and light blue tie.Brett Dixon is the deputy vice president of the Law Society.

He will become vice president in 2025 and president of the Law Society in 2026.

Brett was admitted as a solicitor in 1999, holds higher rights of audience in civil matters and is an accredited mediator.

After commencing his career in general practice in Manchester, he has worked for firms in the north west. He is currently a consultant solicitor at Scott Moncrieff & Co specialising in strategic litigation.

Brett also runs a successful business delivering training and consultancy to law firms throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

He has been a Law Society Council member since 2019 and a member of our Policy and Regulatory Affairs Committee. He is a past chair and current member of our Civil Justice Committee.

Chief executive: Ian Jeffery

Ian Jeffery is a white man with short brown hair. He is smiling and wears a blue shirt and black jacket against a black background.Ian Jeffery joined the Law Society as chief executive in September 2022.

Ian led Lewis Silkin as managing partner and CEO for 15 years.

During this time, he led the growth of the firm domestically and internationally, helping establish a reputation for being one of the most innovative large law firms.

Ian joined Lewis Silkin in 1990 and qualified as a solicitor in 1992.

He has developed extensive experience in information technology and intellectual property law and rose through the ranks quickly, becoming a partner in 1998 and managing partner at the age of 37 in 2005.

Ian has recently acted as an independent consultant, using his extensive leadership experience to advise law firms and professional services organisations.

He also acts as an adviser to high-potential businesses in the legal tech space and has sat on numerous boards across different industry sectors.