Established in December 2022, the National Board for Wales represents the views and priorities of solicitors in Wales and ensures these are communicated to external stakeholders polices set by the Board and Council
The board supports and oversees the work of the Wales office, contributing to its work programme and reporting annually to the Law Society Board on its effectiveness.
It also plays a strategic role in engagement across Wales, including with:
- Welsh Government and Senedd Cymru
- members of the Senedd and Welsh MPs
- key external stakeholders
The National Board for Wales will also advise the Law Society Board on the policies and processes of the ongoing development of Welsh devolution, including:
- law-making process in Wales
- emergence of a distinct body of law which applies only to Wales
- changes in both law and process applicable only in Wales which impact on the practice of law in Wales
- the rule of law and access to justice in Wales
- disseminate this information to the solicitors’ profession throughout England and Wales
Board members
- Mark Davies (chair and Council member)
- Gareth Jones (vice chair and Council member)
- Daniela Mahapatra
- Clive Thomas (Council member)
- Eve Piffaretti
- Scott Bowen (Council member)
- Mark Evans (Council member)
- Hannah Newberry
- Bronwen Williams
- Fran Targett (co-opted two years from October 2024)
- Emily Littlehales
- Damon Rands (co-opted one year from August 2025)
- Glyn Lloyd
Sub-groups
The board is supported by three sub-groups, each chaired by board members and focused on key areas of the profession.
Managing partners sub-group: A Wales-wide leadership forum bringing together managing partners to provide strategic insight on the operational realities and priorities of law firms across different regions.
In-house sub-group: A dedicated network connecting in-house solicitors across sectors to ensure their perspectives are consistently represented in NBW discussions and wider Wales Office engagement.
Pathways sub-group: An early-career focused group capturing insight from students and junior lawyers to inform the National Board for Wales on career progression, entry routes and future workforce sustainability.
