Dana Denis Smith elected as new Law Society deputy vice president

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The Law Society of England and Wales Council has elected Dana Denis-Smith OBE as the new deputy vice president. Dana will take office in October 2025, become vice president in 2026 and president of the Law Society in 2027. 

Dana is an award-winning solicitor and entrepreneur, TedxTalk speaker and a leading campaigner for equality. She is a Law Society council member representing women solicitors, a member of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Membership and Communications committees and sits on the Advisory Board of the Judicial Appointments Commission. 

Dana is the CEO of Obelisk Support, a legal services provider offering flexible legal solutions. Following a decade in journalism, she qualified as a solicitor with global law firm Linklaters. 

She has won numerous awards and recognitions including the Order of the British Empire for her service to women in law. She is also the recipient of the Legal 500 Lifetime Achievement Award and was named one of the UK’s Top 100 Most Influential People. 

In 2014, she founded the First 100 Years, a national campaign to celebrate the first 100 years of women in the legal profession culminating in centenary celebrations in 2019.

She holds two honorary doctorates in law from the University of Glasgow and the University of Worcester.

Richard Atkinson, president of the Law Society of England and Wales said: “As we continue to celebrate 200 years of the Law Society, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to Dana on becoming the newly elected deputy vice president. Dana emerged from a strong pool of candidates and her election is a testament to her dedication, expertise and commitment to the legal profession.  

“I look forward to working with Dana to drive progress and help the Law Society navigate the future successfully for our members, the legal community and society. I wish Dana all the best.” 

Dana Denis-Smith OBE, incoming deputy vice president of the Law Society said: “I am thrilled to be elected as the new deputy vice president of the Law Society of England and Wales.

“Along with the president and vice president, colleagues and the Law Society as a whole, I believe we can champion more inclusivity to ensure all our members can have successful careers in the legal sector. 

“We will continue to drive innovation and support our members to thrive in the digital age. Together, we remain committed to championing solicitors’ values and the crucial role they play in upholding the rule of law, access to justice and supporting our communities.”

Notes to editors

• The Law Society of England and Wales has three elected office holders: the president, vice president and deputy vice president. They each hold office for one year. At the annual general meeting in October, the previous year's deputy vice president becomes the vice president, and the vice president becomes president
• Photo of Dana Denis-Smith OBE available on request
• The new deputy vice president is the 183rd of the Law Society