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Birkbeck Governor elected President of the Law Society

Simon Davis, Governor of Birkbeck, has been elected President of the Law Society of England and Wales.

Simon Davis

Mr Davis takes office as deputy vice president in July this year, before becoming vice president in 2018 and president in 2019.

The Law Society is the independent professional body that works globally to support and represent solicitors, promoting the highest professional standards, the public interest and the rule of law. As a commercial litigation partner at Clifford Chance, Davis has spent a career spanning more than 30 years helping clients to avoid disputes and to resolve them effectively when they do arise. 

Responding to his election, Davis said: “It is a great privilege to have been elected to represent the profession. 

"I intend to represent the Law Society's broad spread of members as I represent my clients - finding out and resolving the challenges they face, permitting our members in turn to devote their energies to representing the clients who depend on them."

As well as serving as Governor of the College, Mr Davis has closely supported Birkbeck’s Scholars' Evening, which for several years has been hosted at Clifford Chance’s premises in London’s Canary Wharf. Last year Mr Davis (pictured) personally introduced the evening, which is an annual celebration of all the support offered by donors to the College, bringing them together with some of those who have directly benefited through scholarships and other support made possible by donations.

Commenting on Mr Davis’ appointment, Professor David Latchman, CBE, Master of Birkbeck, said:

“Simon Davis has been a close supporter of Birkbeck and the work of the College. We are grateful for both his personal support for the College’s work, in both his formal role as a Governor, as well as informally through his advice and guidance.

“He has been generous in giving his time to supporting the College’s fundraising efforts including hosting Scholars Evening at Clifford Chance’s offices. We congratulate him on this appointment and wish him every success.” 

Robert Bourns, president of the Law Society, said: “I congratulate Simon, who emerged as the winner from an extremely strong field of candidates. I wish him all the very best for his three years as an office holder.”

Mr Davis was appointed as an Independent Governor at Birkbeck in October 2016. He is Head of Commercial Litigation in Clifford Chance's London office and a member of the firm's Partnership Council. He joined Clifford Chance in 1982 and became Partner in 1994. 

Mr Davis is a former President of the London Solicitors Litigation Association, member of the Council of the Law Society, Committee member of the City of London Law Society, member of the Court of Appeal Mediation Panel and an accredited CEDR mediator.  Simon conducted "the Davis Review" of the FCA in 2014.

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