Law Society President to step down later this month as SDT dispute rumbles on

The President of the Law Society of England and Wales, David Greene, is to step down early.

Mr Greene’s decision to leave the post on 19 March is related to a long-running issue with a dispute with a former client.

In September 2019 the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal decided that disciplinary proceedings against Mr Greene should be struck out. However, the SDT's decision was quashed earlier this year by the Divisional Court in Davies v Greene [2021] EWHC 38 (Admin).

The Divisional Court's ruling is now subject to appeal but Mr Greene has nevertheless decided to stand down.

Commenting on the proceedings, Mr Greene said: “This case dates back a decade and has been repeatedly thrown out and I fully expect it to be rejected again.

“However, the fact that this dispute has been referred back to the SDT during my presidential year will, I fear, become a distraction from my role representing the solicitor profession – at a time when it is facing a period of unprecedented challenge.

“So, it is with profound regret that I have decided to step aside from my role as president of the Law Society of England and Wales during the currency of proceedings, with effect from 19 March instead of at the end of my term this October.”

Mr Greene noted that he had been involved in the Law Society for more than a decade in a number of different guises including chairing policy committees and the policy board. He added that he looked forward “to further service to my profession in the coming years”.

Vice-President Stephanie Boyce, who will fill the vacancy created, said: “I’d like to thank David for his many years of service to the legal profession, not just as president but as vice and deputy vice president and before that as a long-standing member of the Law Society council where he holds the international practice seat.

“His passion and expertise for the international work of the Law Society, human rights and the rule of law made him the ideal candidate to deal with the many and complex challenges the profession faces and in good stead to help steer the profession through the end of the UK-EU transition period in December.”