Former UK Electoral Commission head to join law firm Bates Wells as consultant

Bob Posner, until recently the chief executive of the Electoral Commission, is joining law firm Bates Wells' Politics, Elections and Campaigning team as a consultant.

The Bates Wells' team he joins provides local authorities, political parties, candidates, charities, campaigners, trade unions, and companies with holistic advice on electoral and campaigning law.

Mr Posner spent more than 15 years at the Electoral Commission, first joining in 2007 as Legal Counsel & Director of Party and Election Finance. In 2019, he was made Chief Executive of the commission, a position he kept until April of this year. Prior to joining the Electoral Commission, Posner was director of law and administration at the London Borough of Bexley.

In 2015, Mr Posner was involved in the commission's decision to remove Tower Hamlets First, the party led by Lutfur Rahman, from the register of political parties after a High Court decision found him guilty of corrupt and illegal practices.

He is also joint editor and author of Schofield's Election Law.

Speaking on his move, Bob Posner, said: "I am delighted to be joining the team at Bates Wells, not only because of their reputation in the field of electoral law, but also because their values-driven approach to doing business aligns with my own personal worldview and commitment to making a positive impact".

Simon Steeden, Bates Wells' head of Politics, Elections and Campaigning, said: "With a new Elections Act to navigate and the possibility of a general election in the not-too-distant future, more and more of our clients are considering their electoral and campaigning strategies for the coming months. We are thrilled that Robert is joining us and bringing his years of expertise to strengthen our client offering in this vital area."

Adam Carey