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14 January 2026
Issue: 8145 / Categories: Legal News , Regulatory , Legal services
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CEO appointed at legal super-regulator

Richard Orpin has been appointed chief executive officer (CEO) of the Legal Services Board (LSB), which oversees all nine legal regulators

Orpin, who joined the LSB in 2023, was appointed interim CEO in July 2025 when Craig Westwood left the post. He previously worked in policy roles at Ofcom and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, covering telecoms, postal services, media and domestic gambling policy.

Orpin said he aimed to strengthen standards and support ‘innovation that widens access to legal services’.

Law Society president Mark Evans said: ‘Following the oversight regulator’s independent reviews of the Axiom Ince and SSB Group collapses, the LSB has an important role to play into helping to restore consumer and solicitors’ trust and confidence in the Solicitors Regulation Authority.’

An LSB-commissioned review criticised the solicitors’ regulator last year for failing to protect consumers, the public interest and professional standards in connection with the collapsed firms.

Issue: 8145 / Categories: Legal News , Regulatory , Legal services
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Kingsley Napley—Kelly Greig & Abbie West-Kelsey

Kingsley Napley—Kelly Greig & Abbie West-Kelsey

Firm strengthens international tax team with partner and tax manager hire

Dawson Cornwell—Russell Bywater

Dawson Cornwell—Russell Bywater

Family law firm appoints new managing partner and head of matrimonial department

Forbes Solicitors—Katy Parkinson & Paul Hatton

Forbes Solicitors—Katy Parkinson & Paul Hatton

Employment and commercial offering strengthened by double hire

NEWS
Making refugee status temporary and subject to review every 30 months will put pressure on an ‘already overstretched’ justice system, the Law Society has warned
Statutory limitation periods do not apply to unfair prejudice petitions brought under the Companies Act, the Supreme Court has held in a 4–1 majority decision, Lord Burrows dissenting
A Mental Capacity Act ‘best interests’ analysis must be undertaken for all treatment decisions for incapacitated adults, the Court of Appeal has held
Draft Legal Services Board (LSB) proposals on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) could make life tougher for many Black, Asian or minority ethnic solicitors, the Law Society has warned
The High Court has given the go-ahead to a judicial review against environmental regulations that could enable genetically engineered plants to enter the food system untraced
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