Emmerson, a partner at Lewis Mathys Emmerson, specialises in international capital market transactions and cross-border mergers and acquisitions. He has been admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong and the Republic of Ireland, and as an attorney at law in the State of California. He spent seven years of his career working in Japan, in Herbert Smith Freehills’ Tokyo office, and has also worked in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Since 2015, he has represented Leeds on the Law Society Council and is a former president of Leeds Law Society.
‘I am eager to lead a profession that is both outward-facing and internationally minded,’ Emmerson said.
‘In an increasingly interconnected world, I have adopted a global approach to my work. I have coupled this approach with both regional experience and time in the City. This triangle of experience will allow me to bring a fresh perspective to the Law Society and strengthen the future of the profession.’
Emmerson said he aims, as president, to be a champion of England and Wales’ domestic legal services sector, and will promote England and Wales as a welcoming jurisdiction to international markets.
‘There is an international demand for English and Welsh solicitors and the value they bring to clients and communities in other jurisdictions,’ he said.
‘I will work to promote our legal services to international markets and support our members who practise, or wish to practise, internationally.’
Emmerson said he will prioritise the rule of law and access to justice, lead on the profession’s response to the civil legal aid review and fight for fair funding to the criminal legal aid system.
He will be supported by Richard Atkinson, vice president, and Mark Evans, deputy vice president.
