Partner Article

Chris Hugill elected as new President of Newcastle upon Tyne Law Society

Ward Hadaway consultant Chris Hugill has been elected as the new Newcastle Law Society President.

During a career spanning more than 40 years, Chris has had a long, varied and successful career as a lawyer.

He initially trained as a high street solicitor and after two years in practice became a legal academic for several years specialising in property law and conveyancing, before joining Eversheds.

After serving as Regional Managing Partner and Senior Partner, he left the firm in 2006 and resumed his career as a practising lawyer at Ward Hadaway specialising in commercial property and advising on the ethics and regulation of solicitors. Chris was subsequently appointed Ward Hadaway’s Head of Risk and Compliance, advising and representing on risk management and regulatory issues.

He is now considered an authority on regulation, compliance and ethics in the legal sector and is a well-known speaker, having spent six years as a Visiting Professor at Northumbria University in Newcastle.

Chris has been involved with the Newcastle Law Society for a number of years and is serving his second period as a member of its Standing Committee. As the 194th President of the Newcastle Law Society, Chris will represent the interests of the local legal profession across the region and give hundreds of North East lawyers a national voice.

The Newcastle Law Society is one of the oldest and most prestigious local law societies in the country representing 800 solicitors across the region. It promotes the skill and expertise of the profession by organising training for its members and by fighting for improvements to public access to justice. It also actively responds to consultations issued by the Government, its agencies and regulators on behalf of local solicitors and to reflect the public interest.

Chris, who lives with his wife in Durham City, said: “As someone who was born and went to school in the North East, I am very committed to the region’s strong legal sector. It is a privilege to be elected by our members to promote the provision of legal services and the interests of the solicitors which are vital for a successful local economy.”

Chris believes threats to public access to justice, regulatory changes and the threats and opportunities of Brexit are the biggest challenges next year.
“I am very much looking forward to working with members to ensure everyone is in the best possible position to embrace the changes, challenges and opportunities of the future.”

Outside of work, Chris is an enthusiastic cyclist, fell walker and five-a-side footballer. He also enjoys reading novels, biographies and history, watching drama and opera and spending time with family.

More recently he joined four of his colleagues to take part in a 500-mile team cycle challenge to raise money for Smart Works, a charity which helps unemployed women back into the workplace.

Kate Goodings, Director of Operations of the Newcastle Law Society, said: “We are delighted to have someone of Chris’s experience and expertise in legal practice as our President. He will be an excellent ambassador for the local profession at a time of immense change and challenge.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ward Hadaway .