About the executive committee

An executive committee is responsible for developing the future strategy of the Section and enhancing the services it already offers to its members.
 
Law Management Section Executive Committee minutes and agendas are available on the Corporate Business section of the Law Society website.

Current committee members are David Bott; Alison Downie; Nigel Haddon; Christopher Hart; Lisbeth Hughes; John Mitchell; Andrew Otterburn; Vanessa Shenton; Paul Widdup and Simon Young.

David Bott is managing partner of Bott and Co, a specialist personal injury firm based in Wilmslow, Cheshire. He was admitted in 1996 and founded Bott and Co in 2001. He has overseen his firm's growth and accreditation with Lexcel and Investors in People.

Alison Downie is a partner and head of employment at Goodman Derrick LLP in London, advising  both employers and employees in employment, discrimination and related contract and regulatory law. Her clients include law firms and other professional partnerships. She is a former managing partner of another large London law firm, and is the immediate past chair of the LMS. She is recommended as a leader in the field of employment in the Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession and the Legal 500.

Nigel Haddon (Chair) is managing partner of sas Daniels LLP, a five-office firm in the North West. He has steered the firm through two mergers to its position as Cheshire's biggest law firm. Nigel contributed two chapters to the LMS Merger Toolkit, is a construction lawyer and a practising arbitrator.

Christopher Hart is a managing partner with Hooper & Wollen specialising in licensing and commercial drafting work. He has been an active member of the Devon & Somerset Law Society's practice management sub-committee for many years and is also responsible for the South Devon Managing Partners' Forum.

Lisbeth Hughes is the business development director for Howell Jones, a regional firm based in Surrey. Lis joined the firm following a merger in 2007. With five offices spread throughout Surrey, and an office in Central London, Lis is responsible for introducing new business, developing cross-practice integration and working with key clients.

Andrew Otterburn is a mangement consultant and a chartered accountant and has advised approximately 250 firms of solicitors in the UK and Ireland on profitability, management and strategy. He has written four books for the Law Society and produces the annual survey of law firms in Scotland for the Law Society of Scotland. He was an advisor to Lord Carter’s review of legal aid procurement in England and Wales and is a founding member of the Law Consultancy Network.

Vanessa Shenton is founder of the Compliance Partner, a company offering compliance and regulatory advice to solicitors. She is a lay member of the Construction Industry Council’s Appeal Tribunal and is both a panel member and an executive committee member of the Solicitors’ Assistance Scheme.

Paul Widdup is an independent management consultant, coach and mentor. He has been a practising solicitor, and law firm partner for more than 30 years, and, until his recent retirement from Emsleys, based in Leeds, was the managing partner in a practice that has grown to eight branch offices, six estate agency offices, and more than 130 staff. He holds an MBA in legal practice management, and a postgraduate qualification in executive coaching.