Home > News and publications > LSB News > 23 October 2014
This site uses cookies to help make it more useful and reliable. Our cookies page explains what they are, which ones we use, and how you can manage or remove them. Don't show this message again.

 

LSB Logo

Thursday, 23 October 2014

 

LSB announces new Chief Executive

The Legal Services Board (LSB) has appointed Richard Moriarty as its new Chief Executive.

Richard joins the LSB from Affinity Water where he is Director of Regulation. With a career spanning a number of regulated sectors across the economy, Richard brings a rich combination of public and private sector experience of the role of regulation in stimulating innovation for both providers and consumers.

He will join the LSB early in 2015.

Sir Mike Pitt, LSB Chair said:

"I am delighted that Richard will be joining the LSB. His experience, style and commitment to making the legal services market work well for legal services providers and consumers alike impressed the Board and make him well-placed to lead the LSB as it enters its next phase. I am looking forward to working with him."

Richard Moriarty said:

"I am very pleased and honoured to have the opportunity to lead the LSB at this important time. We all have an interest in a successful legal services market as confidence in it underpins our democracy, economy and a wider public interest. I look forward to working closely with all those that have an interest in our legal sector to ensure it remains admired at home and abroad by delivering for consumers and by being innovative, vibrant and effective."

ENDS

For further information, please contact our Corporate Director Julie Myers

Email: julie.myers@legalservicesboard.org.uk Telephone: 020 7271 0059

Notes for editors:

  1. The Legal Services Board is responsible for overseeing the regulation of legal services in England and Wales. It oversees nine approved regulators, which in turn regulate legal practitioners.

  2. At Affinity Water Richard is responsible for the company’s regulatory strategy and its corporate affairs. Immediately prior to Affinity Water, Richard was Director of Economic Regulation at the Civil Aviation Authority where he led its review of airport regulation and competition policy, which resulted in a shift towards greater deregulation. Previously Richard was Director, Policy and Market Development at the social housing regulator, now the Homes and Communities Agency (where he remains a non-executive member and deputy chair of its Regulation Committee). Here Richard led the development of a new regulatory framework aimed at reducing regulatory burdens for providers. He has also held roles of Deputy Chief Executive of the Postal Services Commission and Head of Supply Regulation at Ofgem, the energy regulator. He holds an MBA from Warwick Business School and undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Economics.

  3. Chris Kenny, the current LSB Chief Executive, will leave the organisation at the end of November 2014. He will be joining the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS) as Chief Executive at the beginning of January 2015.

  4. The Board has agreed that interim arrangements will see Julie Myers, LSB Corporate Director, lead on the CEO’s Accounting Officer responsibilities and Caroline Wallace, LSB Strategy Director, lead on the CEO’s regulatory responsibilities.

  5. As at 1 April 2014, the legal profession comprised 138,243 solicitors, 326 alternative business structures, 15,279 barristers, 7,927 chartered legal executives and 5,404 other individuals operating in other areas of the legal profession such as conveyancing. The sector was valued at £29.2 billion in 2013 (total turnover).