Meet Ben Kemp — new Law Society of Scotland CEO appointed at 'pivotal moment'

The newly-appointed chief executive officer of the Law Society of Scotland says the legal profession has reached a "pivotal moment" which will shape his tenure.

Today, the Law Society announced that Ben Kemp, experienced general counsel and executive director, will take up the role of CEO.

Mr Kemp, a dual-qualified solicitor, will join the Law Society in August from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), the body which represents and regulates actuaries.

Primarily the IFoA's general counsel and executive director, Mr Kemp also recently served a 15-month tenure as interim CEO.

He replaces Law Society Interim CEO Kevin Lang, who assumed leadership responsibilities from former CEO Dianne McGiffen last month. Mr Lang will continue in his interim role to oversee the transition later this year.

Law Society of Scotland President Susan Murray said: “We are delighted that Ben will be joining the Law Society in the coming months as our new CEO. This follows a comprehensive and exacting recruitment process.

“Ben stood out from a strong field of candidates as the right person to lead and develop the Society, as well as support the wider Scottish solicitor profession and the people it serves. He is joining us at an exciting time as we prepare for generational reforms around regulation and as the legal sector embraces technological and cultural change.

“We were impressed with Ben’s wide experience of the legal sector and his approach towards leading a membership organisation, alongside his commitment to working collaboratively with our members, our Society colleagues and our key stakeholders, to navigate challenges, embrace opportunities and represent the profession.”

Ben Kemp in his own words

Ben Kemp said: “I am excited and privileged to be joining the Law Society of Scotland later this year. As a longstanding member, becoming chief executive presents a tremendous opportunity to support and contribute to the Law Society’s important work.

“We’re at a pivotal moment for Scotland’s legal sector and I plan to hit the ground running once in post, with a focus on long awaited reforms to how legal services are regulated and on supporting Law Society members in their work and advocating on the issues that matter to them.”

A University of Edinburgh LLB graduate, Mr Kemp qualified as a Scottish solicitor in 2001 and has worked in private practice in both Scotland and London, before moving in-house to the IFoA in 2012.