LSEW President steps down over discipline hearing

David Greene, the President of the Law Society of England & Wales, is to step down due to a pending prosecution at the Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal  brought by a former client, David Davies.

The case arises from a longrunning dispute with Mr Davies over unpaid fees in the course of which Mr Greene is accused of misleading a district judge. In 2019 the tribunal found that the prosecution was groundless, but in January the High Court ruled that this decision was flawed and that Mr Greene had a case to answer, while not expressing any view on the merits.

Mr Greene has continued to state that he fully expects to be vindicated. However in a statement he said: “The fact that this dispute has been referred back to the SDT during my presidential year will, I fear, become a distraction from my role representing the solicitor profession – at a time when it is facing a period of unprecedented challenge.

"So, it is with profound regret that I have decided to step aside from my role as president of the Law Society of England & Wales during the currency of proceedings, with effect from 19 March instead of at the end of my term this October."

The current Vice President, I. Stephanie Boyce, will take over for the remainder of his term.