New committee chairs appointed by Law Society
The Law Society has appointed three new committee chairs.
Sharmila Mehta is the chair of the Immigration Law Committee, Jenny Beck, the new chair of the Access to justice committee and Amy Bell, chair of the Money Laundering Task Force.
Sharmila Mehta, the new chair of the Immigration Law Committee was previously a partner and co-head of the UK immigration group at specialist London law firm Magrath LLP. While there, she specialised in work involving investment banks, the financial services market and global commodities. Sharmila has been practising corporate immigration law for over twenty years and is directly involved in lobbying government on immigration law changes, while acting as a stakeholder on behalf of key British business sectors.
She said: "I'm grateful to the Law Society for this exciting opportunity and, along with the committee, look forward to serving the profession over the coming years."
Jenny Beck, the new chair of the Access to Justice Committee has been a legal aid practitioner for 25 years. Co-chair of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group and a Family Lawyer, she has been an active campaigner against the decimation of the legal aid scheme for many years. She has been managing partner of a legal aid practice and a director of an ABS.
She said: "I'm delighted to have been given this opportunity at such a critical time. Access to justice is in crisis and I am keen to work with our dedicated committee and other stakeholders to promote ideas and solutions which will enable that access."
Amy Bell, the Head of Risk and Compliance with Quality Solicitors brings her detailed technical knowledge to the position of chair of the Money Laundering Task Force. Her expertise lies in assisting members of the profession to understand the practical implications of the Proceeds of Crime Act, and she regularly deals with complex AML issues for the members of the Quality Solicitors Network. She is an accomplished trainer in the field.
She said: “I am delighted to be able to represent the Money Laundering Task Force at this critical time in the development of AML regulation and would like to thank the Law Society for their support.”
Welcoming the new chairs, Law Society president Andrew Caplen said:
“The Law Society committees are a valuable asset to the Society and provide great expertise, assistance and guidance to the work that we do for our members and in the public interest.”
