President welcomes new CILEx Regulation chair

5 October 2015

Sam Younger CBE has been appointed Chair of CILEx Regulation, the independent regulator of Chartered Legal Executive lawyers, members of the CILEx, and specialist lawyers authorised for independent practice.

CILEx president David Edwards FCILEx said: “I am delighted Sam Younger will be the new chair of our independent regulator CILEx Regulation. Sam has a wealth of experience to bring to the organisation from his many notable roles, including with the Electoral Commission, the Quality Assurance Agency, and the Charity Commission. Our members will benefit from his insight and leadership, and I look forward to working with him as we enhance the opportunities and standards for our Chartered Legal Executives, paralegals, and students.”

Sam will oversee the work of CILEx Regulation as it expands regulation of specialist legal businesses and legal professionals authorised for the new suite of independent practice rights in the full range of legal services. He will officially take up his post as Chair of the CILEx Regulation Board on 1 November 2015.

Sam said: “It is an exciting time to be joining CILEx Regulation, as the legal services market continues to open up and provide real opportunities for growth. I very much look forward to working with the Board and with the Chief Executive Officer and her staff, to build on the strong platform already built and to position the organisation at the leading edge of excellence and innovation in the regulation of legal services.”

CILEx Regulation Chief Executive Officer, Helen Whiteman, welcomed Sam’s appointment, saying: “I am thrilled Sam will be joining CILEx Regulation and I greatly look forward to working with him in his new role and supporting him in leading the Board. The regulatory landscape has been changing fast in recent years and CILEx members have been at the forefront of outcomes-focused regulation and a fresh approach to CPD. Many more changes are to come, and I have no doubt that CILEx members, non-members and authorised entities, as well as CILEx Regulation itself, will benefit from Sam’s experience and expertise.”

Biography

Sam’s current roles include Council Member of the Advertising Standards Authority, Vice Chair of Voluntary Service Overseas and Public Interest Observer on the Council of the Chartered Institute of Taxation.

Previously Sam had a 20-year career at the BBC, where he was Managing Director of BBC World Service (1994-1998). He was subsequently Director General of the British Red Cross (1999-2001), inaugural Chair of the Electoral Commission (2001-2008) and Chief Executive of the Charity Commission for England and Wales (2010-2014).

Previous non-executive roles include Chair of Council at the University of Sussex, Chair of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and member of the Standards Committee of the Greater London Authority. Sam was appointed CBE in 2008.