TLT partner set to become Law Society President in 2016

The senior partner of national law firm TLT, Robert Bourns, is set to become president of the Law Society in 2016, after this week being elected deputy vice president (DVP).

Bourns, an employment law expert who was also TLT’s managing partner for six years, will take up the DVP role this July.

He joined the Law Society Council in 2011 as a representative of the City of London constituency and is an elected member of Chancery Lane’s Management Board.

He was chosen by the Council for the DVP role from seven candidates.

Bourns said: 'The Law Society has an incredibly important job to do in maintaining trust and confidence across a diverse profession. Representing in-house and general counsel alongside private practice both large and small.

”The Society needs to provide contemporary support and promote the interests of members and their clients. In the context of continuing changes to regulation it should be recognised for its relentless protection of the rule of law.”

The current president is Nick Fluck, a partner in high street law firm Stapleton & Son, which is based in Lincolnshire. The vice-president is Andrew Caplen, a consultant at Hampshire-based private client firm Heppenstalls who will take over from Fluck this summer. Jonathan Smithers, managing partner of Tunbridge Wells practice CooperBurnett, occupies the DVP role.