Paul Philip, chief executive of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), will retire towards the end of 2025 after nearly 12 years in the role, the regulator announced. His departure follows that of Alan Kershaw, chair of the Legal Services Board (LSB), who is stepping down immediately after less than two years in post, citing personal reasons.
Mr. Philip, who joined the SRA in February 2014, will remain in place until a replacement is found. His retirement marks a significant transition for the regulator, which has faced intense scrutiny, particularly following last year’s Legal Services Board report on Axiom Ince. The report concluded that the SRA “did not take all the steps it could or should have taken” before the firm’s collapse. The regulator now awaits a further review into its handling of SSB Law’s demise.
Deputy chief executive Juliet Oliver also recently announced her departure to head up Stratify, a new regulatory advisory service established by City law firm Kingsley Napley. Reflecting on his tenure, Mr. Philip said:
“It has been a privilege to play such a key role in regulating in the public interest. The role has been incredibly interesting, challenging, and fulfilling. There is always more you would like to achieve, but I am proud of the progress we have made. After so long at the helm, this feels like the right time to retire and switch pace. But before then, there is a lot of significant work to progress.”
SRA chair Anna Bradley praised Mr. Philip for leading the regulator through a period of transformative change, noting that he oversaw its move to full independence from the Law Society and improvements in operational efficiency.
The Ministry of Justice has begun the process of appointing an interim chair for the LSB and will later conduct a formal search for Mr. Kershaw’s permanent successor. His departure adds to a period of significant change at the top of legal regulation, with both organisations navigating key challenges and reforms. Law Society chief executive Ian Jeffery acknowledged Mr. Philip’s impact, stating:
“I would like to pay tribute to Paul’s personal contribution to the regulation of the solicitors’ profession in England and Wales over the last 12 years. He has led the SRA to a position where it now operates wholly independently of the Law Society and he has achieved much in his time.
While the Law Society and the SRA will not always agree, I am grateful for the professional way he has engaged with us.
Paul’s departure this autumn comes at a critical time in the history of the SRA. The hard lessons for the SRA from the Axiom and SSB collapses will require a period of deep reflection and significant organisational change. The handover to a new leader will be crucial to how the SRA moves forwards.”
