Denis-Smith will join President Mark Evans and Vice-President Brett Dixon in new leadership team
Dana Denis-Smith OBE has been elected deputy vice president of the Law Society of England & Wales, set to take office in October 2025. She will serve alongside incoming president Mark Evans, a North Wales property lawyer and University of Law lecturer, and vice-president Brett Dixon, a litigation solicitor whom Denis-Smith challenged in last year’s election.
Denis-Smith’s new role marks a significant step in her leadership trajectory within the Society. She will succeed Dixon as vice-president in October 2026 and is slated to become president in 2027, continuing a strong line of female leadership within the organisation.
A well-known figure in the legal profession, Denis-Smith has earned widespread recognition for her work championing equality and diversity. She has been a judge for the Women and Diversity in Law Awards since their inception and maintains a notable social media presence advocating for inclusion. An award-winning solicitor, entrepreneur, and TEDx speaker, Denis-Smith combines legal expertise with a passion for social change.
She currently serves as CEO of Obelisk Support, a provider of flexible legal services, and is a Law Society council member representing women solicitors. She is active on the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committee and the Membership and Communications committee and sits on the advisory board of the Judicial Appointments Commission.
Born in Romania, Denis-Smith initially trained as a journalist before qualifying as a solicitor with global law firm Linklaters. In recognition of her contributions to advancing women in law, she was awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours, joining notable predecessors such as Dame Fiona Woolf and Carolyn Kirby OBE, both former Law Society presidents.
Embed from Getty ImagesIn 2014, Denis-Smith founded the First 100 Years campaign to celebrate the centenary of women in the legal profession. This initiative culminated in national centenary celebrations in 2019. Following that success, she launched Next 100 Years, a ten-year project aimed at achieving further equality for women in law.
Richard Atkinson, the current Law Society president, praised Denis-Smith’s election, highlighting her dedication and expertise. “Dana emerged from a strong pool of candidates, and her election reflects her commitment to the legal profession,” he said. Atkinson expressed confidence in working with her to lead the Society through future challenges and opportunities, supporting members and the broader legal community.
Denis-Smith responded to the election with enthusiasm, saying she was “thrilled” to take on the deputy vice president role. She expressed her commitment to championing inclusivity and helping all members succeed in their legal careers. She emphasised the importance of innovation and support as the profession adapts to the digital age, while upholding solicitors’ core values, including the rule of law and access to justice.
Her election coincides with other historic leadership changes in the legal sector. Heidi Stonecliffe KC was recently elected vice chair of the Bar Council for 2026. Stonecliffe, the first employed barrister to hold the post, follows in the footsteps of Barbara Mills KC and Kirsty Brimelow KC, contributing to an all-female leadership team that currently includes treasurer Lucinda Orr of Enyo Law.
Together, these appointments signal a period of progressive leadership across the UK’s legal institutions, focused on diversity, innovation, and professional excellence.
