Megan Lee-Devlin will lead the service responsible for running courts and tribunals across England and Wales
Megan Lee-Devlin has been appointed Chief Executive of His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), the organisation responsible for administering courts and tribunals, the Ministry of Justice and HMCTS announced on 21 August 2026.
Lee-Devlin will take over from Nick Goodwin, who will become Director General for Policy at the Ministry of Justice.
She joins the role from her position as Director General for Justice Services and Transformation at the Ministry of Justice. In that role, she has led digital transformation across the justice system, including work covering prisons, probation and services for victims.
She has also been responsible for the operational delivery of three justice services: legal aid, lasting powers of attorney and victim compensation.
As Chief Executive, Lee-Devlin will lead HMCTS as it moves into its next phase of modernisation. The organisation administers criminal, civil and family courts in England and Wales, as well as reserved unified tribunals across the United Kingdom.
For solicitors and other legal professionals, the change in leadership is relevant because HMCTS oversees the administration of the courts and tribunals through which they conduct cases. Lee-Devlin’s previous responsibilities included digital transformation and the operational delivery of legal aid, areas that are directly connected with the services used across the justice system.
Sarah Sackman KC MP, Minister of State for Courts and Legal Services, said the courts and tribunals were fundamental to the rule of law and access to justice. She said Lee-Devlin brought the experience and vision needed to deliver services for the public, support staff and the judiciary, while continuing to modernise courts and tribunals.
Ministry of Justice Permanent Secretary Jo Farrar also welcomed the appointment, highlighting Lee-Devlin’s record in transformation and improving services for users.
Lee-Devlin said she looked forward to working with the independent judiciary, ministers and system partners, as well as the 19,000 civil servants working across HMCTS. She said her focus would be on delivering modern and efficient courts and tribunals.
Before her current Ministry of Justice role, Lee-Devlin served as Director General of the Central Digital and Data Office in the Cabinet Office, where she oversaw the Government’s Digital, Data and Technology function.
She joined the Civil Service from the private sector, having previously worked at IBM, PwC and McKinsey & Company on digital, analytics and organisational transformation.
Her appointment places new leadership at the organisation responsible for administering courts and tribunals while HMCTS continues its modernisation programme.
The Ministry of Justice and HMCTS announced the appointment on 21 August 2026.