Lovells and 39 Essex St scoop LSB panel places

The legal watchdog, which overarches the profession’s regulatory bodies including the Solicitors Regulatory Authority, the Bar Standards Board and the ILEX Professional Standards Board, became fully active on 1 January.

It is understood that Baker & McKenzie and Slaughter and May were among the 16 respondents to the LSB tender, which took place at the end of last year.

Lovells and 39 Essex street have been appointed as general advisers, with Lovells partner  Paul Dacam and associate Charles Brasted leading the LSB relationship for the firm.

The regulator has also appointed five specialist advisors. These are public law advocate Philip Havers QC of 1 Crown Office Row; LG employment partner Helga Breen; public law specialist Louise Jones of 1 Temple Gardens; Joanna Tall of legal consultancy Trading Terms; and Stephanie Grundy, who is considered an expert in drafting statutory regulations.

LSB general counsel Bruce MacMillian said: “These appointments are a key step in completing the process of our legal advisory capacity as the new regulatory regime enters its first months.”