The Law Society's Commerce and Industry Group (C&I) plans to appoint a new chairman of the London region at an emergency meeting called this week - even though former vice-chairman Anthony Armitage claims to still hold the position.

The C&I group said the meeting would be open to all board members, London members and London committee members. Last week, the national group elected training director Stanley Williams, director of legal affairs and company secretary at BSi, to succeed Carol Williams as chairman rather than Mr Armitage.



Williams: regrettable situation

It follows Mr Armitage's announcement last week that he is leading a breakaway of the C&I's London group to form another organisation known as the In-House Lawyers Association. He resigned as vice-chairman of the national executive after questions were raised about whether he should become national chairman (see [2004] Gazette, 21 October, 1).


A C&I statement said that Mr Armitage had verbally stated that he is 'no longer attached or associated with the C&I Group', and that therefore the position of London C&I chairman was now vacant and a new chairman would be appointed as soon as possible.


Mr Armitage said: 'I have not resigned as London chairman, and any comments that I am no longer attached to the national group would be misinterpreted if they were taken to mean that I was resigning from the London region.'


Mr Williams said: 'The situation in London is manageable, albeit regrettable.'


A C&I spokeswoman said Lara Oyesanya, C&I deputy vice-chairwoman, had been unable to succeed to the chair a year early.


The meeting will be held at the Law Society on 28 October at 5pm.