Dana Denis-Smith OBE, the Romanian-born solicitor who founded the First 100 Years project to celebrate women in the legal profession, has been elected deputy vice president of the Law Society, the Society announced today. Denis-Smith will take office in October, become vice president in 2026 and president in 2027. She will be the eighth woman in the role.
Denis-Smith is a Law Society council member representing women solicitors, a member of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Membership and Communications committees and sits on the advisory board of the Judicial Appointments Commission.
She was admitted in 2007 after training with international firm Linklaters following a decade as a journalist. In 2010 she founded Obelisk Support, a legal services provider offering flexible legal solutions, of which she is currently chief executive.
In 2014, she founded the First 100 Years, a national campaign to celebrate the first 100 years of women in the legal profession culminating in centenary celebrations in 2019.
She holds two honorary doctorates in law from the University of Glasgow and the University of Worcester.
Current president Richard Atkinson said: 'As we continue to celebrate 200 years of the Law Society, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to Dana on becoming the newly elected deputy vice president. Dana emerged from a strong pool of candidates and her election is a testament to her dedication, expertise and commitment to the legal profession.
'I look forward to working with Dana to drive progress and help the Law Society navigate the future successfully for our members, the legal community and society. I wish Dana all the best.'
Denis-Smith said: 'I am thrilled to be elected as the new deputy vice president of the Law Society of England and Wales. Along with the president and vice president, colleagues and the Law Society as a whole, I believe we can champion more inclusivity to ensure all our members can have successful careers in the legal sector.
'We will continue to drive innovation and support our members to thrive in the digital age. Together, we remain committed to championing solicitors’ values and the crucial role they play in upholding the rule of law, access to justice and supporting our communities.'
