Napier celebrates convincing victory in presidential elections

LAW SOCIETY: Sheffield lawyer promises to reform Chancery Lane and take on the government

Michael Napier, the senior partner of Sheffield law firm Irwin Mitchell, has been elected Law Society President after a convincing victory despite the lowest poll in history.In receiving 12,233 votes, the current vice-president ended the hopes of President Robert Sayer to win an unprecedented second term.

Mr Sayer polled 6,344 votes.More than 100,000 solicitors were balloted, but only 18,730 cast their vote.

The 18.6% turnout is the lowest since elections began in 1995.

Last year's 21.7% turnout was the lowest at the time.Mr Napier's running mate, David McIntosh, senior partner of City firm Davies Arnold Cooper, won the election for Vice-President, while Welsh practitioner Carolyn Kirby won the three-way tussle for deputy vice president.

The new Law Society leadership will take up office on Thursday.Mr Napier said he takes over at a 'challenging' time for the Law Society.

'I am determined to deliver a reformed Law Society to deal firmly with government and others on the major issues that affect access to justice,' he said.One of the first issues he tackled at a press conference this week was Law Society reform.

He said: 'There has been more focus on the internal agenda than the Law Society would like, and we hope to shift the balance.' As part of the external agenda, he said the Law Society will 'enter into a proper debate with the government' on human rights, the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors and legal aid.

The low turnout was reflected by a cool City reaction.

Tony Williams, senior partner of Garretts, welcomed the result but said: 'It's disappointing.

There is a sense of apathy in the profession as to what the Law Society is doing.'Clifford Chance partner Michael Mathews - himself a former president - pointed out: 'Napier and McIntosh are both very keen on integrating the City.

They proposed the City forum, and I look forward to seeing how they can make it work.' Mr Napier said: 'I know the City has had not the most positive view of the Law Society in recent times and we intend to remedy that.' Mr McIntosh, who received 11,473 votes to Tony Bogan's 6,792, said he and Mr Napier would continue to represent solicitors in other fields by working in partnership with them: 'The Law Society can be nearly all things to nearly all people - It can't be a wet-nurse.'The deputy vice-president election was conducted by single transferrable vote.

Ms Kirby won at the second stage of the vote.

Anne Mizzi