About the Court Committees
The Court of the Company delegates some of its work to Committees on which members may offer to serve. Members of the committees are appointed for an initial term not exceeding three years and are eligible for re-appointment for a further term. The aim of this is to allow members to contribute to the Company in a meaningful way, with the assurance that the commitment is not open-ended. It also has the benefit of ensuring that the committees are constantly refreshed with new members.
Serving on one of the Committees of the Court is an excellent way of becoming more involved in the Company, gaining familiarity with the work of the Company and getting to know fellow members. The time commitment varies but most of the committees meet no more than four to five times a year, mostly in the early evening, but sometimes over lunchtime. Committees are encouraged to publish their meetings for each year.
For information about how to join a Committee, please contact clerk@citysolicitors.org.uk
Armed Forces Affiliations
Chair: Steward Simon McMenemy
Cadets Contact: Court Assistant Mary-Ann Wright
The Committee is tasked with enhancing the Company’s existing relationship with the Armed Forces through our affiliations with the Army Legal Services and the Air Cadets linked with the Company by providing practical support with their work with young people.
Charities Committee
Chair: Peter King
Secretary: Colin Gregory
The Charity Committee assists the Court in the management of its Charitable Fund. It makes recommendations to the Court about:
- Donations policy
- Reviews and makes recommendations to the Court about donations, whether by way of regular donations, annual grants or special projects.
- Makes recommendations to the Court to encourage support by members.
- Reviews, on an annual basis, the governance management, financial, regulatory, operational and other risks to the Charitable Fund and reports on these to both the Company’s General Purposes Committee and the Court.
Members:
Alison Amini-Pearce
Virginia Cannon
Alastair Collett
David Graves
Colin Gregory
Alexandra Marks CBE
John Maycock
Cliona O’Tuama
Lucy Riley
Gillian Rivers
Su-Ling Voon
Communications Committee
Chair: Full Court Assistant Clare Murray
Deputy Chair: Neha Jannath
The Communications Committee is responsible for:
- Developing and implementing a PR Strategy and Social Media Strategy
- Maintaining and developing the Company Website
- Overseeing City Solicitor Magazine
- Developing and implementing new means of communication (e.g. podcasts), as these become available and viable.
Members:
Matthew Dineen
Joanna Hughes
Joel Leigh
Tanja Velling
Cail Wyn-Evans
Nawal Jeilani Sheikh Bin-Sheikh (volunteer)
Charlie Moore (volunteer)
Sean Cullen (expert volunteer)
Gus Selitto (expert volunteer)
Liam McCafferty (expert volunteer)
Adam Badawy (volunteer)
Caleb Oyekanmi (volunteer)
Investment Committee
Chair: Past Master David Graves
The Investment Committee has oversight of the Company and Charity investments in accordance with the goals specified by the Company including its ethical investment and DEI policies. The Committee draws upon independent professional investment expertise. This Committee is responsible for reporting to Court, at a minimum, annually.
Members:
Simon Davis – Master
David Biddle
Virginia Cannon
Alastair Collett
Rupert Jones
Alexandra Marks
Michael Mathews
John Toth
John Wotton
Nominations Committee
Chair: Past Master Sarah de Gay
The Nominations Committee is responsible for the progression of liverymen to Court Assistants. They meet annually to discuss and put forward engaged and enthusiastic liverymen to the Election Court each May.
Members:
Simon Davis – Master
Gareth Ledsham – Senior Warden
Lee McLernon – Junior Warden
Edmund Parker
David Graves
Rupert Jones
Sports and Social
Chair: Court Assistant Luca Cordelli
The Solicitors’ Company is re-engaging with the inter-livery sports and social activities.
These include:
Bridge
Football
Golf
Rugby
Tennis
Paddle Tennis
Shooting
Skiing
Quiz
Wine Committee
Chair: Past Master Nick Hughes
This Committee advises the Court on the acquisition of red wine and champagne for Company events. It proposes an annual budget for the acquisition of wine; selects and purchases wine for Company events; and proposes and organises wine-related events for members of the Company.
Members:
Simon Davis – Master
Samuel Cooper
Matthew Dineen
Richard Harrison
Edward Heaton
Kathryn Jarvis
Rafique Khan
Iain MacFarlane
Clare Murray
Cliona O’Tuama
David Saleh
Clare Wilson
Whittington Livery, Events and Membership Committee
Chair: Court Assistant Lucy Riley
Vice Chair – Court Assistant Naureen Shariff
Known as Whitting LEMs, this Committee brings together the core foundations of the company of membership, fellowship and association.
This Committee is targeted with recruiting eligible solicitors as Freemen of the Company and encouraging Freemen to progress to the Livery. It does this by promoting the benefits of membership of the Company generally to eligible solicitors; arranging recruitment events and encouraging members to participate in fellowship events. It also arranges social / networking events which are likely to be of interest to more junior members of the profession, with a view to encouraging attendees to join the Company.
The Committee has a targeted programme of outreach work with appropriate external organisations. This includes participating in pan-livery initiatives including organising the Company’s entry to the annual Lord Mayor’s Show.
The Committee aims to ensure a balanced and varied programme of events for all members of the Company with particular regard to the diversity, equality and inclusion of all members. The Committee promotes the activities of the Company and the civic City:
- To junior lawyers practising in CLLS member firms / in-house legal departments / any other form of eligible practice in the Company’s remit.
- Maintains a “buddy” system whereby new members of the Company are, on request, paired with existing members of the Company to welcome them and guide them through their first formal Company events
Members:
Simon Davis – Master
Gareth Ledsham – Senior Warden
Lee McLernon – Junior Warden
Virginia Cannon – (In-house Lawyers)
Andrew Campbell
James Chesterman (Membership)
Luca Cordelli (Livery Sports)
Aster Crawshaw (Diversity and Inclusion)
Matthew Dineen
Colin Gregory (Events)
Dominic Griffiths (Wellbeing)
Joanna Hughes
Simon McMenemy (Military Affiliations)
Cliona O’Tuama (Livery)
Edmund Parker (History)
Sophia Watson (Whittington)
Clare Wilson