LSB announces preferred candidate for next Chair of the OLC

The Legal Services Board (LSB) has today announced that Richard Blakeway is its preferred candidate for Chair of the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC). The OLC is the Board responsible for overseeing the work of the Legal Ombudsman.

The LSB’s recommendation has been approved by the Minister of State for Justice, Sarah Sackman KC MP.

Mr Blakeway will now take part in a pre-appointment hearing with the Justice Select Committee in March 2026. Subject to the Committee’s scrutiny, he will take up the role on 1 April 2026, succeeding Elisabeth Davies, whose term concludes on 31 March 2026.

More details are available in the press release issued by the LSB.

Notes to editors

• The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) scheme was established by the OLC under the terms of the Legal Services Act 2007 (the Act). The Act also established the LSB to oversee the regulation of the legal profession in England and Wales. Both the OLC and the LSB are Arm’s Length Bodies of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
• The Legal Ombudsman provides an independent and impartial service to help resolve complaints about lawyers in England and Wales.
• Appointment of the OLC Chair is subject to pre‑appointment scrutiny by the Justice Select Committee, in line with the process for significant public appointments.
• Elisabeth Davies has served two terms as OLC Chair: 1 March 2020 - 31 March 2023 and 1 April 2023 - 31 March 2026.