Reappointment of Habib Motani to the Legal Services Board

Strategic Insights -

The UK Government has announced the reappointment of Habib Motani as a non-lay member of the Legal Services Board for a four-year term from 18 April 2026. Motani, a seasoned lawyer with over 30 years of experience, is a Consultant to Clifford Chance LLP and a Visiting Professor at the University of Edinburgh. His reappointment marks a significant development in the UK's legal services sector, where the Legal Services Board plays a crucial role in reforming and modernizing the marketplace.

Key Takeaways:

  • Habib Motani has been reappointed as a non-lay member of the Legal Services Board for a four-year term from 18 April 2026.
  • Motani has over 30 years of experience as a partner in Clifford Chance LLP's banking and finance practice.
  • He is a Visiting Professor at the School of Law at the University of Edinburgh.
  • The Legal Services Board is an independent body overseeing the regulation of lawyers in England and Wales.
  • The LSB's goal is to put the interests of consumers at the heart of the legal services system.
  • The appointment is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and follows the Governance Code on Public Appointments.
  • The British Institute of International and Comparative Law, the Institute of Ismaili Studies, and The Aga Khan University (International) in the United Kingdom have Motani as a Trustee.
  • The Office for Legal Complaints and the Legal Ombudsman scheme are overseen by the LSB.

Statistics:

  • 18 April 2026: Date from which Motani's reappointment takes effect.
  • 30+ years: Number of years Motani has spent as a partner in Clifford Chance LLP's banking and finance practice.
  • 4 years: Duration of Motani's reappointment to the Legal Services Board.
  • 1: Presidency of the UK's highest court of appeal, provided by The Supreme Court (UK).

Sources:

  • "The Lord Chancellor has approved the reappointment of Habib Motani as a non-lay member of the Legal Services Board." [1]
  • The Governance Code on Public Appointments [2]
  • Lord Chancellor's approval of reappointment [3]
  • Habib Motani's biography on LinkedIn [4]
  • Clifford Chance LLP's website [5]