The next Deputy Vice President of the Law Society will be property law expert Jonathan Smithers. The Law Society Council has elected Mr Smithers, partner at Tunbridge Wells-based firm CooperBurnett, who will take up the role of Deputy Vice President in July 2013. He is expected to become President of the Law Society in 2015.

Mr Smithers began his training in 1984 at the firm of CooperBurnett, where he still practises. He qualified in 1986 and became an equity partner in 1990. He heads the firm’s Property Department, and has managed the firm for over twenty years.

The new Deputy Vice President has been involved in local law societies for over 25 years, having been elected President of Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and District Law Society in 2002 and of Kent Law Society in 2007/8. Jonathan joined Council six years ago and also sits on the Membership Board. He has sat on the Conveyancing and Land Law Committee for five years, including as Vice Chair and now Chair, and he is also on a number of other committees.

Jonathan Smithers said: “I am delighted to have been elected by Council to become the new Deputy Vice President of the Law Society. It is both an honour and a privilege. I am looking forward very much to working with the new President and Vice President and Council in what is a very challenging time for the profession.”

Law Society CEO Desmond Hudson said: “It is clear that all of the candidates who stood for election have a great deal to offer the Society. They presented a set of formidable and varied choices to Council. “Jonathan has already made a high profile contribution to the Law Society, not least as a result of his assiduous work as Chair of the Conveyancing and Land Law Committee and through his involvement in the Membership Board. We all look forward to continuing to work with him in his new capacity.” Ends