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UK lawyer becomes WA Law Society’s newest CEO
A lawyer who headed up a regulatory body in the United Kingdom recently returned to Perth to take on the position of chief executive with the Law Society of Western Australia.
Naomi Neilson
Former CEO of the United Kingdom’s Costs Lawyer Standards Board, Kate Wellington, recently came back to Perth to replace David Price as CEO of the Law Society of Western Australia, who resigned after 18 years in the role.
“I will continue the Law Society’s strong advocacy on matters important to its members and the community, ensuring that our voice is heard, loudly, on issues of social justice and the administration of fair justice for all,” Wellington said.
“I will also be looking to the future, helping the profession to prepare for the new challenges and emerging opportunities that are coming in the legal sector.”
Before leaving for the United Kingdom in 2008, Wellington completed an undergraduate degree at the University of Western Australia and worked as a judge’s associate.
Wellington then obtained a postgraduate degree in civil law from the University of Oxford and has since specialised in consumer rights, dispute resolution, regulatory policy, and the development of professional standards.
In addition to being CEO of the Law Society, Wellington was also appointed vice president of the Citizens Advice Bureau of Western Australia.
Law Society outgoing president Paula Wilkinson said Wellington’s “incredible skill set” will be of “enormous value” to the Law Society.
Wilkinson’s replacement for 2025, Gary Mack, said Wellington’s strong policy development background would be a benefit.
“Kate brings a wealth of operational and management experience, having worked as the lead lawyer for policy, as well as head of legal operations, at the UK’s biggest consumer association, and having served on advisory committees and steering groups at EU level,” Mack said.
Wellington joins the Law Society on 20 January.
Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
You can email Naomi at:
