The London Solicitors Litigation Association (LSLA) has elected John McElroy, Fieldfisher’s co-head of dispute resolution, as its new president.
McElroy succeeds Nikki Edwards, now at Fox & Partners and IPOS Mediation after leaving Howard Kennedy in January, who was originally elected in 2024. Like Edwards, he will serve a two-year term.
For his part McElroy joined Fieldfisher from Hausfeld in 2024, not long after becoming vice president of the LSLA, which noted he becomes president amid continued geopolitical uncertainty, economic pressure and rapid technological change.
It added that alongside the increasing use of AI, sanctions and growth in civil fraud claims, these factors are expected to shape both the nature and volume of litigation in London, in both the Business and Property Courts and the appellate courts.
Procedural developments like the right to conduct litigation, open justice and court digitalisation – a focus of the outgoing Master of the Rolls – are also likely to directly influence how disputes are managed in London.
Under McElroy’s leadership, the LSLA said it will continue to provide a voice for its members on these issues and their impact, working closely with the judiciary and Bar to ensure London maintains its position at the forefront of global litigation as London International Disputes Week looms.
McElroy’s presidency will focus on strengthening the LSLA’s role as a bridge between solicitors and the judiciary at a time when the number of solicitor-judges in the higher courts remains stubbornly low. He will also prioritise bringing together London’s litigation community, in representing claimant and defendant lawyers, while advancing the LSLA’s work in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
One initiative will be to promote the LSLA’s judicial shadowing and mentorship schemes to help members benefit from such experiences, drawing on the experience of former LSLA president Master Kaye, a deputy High Court judge and Chancery Master, and others, to foster wider communication.
McElroy commented: “Many issues that solicitors encounter daily won’t be seen by judges until a much later stage in a dispute, while judges bring a broader institutional perspective and play an important role in shaping the development and application of procedure and legal principles.
“The LSLA hosts events for its members and judges that provide early visibility of these issues and developments, creating space for constructive discussion. This strengthens mutual understanding across the profession and means the LSLA is invited into policy discussions at an earlier stage.”
The latter is a role McElroy is committed to developing, building on the work of former presidents like Ed Crosse on disclosure and Julian Acratopulo on witness statements, while McElroy led the LSLA’s work on litigation funding reform.
Building on progress made under Edwards’ presidency, McElroy, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, will work to advance the LSLA’s commitment to inclusive leadership and strengthening DEI across the profession, something he has led by example as a judge at the Women and Diversity in Law Awards, and also reflected in the diverse makeup of the LSLA’s leadership committee.
The latter underscores McElroy’s belief that diversity is essential to the continued strength and innovation of London’s litigators.
Ceri Morgan, knowledge counsel at HSF Kramer, is the new vice-president of the LSLA and will support McElroy across its activities; she is the latest in a long line of HSF lawyers to support the LSLA’s work, the most recent being Chris Bushell’s tenure from 2020 to 2022.
McElroy said: “I look forward to leading the organisation into its 75th year as it continues to act as a voice and driver of change in the litigation industry.”
Noting the challenges described above, he said: “Collaboration is vital to addressing them, and the LSLA plays a central role in bringing members of the profession together.”
Thanking Edwards for her service, he added: “She has strengthened the LSLA’s voice and impact across the litigation community, particularly in championing DEI. I look forward to building on that legacy during my presidency.”
McElroy also paid tribute to Nicholas Heaton, president of the LSLA from 2022 to 2024, who passed away recently, saying: “[His] commitment to the LSLA leaves a lasting legacy. He was a much-valued colleague and friend.”
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