Our Board of Trustees is made up of solicitors from across the profession and other experts who oversee and target the work of our brilliant team. Together we work to ensure every solicitor, from any background, can access help and support when they need it most. We work in a highly personalised, non-judgemental way, taking time to understand each situation before making proactive and positive interventions, as well as life-long support.
Christl Hughes was the sixth woman in The Solicitors' Charity’s history to be appointed Chairman. A former high street solicitor specialising in contentious business, she is now a trustee for the Gender Identity Research & Education Society, a charity offering support to transgender individuals.
Matthew Robbins is The Solicitors' Charity’s Chairman, Senior Partner at Jasper Vincent solicitors in Southampton and past President of Hampshire Incorporated Law Society (HILS). He was the first solicitor to arrive at the Law Society conference by canoe, from London to Birmingham along the Grand Union canal in aid of The Solicitors' Charity!
Anthony Cumming was an equity partner in Lupton Fawcett of Leeds, being a personal injury specialist. He was president of Leeds Law Society in 2003/4. He became a trustee of The Solicitors' Charity in 1989 and was chairman in 2001.
Tim Cuthbertson is a partner in Blackhams, a small firm in Birmingham city centre where he deals with private client and commercial property work. A member of the board since 1980, he served as chair in 2009-10.
Tanya Dunbar joined The Solicitors' Charity in 2014. She qualified in 2008, having had a previous career as a Business Development Manager for an Internet Service Provider. Tanya practised as a solicitor at Ashfords LLP until early 2016 when she joined the Post Office as an in-house Commercial Lawyer.
Michael Gillman became a The Solicitors' Charity trustee in 2009 and was chairman between 2012 and 2015. He is the senior partner and specialist matrimonial solicitor at Bishop & Sewell LLP. Michael was president of the City of Westminster & Holborn Law Society in 2008.
Karen Matthews joined The Solicitors' Charity in 2014. She is a practising solicitor and a US attorney admitted to the Florida Bar. She is also an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries. Since 2001 she has been in-house counsel for an international biotech company based in north-west England.
Kirsty McEwen is the Charity's Honorary Treasurer and a partner at leading Black Country law firm Higgs & Sons. Kirsty specialises in advising charities and not for profit organisations, including social enterprises, on all aspects of their operations.
Karen South is a solicitor in a 2-partner firm practising from Chancery Lane. Karen’s specialisms are employment law and Litigation. She also sits as Vice Chair and Child Protection Governor on a school governing body.
Haroon Qayum is an Associate at Blackhams in Birmingham where he specialises in Private Client work. Haroon was President of the Cambridgeshire & District Law Society between March 2014 and October 2015. He was born and raised in Yorkshire.
Shams Rahman is a solicitor and partner at leading Lincoln’s Inn law firm Edwin Coe LLP, specialising in commercial and property related litigation. He is a member of the Law Society and a regular speaker at events promoting law career development and mentoring of law students and young professionals.
Adam Parker joined The Solicitors' Charity in 2017 and is the first non-solicitor to become a Trustee. Adam is the Head of Midlands Investment Management and a member of the Charity team at investment firm Tilney.
