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 retired High Street practitioner specialising in contentious business, she is currently President of Leicestershire Law Society, Vice Chair of Association of Women Solicitors, London and East Midlands Representative on The Law Society Council Membership Committee.
Matthew Robbins, 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 a retired senior partner and specialist matrimonial solicitor and worked 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 and practise manager at Portner Law. 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.
Eugene is a mental wellbeing specialist with more than 30 years of experience. He is the Mental Health Consultancy Lead at AXA Health, providing consultancy to corporate clients. A leader in workplace mental wellbeing, counselling and psychological therapy. He authors articles, provides training and speaks at conferences and roundtables, a regular media contributor and webinar producer. He has a keen interest in digital health solutions and testing mental health and wellbeing Apps. He is current Chairperson and Emeritus Member of UK Employee Assistance Professionals Association.
Ginny Cannon joined The Solicitors’ Charity and she is the current Chair. A retired in-house commercial solicitor, she is a steward of the City of London Solicitors’ Company. Chair of the Friends of Moorfields Eye Hospital until 2021, Ginny is also an independent trustee of the Investment Managers’ Charitable Trust.
Andrew is a Chartered Fellow of The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment and has over 30 years of investment experience. He has held investment management roles at Quilter Goodison, Gerrard Vivian Grey and Laing & Cruickshank (later UBS), At UBS he was Head of Charities Investment. He performed a similar role at Psigma Investment Management, now Punter Southall Wealth. He has extensive experience as an investment committee chair and finance committee member with a number of charities. He is currently a member of the Court of the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers, a trustee of the Masonic Charitable Foundation, the Sir Halley Stewart Trust and the Accountants Charities as well as being the current chair of the Harrow Mission Trust.
Rebecca specialises in welfare benefits law and has significant experience of criminal and family law, as a practitioner and volunteer. Rebecca is delighted to join The Solicitors Charity and to support its sensitive work with vulnerable solicitors and their families.
