The Legal Services Board (LSB) has appointed Richard Orpin as its new Director, Regulation & Policy. He will lead the LSB’s policy, research and regulatory teams from June 2023.
Richard joins from Ofcom, where he led the communications regulator’s engagement with Government and Parliament on all broadcasting and media matters.
Commenting on the appointment, Matthew Hill, CEO of the Legal Services Board, said:
‘I am delighted to welcome Richard as our new Director, Regulation & Policy. He brings a wealth of experience in policy development and consumer-focused regulation. I am confident that he will make a significant contribution to delivering our ambition to better connect people to legal services that are accessible, at a price they can afford.’
Richard Orpin said:
‘It’s an exciting time to be joining the Legal Services Board. Legal services are integral to our way of life and are relied upon by millions of people at important or stressful moments in their lives. I look forward to advancing the LSB’s strategic goal of reshaping legal services to better meet society’s needs by delivering fairer outcomes, stronger confidence and better services.’
Richard’s appointment follows the departure of Chris Nichols in February 2023 to take up the role of Chief Executive of the Enforcement Conduct Board.
Before joining the LSB, Richard was Public Policy Principal at Ofcom, leading Ofcom’s engagement with Government and Parliament on all broadcasting and media matters. From 2017 to 2022, as Consumer Policy Principal, he led Ofcom’s work on customer fairness. From 2014 to 2017, he managed Ofcom’s review of the regulation of Royal Mail.
Before joining Ofcom in 2014, he worked at the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) for seven years, including as Head of Domestic Gambling Policy. He also held policy roles in broadcasting, school sport and culture during his time at DCMS.
Richard holds a master’s in Public Policy & Management (MSc) from the University of London’s Birkbeck College and a first class honours degree in Geography (BA) from the University of Southampton.