The Legal Services Board (LSB) has made three senior appointments that will strengthen its ability to hold the legal services regulators to account and deliver better outcomes for the people who use legal services.
The legal sector is changing fast, with new technology and evolving consumer needs. Regulators must respond by understanding emerging risks and taking effective action to protect consumers. Shona Barton, Sam Wood and Atika Thomson will strengthen the LSB’s ability to oversee that response and ensure regulation works in the public interest.
Shona Barton joins as Director, Regulatory Oversight, leading the LSB’s oversight of the regulators. She brings a wealth of regulatory experience, most recently building Ofcom’s first regulatory supervision function from the ground up.
Sam Wood joins as Head of Performance & Oversight, leading scrutiny of regulators’ performance against the LSB’s standards. He is currently Head of Enforcement at Ofgem.
Atika Thomson joins as Head of Policy Development & Delivery, helping the LSB deliver on its strategy. She has held senior roles at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, the UK Space Agency and Ofgem.
Shona and Sam will take up their roles in January 2027. Atika will start in December 2026.
LSB Chief Executive Richard Orpin said:
“I am delighted that Shona, Sam and Atika are joining our senior team. They each have significant experience in effective, proportionate regulation, and they share a clear focus on making regulation work well for consumers. Their experience will strengthen how we hold the regulators to account and help us deliver on our strategic priorities at a time of real change for the sector. I’m delighted to welcome them to the LSB.”
Shona said:
“I am honoured to be joining the LSB at such an important time. I look forward to working with regulators, consumers, and stakeholders to embed a risk-based approach to our oversight, improve consumer outcomes, and maintain trust and confidence in the legal services sector.”
Sam said:
“I’m delighted to join the Legal Services Board. I look forward to bringing my regulatory and enforcement experience to the role, supporting strong oversight, effective performance and a continued focus on delivering better outcomes for consumers and the public.”
Atika said:
“I’m really pleased to be joining the Legal Services Board. Throughout my career, I’ve been passionate about making regulation work better for those it serves, and I’m particularly looking forward to working together to deliver meaningful, lasting change that benefits everyone who relies on legal services.”
ENDS
Biographies
Shona Barton, Director, Regulatory Oversight
Shona was previously Head of Strategy and Operations in Ofcom’s first regulatory supervision function, focused on services regulated under the Online Safety Act. She was pivotal in building the function from inception, defining its oversight strategy, governance framework and decision-making processes. Before joining Ofcom, she spent over six years at the Financial Conduct Authority, where she held various positions, including leading the supervision of large insurance groups. Her earlier roles include dispute resolution at the Financial Ombudsman Service and quality, compliance and complaints handling in financial services companies.
Sam Wood, Head of Performance & Oversight
Sam is currently Head of Enforcement at Ofgem, where he oversees complex investigations and regulatory casework across areas including consumer law, financial resilience and retail market regulation. He has extensive experience in regulatory oversight, enforcement decision-making, stakeholder engagement and organisational performance. Before joining Ofgem, Sam was a Senior Investigator at the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, where he led investigations into serious incidents and made recommendations to improve organisational performance and reduce future harm.
Atika Thomson, Head of Policy Development & Delivery
Atika has held senior roles at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, the UK Space Agency and Ofgem. She has led the development of major regulatory frameworks, including the UK’s commercial spaceflight regime, with expertise in enforcement, legal and regulatory matters, stakeholder engagement and international cooperation. She brings a collaborative, outcomes-focused approach, with a strong commitment to the public interest, and has led initiatives to improve inclusion within the UK space regulator.