Board

Simon Law

Simon Law is the current Chairperson and has previously held the post from 2012-2018. Simon is Director and Head of Legal Practice for DC Law and JS law and also a Director of Premier Property Lawyers and Advantage Property Lawyers. He has extensive experience working in the profession having worked for large and small firms. During Simon’s time as the Chairperson, he has represented the SLC on various boards and groups including Land Registry Advisory Council, Home Buying And Selling Council and Legal Ombudsman Challenge and Advisory board. He was also part of the MOJ’s Industry Working Group for Electronic Execution of Documents. In his spare time Simon is President, coach and plays rugby for Northampton Outlaws (the first inclusive rugby club in the East Midlands). He is a qualified rugby coach and referee.

Laura Burkinshaw

Laura Burkinshaw joined the board of the SLC in 2018. She has worked in Sam Hawkings Property Lawyers since May 2026 and work closely with our Board of Directors with all Legal and Development projects. She previously held the positions of HOLP for 4.5 years in Convey Law, for 18 months in Sort Legal and for 11 years in Dezrezlegal. Laura qualified as a Solicitor in 2006 and changed to CLC status in 2009 when setting up Dezrezlegal, she proudly holds both SRA and CLC licences. Laura is passionate about enabling people from all walks of life to be able to train to become a conveyancer without having to take on huge debts that it required when she became a Solicitor.

Laura has two sons and a Miniature Dachshund. She enjoys spending a lot of time outside and when it’s raining, she spends a lot of time baking and building Lego with her sons.

Gareth Richards

Gareth joined the SLC Board in January 2015 and has vast experience in the profession, leading the conveyancing team at one of the most innovative and award winning conveyancing companies in the UK. Gareth is a UEFA C Licensed football coach and enjoys spending his spare time involved in football and with his family and 5 dogs.

Darren Becks

Darren Becks is the managing partner of Angela Viney Conveyancing Services, with extensive conveyancing experience in conveyancing inclusive of business, land acquisitions, sales, commercial property and landlord/tenant work. He manages and supervises a growing residential and commercial property team across the firm's three offices based in Halifax, Huddersfield and Shelf.

Darren started his career with the firm as a trainee Conveyancer in 1999, going on to qualify as a licensed conveyancer in 2002 before becoming a director in 2008. He has worked in Halifax and the surrounding towns throughout his career, building up strong relationships with many estate agents, property developers, investors, surveyors, accountants and financial advisers throughout the region.

In 2011 Darren joined the Management Board of the Society of Licensed Conveyancers.

Lee Gaddes

Lee Gaddes is an experienced commercial property solicitor and has been advising landlords, tenants, and developers for over 20 years. He is currently with Arch Law and Head of arch.convey, based in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

Lee’s career started in Residential Conveyancing, and he has led several award-winning teams, over multiple offices, for law firms that he has owned and has since exited. He qualified as a Solicitor in 2005 and qualified as a Licensed Conveyancer in 2016.

Lee enjoys spending time with his family, travelling often to Europe in their Motorhome. In his spare time, he is a keen mountain biker and snowboarder.

Sam Hawking

Sam Hawking is managing director of Sam Hawking Property Lawyers, which he established in 2006. The practice has gained a strong reputation for dealing with property investors and small developers, dealing with both residential and commercial property. Sam is also a trustee of the Conveyancing Foundation, a director of the Conveyancing Association, a landlord and director of Life Property Group (property development company) and used to own a letting agency too. Sam is married with two children and a keen sportsman. He won the Likey 6633 Arctic Ultra Marathon in March 2015, touted by Redbull as the toughest race in the world.

John E Jones

John is a Chartered Legal Executive, and Licensed Conveyancer. He received his first licence in 1988. He is also a Licensed Probate Practitioner, and a Director of the Society of Licensed Conveyancers. John also sits as a 'CLC Lawyer Member' of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers Adjudication Panel and as a 'Fellow Member' of the CILEx Regulation Admissions and Licensing Committee. John is a former professional member of the governing board of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers. He is also a former professional member of the CILEx Regulation Appeals Panel. He holds the Certificate in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (CTLLS) qualification and is a Fellow of the Institute for Training and Occupational Learning. John is a practising Senior Property Lawyer & SRO at Jackson Lees Solicitors in Heswall, Wirral.

Laura Maggs

Laura Maggs is a Consultant Licensed Conveyancer and Director with over 30 years’ experience in residential conveyancing, she also spent many years working as an estate agent earlier in her career.

Her experience across both sides of the property transaction gives Laura a valuable understanding of the challenges faced by clients, estate agents and other property professionals. She takes a practical, commercially focused approach and is passionate about delivering a high standard of service.

Laura is passionate about the conveyancing profession and particularly about promoting the role and value of Licensed Conveyancers. She is committed to keeping her knowledge current and staying informed about the changing property market, legislation and challenges facing the conveyancing sector.

Laura is also an active member of professional property organisations and trade bodies and is committed to supporting the continued development and reputation of the conveyancing profession.

Jo Ponsford

Jo Ponsford is a Consultant Licensed Conveyancer and Licensed Probate Practitioner with arch.law.

She commenced her legal career in 2000, before moving to specialise in property matters in 2003, began running her own files in 2006 and first qualified in 2008. She has worked as an employee, a Locum, a Consultant and has owned both SRA and CILEx regulated law firms (with Approved Manager status as applicable), supervising teams of various sizes, and has a strong commitment to maintaining excellent relationships with clients, colleagues and other stakeholders. As such, Jo has a unique understanding of how SLC Members at all levels work and what challenges they face – as well as the successes they can achieve.

Jo has particular expertise in residential conveyancing and commercial property matters, and in addition, she has qualified experience of various private client matters including Will writing and Estate planning, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Grant Application (Probate/Letters of Administration), Estate Administration and some Trust work, having obtained a Probate Licence with the CLC in 2024.

Jo joined the Board of the Society of Licensed Conveyancers in 2024, having been a Member since 2019, and is passionate about promoting the profession, maintaining high standards of good practice and encouraging other lawyers joining the regulated conveyancing and private client areas, both in respect of their studies but also in terms of supporting and mentoring during their practical experience and training.

Shelley Rounding

Shelley is a Consultant Conveyancer with Setfords and 360LawServices and joined the Board in August 2013. Shelley started her career as a Conveyancing Secretary over 30 years ago, going on to qualify as a Licensed Conveyancer in 2009. Shelley has worked both abroad and in the UK. In her spare time, Shelley enjoys cycling, having recently completed the London to Brighton cycle ride, speed walking and spending time with her family and labrador.

Mark Willey

Mark studied Criminology at Middlesex University and then completed his Post Graduate Diploma in Law at the University of East Anglia.
Mark Qualified as a Solicitor in 2006 and worked for Edward Hayes Solicitors in their London, Fleet Street office mainly undertaking criminal defence work.
Returning to his birthplace on the Isle of Wight in 2008 he joined his father “Terry” at the family firm Terence Michael Willey & Co. Ltd  of which they are the company directors.
Mark takes on all management & compliance roles at the practice supervising both the Conveyancing & Private client departments but day to day is private client lawyer which he finds enjoyable and rewarding.
Mark is Licensed Conveyancer and qualified further: STEPS - Advance Certificate in Will Preparation.