Our board is called the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC)

The OLC  Board and its committees meet regularly. The role of the Board and committees is to set the strategy and business plan, to scrutinise the performance and financial responsibilities of the ombudsman scheme and make sure we understand and respond properly to any risks. The Board  promotes the regulatory objectives set out in the Legal Services Act. You can find out more about the work of the OLC, including board papers and minutes here.

There are three committees with specific areas of responsibility. These are: 

  • The Audit and Risk Committee (ARAC), which oversees the Legal Ombudsman’s risk management processes, governance and financial control framework.  
  • The Remuneration and Nomination Committee (RemCo), which oversees the terms of employment for Legal Ombudsman staff. 
  • The Public Interest Decisions Committee, which oversees the approval process to publish details where we have identified a serious risk to the public from a particular legal service provider.  

Elisabeth Davies

Chair

Elisabeth Davies has extensive experience of working across both charitable and public sectors, where she has specialised in the areas of dispute resolution and consumer protection.

Full Biography

Harindra Punchihewa

Board member (lay)

Harindra (Hari) is a lay member of the OLC board and chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC).

Full Biography

Alison Sansome

Board member (lay)

Alison’s current non-executive portfolio focuses on continuous improvement, high quality customer service and good regulation.

Full Biography

Martin Spencer

Board member (lay)

Martin has a background in economics, technology consulting, business transformation and business leadership.

Full Biography

Patricia Tueje

Board Member (non-lay)

Called in 1999, Patricia is a housing barrister based at One Pump Court Chambers, where she is a Director and Secretary of the chambers’ executive committee.

Full Biography

Rachel Cerfontyne

Board Member (lay)

Rachel joined the OLC Board on 1 March 2023 having just completed her term as the Executive Chair of the Heathrow Community Engagement Board (2018-2022).

Full Biography

Georgina Philippou

Board Member (lay)

Georgina’s career in financial services regulation began in 1992 when she joined the Securities and Investments Board specialising in investigations, particularly of unauthorised business.

Full Biography

Elaine Banton

Board Member (non-lay)

As a barrister, Elaine acts for employees and employers in all areas of employment law, focusing on complex and protracted litigation at all levels.

Full Biography