MORECROFTS partner Anne Heseltine has been elected as the 2008 president of Liverpool Law Society.
The commercial litigation specialist is the third solicitor from her firm to take up the post, following in the footsteps of Richard Bark Jones and Helen Broughton.
She takes over from Donal Bannon and will serve a year’s term.
Mrs Heseltine said: “It is a great honour and a priviledge to serve the society as president and I will still contribute to my own firm – Morecrofts have been incredibly supportive. I hope to live up to my predecessors’ work, in particular continuing their efforts to raise the profile of lawyers and legal excellence in the city.
“As President I think it is important to understand the needs of our members and I will be visiting firms across the region to find out what their concerns are and how the Liverpool Law Society can assist them in their delivery of legal services to the public.�
Liverpool Law Society has some 2000 members and is one of the largest law societies in England and Wales. It provides a number of services to its members including the provision of continuing professional education.
A mother of two grown-up children, Mrs Hesletine is originally from Belfast but has lived in Wirral for more than 30 years. An experienced Mediator and a Deputy District Judge, she joined the committee of Liverpool Law Society in 2000, when she was a partner at her previous firm Cuff Roberts.
She went on to edit the society magazine before being asked to become and officer in 2003 and serving as vice-president last year.
She said: “It is an exciting year because of Capital of Culture, and hopefully for Liverpool’s professionals in general. I’m hoping Liverpool’s lawyers will contribute greatly to the success of 2008.
“My predecessor was particularly keen to promote legal excellence in Liverpool, and we believe that clients in the region are well served and don’t need to go anywhere else. I’m hoping to continue to promote that.
“I think that lawyers, like all other professions, need to rely on other professions. So I will be looking to forge stronger links by way of continuing education, networking, and promoting Liverpool as a centre of excellence.�
Charlie Jones of Weightmans has become the law society’s vice-president for the year.