Shoosmiths appoints second non-executive director
February, 2022 - Milton Keynes, England
Leading UK law firm Shoosmiths has announced the appointment of new non-executive director, Vikas Shah MBE.
Vikas joins the Board alongside Monica Burch, who has been a non-executive director since 2018, and will provide the Board with another expert external view to assist the firm’s strategic development.
Vikas is an experienced entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist and visiting professor, with significant experience in the business-to-business sector. He advises boards and coaches and mentors leaders working in large, complex, multi-stakeholder environments. For the past decade, he has undertaken significant work as an advisor to a range of boards and organisations including:
- Non-Executive Board Member of the UK Government’s Department of Business Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), advising on strategy, performance, transformational and operational issues, alongside providing independent scrutiny and working with officials and the secretary of state on policy (specifically around enterprise, innovation and sectors)
- Non-Executive Director of the Solicitors Regulatory Authority predominantly advising on entrepreneurship, business sector relationships and lawtechNon-Executive Director of Fletchers Solicitors
- Advisory Board Member of the University of Manchester’s Alliance Business School
- Advisory Board Member of the British Council
- UK’s Industrial Strategy Advisory Board (IDAB) for six years, overseeing around £4bn of government funding a year
Peter Duff, chairperson at Shoosmiths, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Vikas as our second non-executive director, to assist Monica in providing an external and different perspective on our business which will help us to take advantage of further opportunities and realise our potential.”
Vikas commented: “I am excited by the opportunity to join Shoosmiths as a Non-Executive Director. While not a solicitor by background, my experience as a non-executive director at the industry’s regulator (SRA), together with my previous experience in the same role at Fletchers Solicitors has grounded me in the realities of, and opportunities for, the legal sector.
“Through my teaching roles I have to stay practically up to date on digital marketing and technology and have led significant work around law-tech at Fletchers Solicitors and the Solicitors Regulatory Authority.
“I have a passion for, and interest in, legal services and cannot wait to be part of the Shoosmiths journey.”
Vikas was awarded an MBE for services to business and the economy in The Queen’s 2018 New Year honours list. He is passionate about wellbeing and mental health, and you can view his TED x talk, How to Save your Own Life, here.
