Charles Plant has been appointed chair of the Solicitors Regulation Authority board. The Herbert Smith consultant will take up his post on 1 January 2010, taking over from Peter Williamson. The appointment was made by a panel of five, chaired by Elizabeth Filkin, the former parliamentary commissioner for standards.

Plant was a partner at the London firm between 1976 and 2005. His expertise is in commercial litigation and arbitration across a range of industries including media, energy, construction, information technology and financial services.

As well as being a consultant at Herbert Smith, he is also the chairman of the governors of the College of Law. Previous experience includes serving on the Lord Chancellor’s advisory committee on legal education and conduct between 1994 and 1999. The committee was responsible for helping modernise and improve the provision of legal services as well as advising on standards in legal education, training and conduct.

On his appointment, Plant said: ‘I know that the SRA board - like other legal regulators - faces significant challenges in developing its approach to ensure that it is an effective modern regulator of firms of all shapes and sizes, including alternative business structures. I look forward to leading the board as it tackles those challenges, building on the work of Williamson and his board from 2006.’

Antony Townsend, SRA chief executive said: ‘We very much look forward to working with Plant on the SRA’s challenging programme of reform.’

Paul Marsh, Law Society president, said: ‘Plant is a solicitor and accredited mediator with vast experience of legal practice at home and abroad. I believe he is the ideal candidate to take forward the work of the SRA board. His experience with the College of Law also gives him invaluable knowledge of legal education. I wish him every success in his appointment.’