Independent Adjudication Panel of the CLC announces new Chair

11 March, 2025

The independent Adjudication Panel of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers has today announced its next Chair.

Nick Hawkins will take up the role with effect from 24^th March, when current Chair, Victoria Goodfellow, steps down to take on a judicial role.

Mr Hawkins is a barrister by profession, with a background of a long and distinguished career in the Royal Navy, including over ten years prosecuting, defending and sitting as a Judge Advocate in Courts Martial.  He then spent 15 years as a Chief Crown Prosecutor in the Crown Prosecution Service, a year in the Independent Police Complaints Commission and two years as Chief Executive of the Legal Ombudsman. 

Mr Hawkins has until recently sat as a Legally Qualified Chair on Police Misconduct Hearings for several Police Authorities, currently sits as a lay chair of the Regulatory Tribunal of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and is a member of the Investigation and Conduct Committees for the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.  He is also a member of the British Transport Police Authority, as well as undertaking some criminal justice consultancy in the UK and overseas, and advising on university misconduct investigations and hearings.

Announcing the appointment, outgoing Chair Victoria Goodfellow said: “After nearly six years in the role, I am delighted that we have been able to secure someone with the skills and experience that Nick has to take forward the vital work of the Panel as the independent disciplinary tribunal of the CLC. It is important and challenging work, and I wish Nick and the rest of the Panel the best for the coming years.

Incoming Chair of the Adjudication Panel Nick Hawkins said: “It is a real honour to take over from Victoria Goodfellow as Chair of the Adjudication Panel and I am looking forward to meeting colleagues am keen to start work.”