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Position

CEO—Chief Executive Officer

Index

Power List

Location

United Kingdom

Sector Focus

Legal Advisory Services

Regulatory Bodies

Geographical focus

England

Wales

Sarah Rapson

Spear’s Review

In June 2025 Sarah Rapson was named the next CEO of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the professional body for solicitors in England and Wales that sets the rules of conduct for some 200,000 practising solicitors.

Rapson takes on the role after most recently serving as executive director of supervision at the Financial Reporting Council, an independent UK regulator responsible for ensuring high standards of corporate governance. Prior to this, she served on the board of the UK Home Office, was the first director-general for UK Visas and Immigration, and was chief executive of the HM Passport Service.

With the SRA still dealing with the fallout from its handling of the collapse of Axiom Ince, and with the legal industry being shaken up by advancements in AI technology, it is hoped that this ex-Whitehall high-flyer will reinforce trust within the legal profession at this time of significant change.

Read next: The 2025 Spear’s Power List – who made the cut

Rank: Notable

Notable 2025, Power List

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