A GWENT lawyer has been appointed as President of the Monmouthshire Incorporated Law Society.

Clive Thomas, managing partner of Watkins & Gunn Solicitors, with offices in Newport, Pontypool and Cardiff, has been selected to head up the society - the representative body for over 300 solicitors in an area stretching across South East Wales including Newport, Monmouth, Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent.

As President, Clive intends to highlight the access to justice issues created by the changes to legal aid as well as engaging younger members of the profession and creating links with the European Bar.

Clive recently chaired the National Local Law Societies Conference as it was hosted by the Monmouthshire Law Society for the first time in its history.

It was held at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport and was attended by 36 different local law societies from all over England and Wales. Guests also raised £3,000 for Tenovus Cancer Care.

The delegates were treated to an interactive and innovative programme and were welcomed by Rt. Hon Carwyn Jones the First Minister of Wales and was followed by a Midsummer Ball.

The Ball was attended by the delegates together with around 300 local legal professionals at which Mr Thomas spoke and guest speakers Jonathan Smithers, now President of the Law Society of England and Wales and popular broadcaster, Jason Mohammad.

This is the latest achievement for Mr Thomas having just completed his term as President of the Association of South Western Law Societies (ASWLS) which represents over 10,000 solicitors.

Clive Thomas, managing partner at Watkins & Gunn Solicitors, said: “I am very privileged to become the President of the Monmouthshire incorporated Law Society. It is extremely prestigious with a history stretching as far back as 1888 and I am honoured to now be leading it. I am delighted that we hosted the National Local Law Societies Conference. It was a real success thanks to a real team effort from all of our Council members in particular Sarah Williams-Martin, our treasurer, and Kirsten Tuck, our honorary secretary.

“I am keen to continue the excellent work of my recent predecessors, Keith Evans and Ashley Harkus, in revitalising the society. I have a very clear vision for what I would like to achieve for the society during my year of office."

Sarah Williams-Martin, Treasurer of the Monmouthshire Law Society, said: “Clive has been a very active member of our society and has been instrumental in our becoming a strong local law society once again. He was the natural choice for us when we were deciding on our President. He has great ambitions for the society and we are sure with his leadership, the society will continue to grow from strength to strength."

An experienced personal injury solicitor, Clive has worked at Watkins & Gunn Solicitors since he qualified in 1991. In 2003, he was appointed managing partner of the firm during which time it had grown from a high street practice in Gwent to a nationally recognised award-winning South Wales law firm.