The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced that Caroline Corby will become the new Chair of the Board, with effect from 23 November 2026.
Caroline is the current Chair of the Professional Standards Authority (PSA), and will succeed Anna Bradley, who announced in June that she would be stepping down after eight years.
Caroline Corby said: ‘I am delighted to be joining the SRA as Chair of the Board. The UK’s legal services sector is rightly seen as a global leader that supports businesses, strengthens the rule of law and drives confidence in our legal system.
‘Strong and effective regulation is fundamental to that success, creating the conditions that drive the public’s trust in legal services.
‘I look forward to working with the Board, Sarah and colleagues across the organisation as the SRA enters its next phase of becoming a more modern, proportionate, effective and trusted regulator.’
Sarah Rapson, Chief Executive of the SRA said: ‘Caroline will be joining us as Chair of the Board at such an important time. She brings a wealth of experience in regulation, governance and public protection, as well as a strong track record of leading organisations through change and improvement.
‘I look forward to welcoming Caroline to the SRA and know she shares our ambition to ensure regulation protects the public while supporting a modern and thriving legal sector. Caroline’s insight and leadership will be invaluable as we deliver our plans to become a more modern, proactive and intelligence-led regulator.
‘I would like to thank Anna Bradley for her support and wise counsel since I became Chief Executive. Her commitment to the organisation and public service has been greatly appreciated, and I wish her every success for the future.’
The recruitment process was carried out by an external agency over several months with an independent selection panel chaired by Senior Independent Board member Lisa Mayhew. Welcoming the appointment, Lisa said: ‘Caroline stood out through a highly competitive recruitment process. She combines deep regulatory expertise with a clear commitment to protecting consumers and maintaining public confidence.
‘The panel was particularly impressed by Caroline’s experience of guiding transformation across the regulatory landscape and her steadfast commitment to protecting the public. We are confident she will provide outstanding leadership and support the organisation in delivering its ambitious agenda.
‘On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Anna Bradley for her service to the SRA over the past eight years. Her tenure has spanned a period of considerable change for both the organisation and the legal sector, and we are grateful for her dedication and commitment.’
The work of the SRA executive is overseen by a Board of ten non-executive directors and one executive director – six lay members and four solicitor members, plus an independent Chair.
The purpose of the Board is to provide effective leadership for the SRA, within a framework of prudent and effective controls, to ensure that it discharges its delegated regulatory functions and responsibilities in the public interest. The Board meets around eight times per year, some of which are formal meetings and some of which are workshop/strategy meetings.
About Caroline Corby
Caroline joins the SRA from the Professional Standards Authority, where she has served as Chair since 2021. During her tenure, the PSA strengthened its oversight of healthcare regulators and accredited registers, introduced a new framework of standards for regulators, expanded engagement with stakeholders across the UK and published influential work on effective, proportionate regulation.
