The Team

We have a dedicated team who, with the support of the Officers, deal with the day to day business of the Society. They design and organise our services and between them are able to draw on significant resources to assist our members:

 

Tony Steiner, Chief Executive
Tony first came to work for Devon & Exeter Incorporated Law Society at the end of 1994 and again in March 1995. He came to help out for a few weeks as a Part-Time Administrative Assistant and the rest is history. He graduated in 1994 from the University of Plymouth with a Degree in Law (LLB) and in 2013 from the University of Exeter with a Masters in Business Administration (MBA).  He looks after many of the commercial services including the recruitment advertising provided by DASLS, he chairs the Education & Training Committee and supports the Leadership & Management Committee.

 

 

 Kelly Baker, Executive Administrator

Kelly started her career in estate agency and later crossed over to facilities management.  She progressed to Facilities Manager at Capita in Salisbury after which she worked part-time for a number of years whilst raising her two eldest boys.  During this time she worked in event management, property lettings and charity fundraising.  After relocating home to Devon, Kelly joined Peter Peter & Wright Solicitors in 2018 working as a paralegal in the Conveyancing team.  She soon enrolled with CILEx and achieved a level 3 diploma in Law & Practice.

Kelly started working for DASLS in May of 2022 and supports Tony in the successful running of DASLS.

 

 

  Chris Hart Wollens, DASLS Honorary Secretary

Chris the Honorary Secretary of the Devon and Somerset Law Society and a past President of the Devon and Exeter Law Society. In March 2016 I was awarded the Leader/Law Manager of the Year at the inaugural Devon and Somerset Law Society awards. I am a past Chair of the Law Society’s Law Management Section and continue to advise the Committee from time to time.  I have a keen interest in the tourism industry of the English Riviera and Devon generally.  I am the former Chair of the English Riviera Tourism Company and now chair the board of the English Riviera BID.  I am a member of the Executive of the Torbay Business Forum, and a member of the Devon and Cornwall Committee of Somerset County Cricket Club.

In my leisure time I am an enthusiastic follower of football (supporting West Ham United and Torquay United) and cricket (being President of South Devon Cricket Club), and also enjoy travel and gin tasting!

Richard Adams, DASLS Honorary Treasurer & Law Society Council Member

Following articles in St Austell, Richard qualified as a solicitor in 1989, working as a GP for Trowers & Hamlins in Exeter, and joined the Devon & Exeter Law Society’s Young Solicitors’ Group, where he met Tim Selley. Richard quickly became the Devon National Representative on the YSG of the National Law Society, mixing with now famous Presidents such as Frank Maher, Jayne Willetts and Lord Lieutenant Lucy Winskell OBE. After seven years at Trowers & Hamlins Richard joined Crosse + Crosse in Exeter, initially to do Claims Direct-based litigation for taxi drivers, and then private client work, until a late career change in 2020 away from the compliance nightmares of private practice.  Richard became the Treasurer in 1998, working first with Tony Spiers and then with Chris Hart as Hon Sec.   A vacancy arose in 2020 for the Devon & Somerset seat on the Law Society’s Council, Richard stood and was elected unopposed, and was similarly re-elected for another four-year term last year.

Ben Darby, Darby & Darby, Managing Partner,  DASLS President 2026/2027

Ben is the Managing Partner of Darby & Darby, a rapidly growing South Devon high street law firm. A former Criminal Defence Solicitor, who later specialised in private client work. Ben is also the founder of Ordli, a direct to consumer LawTech start-up simplifying power of attorney management for lay attorneys. He has taken Ordli, aided by multiple collaborations, from concept to launch.   Along the way, Ben has also raised over £450,000 in funding and investment for the platform.  Ben uniquely has one foot on the traditional high street and the other in digital legal services.  An advocate championing the role the legal profession plays in society, Ben is also President of Devon & Somerset Law Society and a LawTech UK Mentor.

James McNally, Slee Blackwell, Partner & Head of Personal Injury, DASLS Vice President 2026/2027
 James McNally, who was named DASLS Solicitor of the Year 2024, joined Slee Blackwell in 2001 and is the head of the firm’s personal injury department.
He is a previous winner of DASLS Young Solicitor of the Year, and was named a “Pro Bono Hero” by the Attorney General.
James’s expertise in animal law led to him becoming widely known in the British media simply as “The Dog Bite Solicitor”.
He was shortlisted for ‘Claimant Lawyer of the Year’ at the National Personal Injury Awards in 2021.

 

 

 Rachel Buckley, Joint Managing Director & Owner, Head of Divorce and Finance Team, The Family Law Company, DASLS Deputy Vice President 2026/2027 

Rachel joined the company in 2006 as an Associate Solicitor and is now the Joint Managing Director and owner of the company. Rachel is also Head of the Divorce and Finance Team.  She is a qualified collaborative lawyer and to act for both parties in a divorce (Resolution Together also known as 1 lawyer 2 clients).   Recognised on both Spears 500 and Citywealth trusted advisor lists Rachel specialises in high net worth divorce and the financial consequences of marriage and civil partnership breakdown. She also has a wealth of experience in cases involving members of the Armed Forces, Police and Fire service and frequently represents high ranking members of these professions.  Rachel regularly provides commentary in the legal, regional and national media – most notably the Financial Times. She is also the Deputy Vice President of the Devon and Somerset Law Society.  In her spare time Rachel enjoys watching historical World War II programmes, reading war poetry and travelling European cities and the West Coast of America. Rachel plays a mean game of table tennis.

 

Pam Johns, Coodes, Partner, DASLS Immediate Past President 2026/2027 

Pam Johns has been with Coodes since 1989, and a Partner since 1998. She has always dealt with property matters, starting out in Residential Property but since 2005 she has specialised in Commercial Property, with a particular interest in rural property.
She established the Holsworthy office and has been consistently highly ranked in the legal directories Legal 500 and Chambers for many years.
Pam is ranked in the 2025 edition of Chambers and Partners.

Board of Directors:

Cheryl Bolt, Wollens, Commercial Property Solicitor

Michael Cosgrave, Wollens, Commercial Property Consultant, DASLS Past President

Nicola Hall, Stephens Scown, Property Litigation Solicitor

Cara Hough, Irwin Mitchell, Contentious Probate Partner & Solicitor

Martin Laver, Tozers, Partner, Commercial Dispute Resolution

Claire Lovett, Amicus Law, Head of Property, 

Kim McDonald, Exeter University, Solicitor & Lecturer

Nicky Mein, Cartridges Law, Partner & Head of Family Care

Ian Merryweather, Merryweather Williams, Senior Partner & DASLS Past President

Emma Mitcham, Solicitor & Notary Public 

Rebecca Parkman, Wards, Partner, DASLS Past President

Lucy Pillinger, Ronald Fletcher Baker, Senior Associate Solicitor

Stephen Forsey, Amicus Law, Partner, DASLS Past President

Beth Quinn, The Law Society, Member Engagement Manager

All correspondence via DASLS - kelly@dasls.com

The Devon and Somerset Law Society exists to work for the benefit of its members within the area of Devon and Somerset (except Plymouth)

  • It is a professional forum for lawyers in both counties
  • It provides social functions,  e.g. Annual Dinners - including Legal Awards Dinners; Other informal events
  • It is a focus of communication for lawyers in the area: - to and from Chancery Lane;  between the Membership (Social Functions); Correspondence; Newsletters; Forums and Open Meetings
  • It represents the profession in the region and outside - e.g.to Local Government; to other professions; and Chancery Lane
  • It assists members who are in difficulty in their practice and facilitates the public communicating with the central regulating body if appropriate.
  • If you can think of any other services you would like DASLS to provide for the profession please ask us. If it can be done we will provide it.
  • It provides services for its members: 

    Cost effective CPD courses 

    Employment Advertising

    Annual Inter-Firm Surveys for Practice Management

    Leadership & Management Forum and Conference

    International Lawyer Network - email mail@dasls.com for information

    Mediation Promotion

    Newsletters

The Devon and Somerset Law Society provides its support for the profession in the area through a committee structure comprising:

  • Board of Directors - Overarching policy and running of the Society
  • Vice President’s Committee - The Society’s Think Tank
  • Executive Committee - Day to day management of the Society
  • Learning & development Committee - CPD accredited courses and seminars
  • International Relations Committee - Thriving contacts with the Rennes Bar Association, the Erlangen Lawyers’ Association, the Young Bar of Leuven, the Verona Bar, the Gdansk Bar and the Bilbao Bar.  The Society has been an active member of the Federation of European Bars since 1992.
  • Family, Criminal & Dispute Resolution Committee - Court Liaison, Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Property & Private Client Committee - HM Land Registry, Conveyancing, Probate and Trusts
  • Leadership & Management Committee -  Training and support for law firms and organisations
  • Sustainability Committee - set up in December 2020 to promote the benefits to all legal organisations of using carbon neutral processes and practices in their work.
  • Social Committee - Arranges various local events for members, guests and families
  • Parliamentary Liaison Officers - the group is in liaison with Members of Parliament

Click here to access the Terms of Reference of the Committee and Committees

Modern Slavery Statement

The Society was established in 1808 and incorporated in England as a Company Limited by Guarantee in 1926 with registration number 213866

Registered Office – Wollens, At Harbourside, 67 The Terrace, Torquay TQ1 1DP