Welcome to our New Executive Committee Members

In October last year we welcomed two new Executive Committee Members to the team, Sarah Austin and Nazmin Choudhury. Both put forward a request to come and spectate at an Executive Committee Meeting.

Executive Committee Meetings take place quarterly, Sarah and Nazmin attended the October 2022 meeting, and they were co-opted onto the Committee. It was clear they would bring a wealth of knowledge, alternative thinking and a different perspective to an already diverse Executive Committee Team.

Sarah is a Sole Principal of her own Lexcel accredited firm, a serial volunteer, and a contributor. Sarah is a former Honorary Treasurer and executive member of the National Association of Women Solicitors (AWS) and later the Women Lawyers Division (WLD). She represented AWS and WLD for the maximum term of twelve years on the Law Society Council. As well as serving on the Law Society Board, Audit and Risk Committee, Policy and Regulation Board and Equality, Diversity Inclusion Committee.

Currently she is a member of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Group, considering selection exercises for fairness and accessibility. Whilst the Chair of the Lexcel Panel, she promoted it especially amongst smaller firms and sole practitioners. She has authored articles, contributed to consultations, committees, boards and working parties, addressing inclusion, social mobility and governance. In addition, she holds statutory appointments for the Councils of Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, Luton, Bedford and Central Bedford Council, as their Independent Person, dealing with complaints brought against parish, town and county councillors.

Nazmin was born in London, but is of Bangladeshi heritage, and is one of the first to attain a law degree in her generation from that heritage. After qualifying in 1992 and working for renowned firms, Nazmin set up her own practice NC Law in 2010. It is a few doors away from her father’s restaurant, also called Nazmin’s, and named after her. Clients often ask her if she knows there is a restaurant three doors away with the same name!

The practice deals with conveyancing, commercial and residential, all aspects of civil litigation and wills and probate. Nazmin is zealous about the rights of Sole Practitioners, especially the exclusion of Sole Practitioners on many lenders panels. Nazmin’s clients range from corporate companies, and property developers to individuals, and all clients are through recommendations and referrals.

Nazmin is married with three children, and is passionate about travel, women’s rights and her heritage in Bangladesh. She travels to Bangladesh regularly where she tries to carry on the prolific charity work started by her late father. The work includes empowering young girls to attain their goals, clean water, education, housing and she collects clothes from friends and family and distributes to less unfortunate in the villages and maternity hospitals.

If you would like to request to attend an Executive Committee Meeting, please email info@spg.uk.com

Jo Connolly SPG Chair