Andrew Caplen, a Consultant with Heppenstalls Solicitors of Lymington and New Milton has been named in this year’s Debretts list of the 500 most influential people in Britain, published recently in “The Sunday Times”.
The Debretts 500 “is a positive endorsement and recognition of Britain’s 500 most influential people.” The list is compiled annually by independent specialists and, according to Debretts, “it is a truly inspiring group of people.”
Andrew Caplen, who is currently the President of the Law Society of England and Wales, was nominated in the Law section alongside the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas, the Master of the Rolls, Lord Dyson and Amal Clooney (Human Rights lawyer and wife of George Clooney).
The relevant section in Debretts is as follows:-
“President of the Law Society Andrew Caplen was not inspired to join the legal profession due to family tradition, his parents had a fruit n’ veg stall in the local market. Instead it was a teacher who was taking the bar exams himself that motivated Caplen’s interest in law. Along with a quarter of his class, Caplen proceeded to study law, taking the Law Society finals before becoming an articled clerk in a regional firm. In his 12 months as President of the Law Society, Caplen has been committed to improving access to justice in the aftermath of strict cuts to legal aid.”
Mrs Alex Jennings, Managing Director of Heppenstalls said “This recognition is richly deserved. Andrew has been a very effective President of the Law Society. All of us at Heppenstalls are very proud that a member of our firm is now being nationally recognised.”