David Willis

Director and Chair of the Board of Directors

David joined the board of directors of Paradigm Trust in January 2014 and became the chair in July 2016. He is a member of the operations and finance committee and is the trust’s link director for Old Ford Primary Academy.

David is a solicitor and, prior to his retirement, he was the joint CEO at international law firm Herbert Smith Freehills, where he was a member of the board and co-chaired the executive committee concentrating on the implementation of the firm’s strategy.

Prior to becoming managing partner of Herbert Smith in April 2008, he held a number of senior management positions, including leading Herbert Smith’s Asia operations (1997–2001) and Herbert Smith’s financial institutions’ group.

David joined Herbert Smith in 1981 and became a partner in 1989. Before working in Hong Kong, he advised on a series of major privatisations in the United Kingdom, including in the electricity and coal sectors. He also advised the UK government on the restructuring of British Nuclear Fuels plc and the establishment of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

David spent 8 years as a member of the Council at Queen Mary University of London and was elected a Fellow of Queen Mary in 2022; he was a member of the board of the Solicitors Regulation Authority for 6 years; and is a vice-chair of the board of trustees of United Response, a learning disabilities charity, and chair of its finance and resources committee. In 2022, he was appointed by the Secretary of State to the board of the Financial Reporting Council.

David was first appointed as a director by the members on 15 January 2014 for a four year term. He has since been re-appointed, by the members, and is currently serving his third term. Under Paradigm Trust’s Articles of Association, David is a member of the Trust while he is the chair of the board of directors. David stepped down as a member in July 2022.