Opening of the Academic Year Alumni Lecture 2025/26

Join us to hear from distinguished University of Edinburgh alumnus Ben Kemp.

Ben Kemp took up the role of Chief Executive of the Law Society of Scotland in August 2025, following an extensive career in legal practice, as well as professional body and regulatory leadership. Ben has arrived at the Law Society at a time of considerable change, with generational reforms to the regulation of solicitors in Scotland in train and as rapidly emerging technologies, in particular those using artificial intelligence, drive opportunity and uncertainty for the legal sector globally.

After graduating from the University of St Andrews, Ben joined Edinburgh Law School’s LLB graduate programme in 1997. He secured a position with Shepherd and Wedderburn after graduation, qualifying as a solicitor in 2001. Ben subsequently joined London firm Kingsley Napley, where he was a Partner, before moving into in-house legal and regulatory roles. In 2012, Ben joined the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries as General Counsel and Executive Director. His contributions there included a 15-month tenure as Interim Chief Executive, during which he provided strategic leadership across a broad portfolio, including public interest regulation, international engagement, and governance reform.

Throughout Ben's career he has maintained a close connection with the University of Edinburgh, and especially with the Law School, including as a tutor in Public Law for more than 20 years.