The Charity Commission has appointed Jan Lasik as its new Director of Legal and Accountancy Services.
Jan was until recently General Counsel and Secretary of the National Trust. Prior to that he served as Deputy Head of Legal at the Bank of England after spending his early career working in private practice at two international law firms.
The Charity Commission's Director of Legal and Accountancy Services is responsible for leading and managing its legal and accountancy services and assuring the legal integrity of the Commission's regulatory work and policies. As a member of the Commission Executive Leadership Team, they also contribute to the overall leadership and management of the Commission, and advise the Board.
Jan will have oversight of the legal teams responsible for advising on registration, compliance, enforcement and regulatory authority as well as litigation strategy. His role will include steering legal input into delivery of the Commission's strategy for 2024-29, which set commitments to "support charities to get it right but take robust action where we see wrongdoing and harm" and to "embrace technological innovation and strengthen how we use our data."
Jan will also be responsible for overseeing the Commission's accountancy team, led by an accountancy profession expert. Along with regulatory work, the team works alongside other UK regulators to ensure the UK charity reporting accounting framework is developed and maintained.
Charity Commission Chief Executive, David Holdsworth, said:
We were fortunate to attract an impressive pool of candidates in which Jan stood out. He brings a strong understanding of charity and wider law at a challenging time for the sector, and his experience, including working for an independent statutory regulator from his time at the Bank of England, will be of benefit as the Commission expands its casework staffing and explores the potential for technology solutions to meet increasing demand.
Jan Lasik said:
Charities are vital to our society, as is a strong and independent regulator. I look forward to joining the Commission, playing my part in ensuring that the law is upheld, wrongdoers are held to account, and that talent and innovation across the entire charity sector can flourish.
Jan will take up his new role in January 2026.
Jan Lasik: Curriculum Vitae (CV)
2025: LifeArc
2018 to 2025: National Trust
2013 to 2018: Bank of England
2011 to 2013: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
2006 to 2010: Allen & Overy LLP (now A&O Shearman)
