The Government Legal Department has appointed two new director generals amid a reshuffle of its directorates.
Elizabeth Hambley, who has been an interim DG at the department since last November, will lead a new Commercial with Trade and International Directorate.
Mel Nebhrajani, a director of litigation, has been named DG of the new Economic Recovery and UK Governance Directorate.
Both director generals have also joined the GLD board, executive committee and executive team.
Hambley has been at GLD for nine years, first as a deputy director and then as a legal director covering work at the business, environment and culture departments. Previously, she was head of the legal department at the Cabinet Office’s efficiency and reform group.
She called her DG appointment a “privilege”, adding: “We do amazing work in GLD and I am proud to be working alongside brilliant lawyers and professional colleagues, supporting them to deliver the best legal services for government and create life-changing law for the country.”
Nebhrajani has worked for the GLD and its predecessor departments since 2008, following several years as a barrister. She became a legal director for the Department of Health and Social Care in 2016, before becoming director of litigation last year.
She was appointed Companion of the Bath in this year's New Year's Honours in recognition of her services to the Government Legal profession, especially during the Covid crisis.
In a statement on her new role yesterday, Nebhrajani said: “It is an honour to be appointed director general at such an important moment for GLD. I am very much looking forward to working closely with the directors and their teams in my new Directorate, Employment with Economic Recovery and UK Governance, and with my executive team colleagues and the wider board to achieve the best for both GLD colleagues and our clients.”
Stephen Braviner Roman remains director general and will lead GLD's Litigation with Justice and Security Litigation Group.