Three members reappointed to the Online Procedure Rule Committee
The Lord Chancellor has approved the reappointment of Gerard Boyers, Brett Dixon and Sarah Stephens as expert members of the Online Procedure Rule Committee.
The Lord Chancellor has approved the reappointment of Brett Dixon, Gerard Boyers and Sarah Stephens as members of the Online Procedure Rule Committee (OPRC) for 3 years from to 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2029.
Sarah Stephens
Dr Sarah Stephens is the Lay Advice Member of the OPRC, appointed by the Lord Chancellor to support the development of accessible and user-centred digital justice services for England and Wales. She is a non-practising solicitor and legal technologist with expertise in access to justice, digital transformation, and the development of people-centred justice services.
Sarah is Associate Professor of Justice Innovation and Deputy Director of the Sussex Centre for Law and Technology at the University of Sussex, where her research focuses on the design and regulation of digital justice services and the implications of justice reform for lay users, vulnerable groups, and civil society. She brings more than two decades of combined expertise, beginning her career in commercial legal practice before moving into senior roles in international development, including leading justice and governance programmes at KPMG East Africa. She has since worked as an independent consultant for organisations including the United Nations, the World Bank, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the British Council, and a range of NGOs, advising on justice innovation, digital systems, and equality-focused reform across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
She has received international recognition for her work on digital tools designed to support access to justice. She also serves as a Trustee of the Access to Justice Foundation and volunteers with Age UK.
Brett Dixon
Brett Dixon is the OPRC legal member. He is a Deputy Vice President of the Law Society and a Senior Fellow of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers. Admitted as a solicitor in 1999, he holds higher rights of audience in civil matters and is also an accredited mediator.
Gerard Boyers
Gerard Boyers is the OPRC technology member and a Director at Deloitte where he leads Digital Transformation Strategy. He brings extensive experience in delivering digital products, having served as the Head of Digital at HSBC and Aviva as well the Government Digital Service and BBC iPlayer
The Online Procedure Rule Committee (OPRC) was established under Section 22 of the Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022. The aim of the OPRC is to improve access to justice for all by harnessing the power of modern digital technology in the pre-action space, in the civil and family courts and in the tribunals.
These reappointments are made by the Lord Chancellor after consultation with the Lady Chief Justice, the Senior President of Tribunals and, in the case of the legal member, the Law Society.