Paul Lee

Paul Lee was born, and still lives, in Didsbury.  He was educated at Manchester Central Grammar School and Clare College Cambridge where he read Law. 

He was the Senior Partner of Addleshaw Goddard LLP, a leading UK and international law firm.  He joined the then Addleshaw Sons & Latham in 1970, became Managing Partner in 1991 and Senior Partner in 1997.  He retired from the practice in 2013. 

Paul is actively involved in the Arts, education and business.   

He has been Chairman of Opera North since 2014 and was for seventeen years Chairman of the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester.  He has also served on the Board of Northern Ballet Theatre.   

He is Chairman of the Feoffees of Chetham’s School of Music and was for many years Chairman of the School Committee (Governing Body) of Chetham’s. He was a member of the Board of Governors of The University of Manchester for nine years and has also served on the Board of the Royal Northern College of Music.   

In his business life, Paul was Chairman of the Horserace Betting Levy Board for more than ten years and was also a member of the CBI Board, Chairman of the CBI North West and Chairman of the North West Business Leadership Team.  In January 2024, he was appointed a director of Golden Eagle Luxury Trains Limited. 

He served as High Sheriff of Greater Manchester in 2014-15 and selected Access Sport as his main charitable focus that year. Since that time become more closely involved, as a supporter, Trustee and the first chairman of the steering group.  

Paul is married to Elisabeth, a former solicitor, and they have three adult children, Jonathan, Antonia and William. His interests include horseracing, the Arts, travel -  France in particular – and fine wine.