Speakers
Keynote Speaker
Georgia Dawson,
Senior Partner at Freshfields
Elected as Freshfields’ Senior Partner in 2020, Georgia was the first woman to lead a Magic Circle law firm and has steered the firm’s US expansion and growth into the global elite. She has a background in internal and regulatory investigations, complex multi-jurisdictional litigation, and compliance advice in relation to anti-money laundering, anti-bribery and corruption and human rights. She has worked on significant cross-border mandates across a range of jurisdictions in APAC, Europe, Africa and Central Asia and is recognised for both her strategic insights and attention to detail on her cases. Georgia holds a first-class Bachelor of Arts (History and Government) and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney, and a Master’s degree in international relations from Cambridge University, where she studied as a Chevening scholar.
Georgia has been recognised on INvolve's OUTstanding Top 50 LGBT+ Ally Advocates lists for seven consecutive years (2018 - 2024) and by Stonewall as its Global Senior Champion in 2019. She has been named in Financial News’ inaugural Most Influential in European Finance list (2024) and as one of Financial News’ Most Influential Women in Finance (2023, 2022 and 2021). Georgia was recognised as an ALB Southeast Asia Law Awards Woman Lawyer of the Year in 2021 and was also named an Innovative Leader in the Financial Times Asia-Pacific Innovative Lawyers Awards 2020.
Paul Hardy,
UK Head of Government Affairs at DLA Piper
Paul is one of two partners who leads DLA Piper UK's Trade and Government Affairs team. He has over 25 years' experience working as a lawyer and policy adviser, including eight years as a UK barrister, four years as a civil servant in the European Commission in Brussels and eight years as the senior EU Legal Adviser to the UK Parliament. He has also worked for the International Committee of the Red Cross, and for international organisations and NGOs in Bosnia and Rwanda. He remains a "door tenant" (associate member) of the administrative law chambers in the Temple, Francis Taylor Building, where he last practised as an independent barrister. He joined DLA Piper in 2017. He practices in three main areas: Trade law: international trade (WTO), free trade agreement advice (FTAs); customs; trade defence and export control. (55%) Government Affairs: Whitehall (UK Government) advocacy and engagement strategies (registered consultant lobbyist); UK parliamentary procedure (legislative drafting/amendments; select committee advice); UK market entry for international clients; and investor advisory. (35%) Public international law, particularly the law of international organisations and international human rights law. (10%)
Patrick Sarch,
Head of UK Public M&A at White & Case
Patrick (Head of UK Public M&A at White & Case LLP) was not a diligent or very successful student but has since led various practices in top law firms as an M&A lawyer focusing on takeovers of listed companies, rescuing distressed companies (from care homes to banks) and advising boards and investors on bet-the-company matters. He left school at 17 with solid B grades and turned a 2-week summer job writing share prices on the wall at a stockbroking firm during the City’s Big Bang into a year’s worth of experience. After achieving unexceptional academic results in his Banking and International Finance degree around the time of the major stock market crash, he converted (slowly) to law and then got serious. Having secured a training contract in a recession at a small City firm, he managed his way up the market to work on and then lead some of the world’s leading deals, including record-breaking takeovers, headline-grabbing hostile bids and highly innovative corporate actions. Patrick will talk you through his journey from student scally to a corporate suit and answer your questions about a career in M&A or the law.
Krishna Sood,
Assistant General Counsel at Microsoft
Krishna Sood is a senior leader and Assistant General Counsel at Microsoft, with over 20 years of global experience across Australasia, EMEA and the US. Krishna leads Microsoft’s AI and IP Strategic Initiatives and previously led the global Open Innovation legal team with a focus on copyright, trade secrets, data and digital assets helping product teams develop and launch generative AI products such as Copilot. Prior to joining Microsoft, Krishna worked for the BBC, Formula One and A+E Networks UK, a joint venture between A+E Networks and Sky, in London, and in private practice in Melbourne, Australia. Krishna is an expert advisor to the Global Partnership on AI and the EU Intellectual Property Office and serves on the board of the True Athlete Project. Krishna graduated with a BA in English Literature and honors in Law from the Australian National University and holds a Master of Law from King’s College, London.
Paul Yates,
Head of Global Pro Bono at Freshfields
Paul is counsel and head of Freshfields’ global pro bono practice. He specialises in areas including human trafficking, asylum support and the intersection between pro bono and legal aid. He regularly advises charities on litigation strategy and developed the firm’s leading third-party intervention practice. He has also been at the forefront of the development of legal technology to promote access to justice, co-creating the award-winning Courtnav tool with RCJ Advice. He served as a member of various bodies including the IBA’s pro bono committee and the Administrative Justice Council, and is currently chair of the AIRE Centre. Paul originally studied music at Emmanual College, Cambridge (BA, M.Phil and Ph.D), before converting to law.
Jane Waddell,
Head of Curriculum Design and Development
at The College of Legal Practice
Jane Waddell has responsibility for the leadership and strategic development of the curriculum across the College. Prior to joining the College, Jane was an Assistant Head of Department and Programme Leader for Professional Law at the University of West of England for 11 years. She was a partner at TLT and Eversheds Solicitors between 1998 and 2007
Devanand ("Dev") Crease,
Partner at Keltie LLP
Devanand (“Dev”) Crease is a Partner in the Life Sciences team at Keltie LLP, one of the leading patent and trade mark attorney firms in the UK and Ireland. Since completing a BSc in Biochemistry at UCL and a PhD in developmental biology at the University of Cambridge, he has worked as a life sciences and chemicals specialist patent attorney for over 25 years and has established a practice focusing on provision of strategic advice to early stage and rapid growth technology companies. Dev has advised companies and clients in diverse fields of biotherapeutics, gene editing, synthetic biology, AI/ML computational biology and specialty chemicals. He handles all areas of IP development including patents, designs, trade secrets and know how. The Life Sciences team at Keltie LLP have advised emerging companies raising over $1.5 billion in funding and investment over the past few years and are proactive in counselling companies throughout their IP journey.
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Clare McGarry,
Managing Associate at Harbottle & Lewis
Clare McGarry is a managing associate in the Film, Television and Theatre Department at Harbottle & Lewis. Clare trained at Linklaters and qualified into their IP and Media team before moving over to Harbottle to join the Film and TV team. Clare works on a broad range of matters across the Film, TV and Theatre industries, on all aspects of the team’s work, including the development, production, acquisition and exploitation of rights and content (including advising rightsholders as well as producers). Clare works with many high profile independent producers and rightsholders as well as advising major SVODs and content financiers. Clients Clare works with include Amazon, Apple, Universal Pictures, Mediapro, Complete Fiction, Jax, Rebellion, Netflix, The National Theatre, Studio Crook, Popcorn, Eventim, See-Saw, to name but a few.
Mark Padley,
Special Counsel at Milbank
Mark, special counsel in Milbank's Litigation and Arbitration Group in London, specialises in the resolution of complex international disputes in the information technology, energy/infrastructure and finance sectors, with a particular focus on competition litigation. He has acted for clients in litigation before the High Court, Court of Appeal and Competition Appeal Tribunal, and in arbitrations under the major institutional rules (including as counsel and advocate). This includes acting for Visa in multiple sets of proceedings in relating to the setting and implementation of multilateral interchange fees associated with the use of debit and credit cards. Mark also advises clients in relation to economic sanctions and is a member of the firm’s Global Risk & National Security Practice. Mark read History at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge and then completed his law conversion course and legal practice course at the University of Law.
James Buckley,
Senior Associate at Quinn Emanuel
James Buckley is a Senior Associate in Quinn Emanuel’s London office. His practice focuses on international arbitration and complex commercial litigation. James has acted for multinational corporations and financial institutions in a range of areas, including financial services, technology and telecoms, and the pharmaceutical industry. He has advised clients both in high-value English High Court litigation and in relation to arbitration under bilateral investment treaties. James also has experience of advising clients on major regulatory and competition investigations. James graduated from the University of Durham, where he was awarded the highest first class degree in English Literature in his year. He subsequently completed an MPhil at the University of Cambridge in 2015. Prior to joining the firm, James trained at a Magic Circle law firm in London, where he was a finalist in the City of London Solicitors’ Company Prize for the trainee solicitor showing the most promise as a future City lawyer. As a trainee, James also gained pro bono experience at Tower Hamlets Law Centre, representing litigants in County Court housing disputes.
Thomas Jennings,
Senior Associate at Herbert Smith Freehills
Bio coming soon!
Kenneth Damien,
In House Counsel at Blackrock via Re:Link
Kenneth Damien is a technology lawyer and founder specialising in technology licensing, data privacy and AI. Currently on assignment at BlackRock via Re:Link (Linklaters) he acts as a Privacy and Technology SME in the Digital Enterprise Legal team. He has previously undertaken roles at Google Cloud and Softbank’s Vision Fund leading a range of technology licensing and regulatory compliance projects. Ken is also the Co-Founder of the Future Impact Summit, an annual technology and social sciences conference hosted at the London School Economics. The Summit has attracted over 500+ attendees, showcasing innovative panels and event experiences including most recently, an AI 'Crisis Simulation' exploring the geopolitics of AI through an interactive, team-based wargaming simulation. For his work Ken received the Internet 2.0 ‘Outstanding Leadership’ Award for outstanding contributions to the field of technology. He delivered his corresponding keynote entitled ‘Singularity Games: Upgrading Your Technology Risk Strategy in the AI Era’ at Internet 2.0 Conference in Dubai (Feb 2024).
Dr Laura de Arroyo Garcia,
Associate at Clifford Chance
At Clifford Chance, Laura leverages her academic expertise to navigate the complex intersection of law and emerging technologies. She supports a cross-practice team with tackling the most pressing legal, regulatory and commercial issues impacting technology implementation and use in business, including digital regulation, artificial intelligence, policy engagement, regulatory investigations, M&A, IT outsourcings, and complex technology arrangements and business separations. Her sector expertise covers consumer retail, healthtech and life sciences, automotive and commodities. She is a member of the firm’s Healthcare & Life Sciences sector group and supports the firm's Healthtech offering. Laura has valuable in-house experience, having spent time on full-time secondment to the legal teams of a global automotive company, supporting the development of a global AI governance program, and a global online retailer, where she helped develop go-to-market strategies for the online sale of consumer care products. She has also been seconded to Clifford Chance's Paris Office. Since 2024, Laura has also served as a member of the Imperial College Research Ethics Committee, which oversees and approves research involving human participants conducted by the College. In this role, she often opines on data protection issues, the validity of consent forms, the ethical implications of AI and other disruptive technologies, and children's privacy.
Julia Wisniewska,
Associate at Clifford Chance
Julia is an Associate in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution team at Clifford Chance. During her training contract, she also completed seats in the legal technology team in London as well as in project finance in Paris and Frankfurt. Prior to joining Clifford Chance, she studied Physics at Imperial College London and undertook various internships, including in the human resources department at a bank, an investment consultancy, an educational NGO and a corporate finance department of a business advisory firm.
Mo Shan,
Associate at Hogan Lovells
Mo is an associate in Hogan Lovells' London Private Equity team. Mo advises clients on a broad range of complex private equity transactions, with a particular focus on GP-led and LP-led secondaries and co investments. Before joining the Private Equity team, Mo spent six months in the London Investment Funds team working with fund sponsors across a wide range of private fund transactions. He has also completed a six-month secondment in the Hogan Lovells Frankfurt office, working on a range of private equity and M&A infrastructure and energy transactions. Mo is also passionate about pro bono causes. He has worked with pro-bono clients on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme and the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy programme. Mo graduated from UCL with a BSc in History and Philosophy of Science in 2019.
Rik Palmer,
Graduate Recruitment Advisor at Reed Smith
Since joining Reed Smith's Graduate Recruitment team in early 2024, Rik Palmer has been actively involved in the selection process for all UK graduate programmes. He also supports and mentors future trainees, advises on the application process, and is dedicated to developing the next generation of Reed Smiths legal teams.
Declan Harris,
Pupil at FOURTEEN
Declan Harris is a pupil barrister at FOURTEEN, specialising in family law. Under the supervision of Michael Glaser KC, he is gaining experience across a broad range of family matters including matrimonial finance. In April, he will begin his ‘second six’ and start representing clients in his own cases. Before coming to the Bar, Declan studied English Literature at Durham University, where he founded the Non-Law Into Law Society. He later completed the law conversion at BPP and the bar course at the Inns of Court College of Advocacy. Declan is the first person in his family to attend university, and he is passionate about making the legal profession more accessible to those without a traditional legal background.
Mary Suberu,
Trainee at Mayer Brown
Mary is a Trainee Associate at Mayer Brown. She grew up in southern Vermont, and completed her undergraduate degree in International Business and French in upstate New York. She subsequently worked at the U.S. Council for International Business, and as a paralegal at the NYC Law Department and the Financial Conduct Authority. During her training contract, she has completed rotations in Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Corporate & Securities, and currently sits in Finance. She is passionate about giving back to her community and serves on the board of American Women Lawyers in London as Events Co-Chair. She is also passionate about mentoring students and actively participates in various pro bono, DE&I and other initiatives with organisations like Aspiring Solicitors and SEO London. She is an editor of her firm’s ESG blog “Eye on ESG” where she regularly reports on the most recent ESG regulatory developments and findings. She also runs her own personal blog “Esquisitor Law” which follows her journey of becoming an esquire and solicitor, and explores the differences and similarities between the US & UK legal systems.
Millie Jones,
Trainee at Mishcon de Reya
Millie is a trainee solicitor at Mishcon de Reya, due to qualify in August 2025. She studied History at the University of Warwick and in her fourth year, for various reasons, decided to pursue a career in the law. She completed her GDL at the University of Law and then worked as a paralegal at Goodman Ray Solicitors, a boutique family firm based in London, during which time she secured a training contract at Mishcon. She then completed the LPC and started her training contract in August 2023. So far, she has done seats in Employment, Private Wealth Disputes and Family, and is hoping to qualify with the firm in September 2025.
Jake Duxbury,
Trainee at Dentons
Jake is a final-seat Trainee Solicitor in the Dispute Resolution team at Sainsbury's, on secondment from Dentons. Jake studied Spanish at the University of Oxford before transitioning into law. Whilst studying the LPC, Jake also worked as a Restructuring and Insolvency Paralegal at Slaughter and May. At Dentons, Jake has completed seats in Regulatory and Investigations, Corporate, and Restructuring and Insolvency. Outside of work, Jake enjoys baking and traveling up and down the country watching his beloved Liverpool.
Sarah Hutchinson,
Pupil at Spire
Sarah is currently a first six pupil at Spire Barristers in Leeds which specialises in family and public law. Prior to studying law Sarah served in the British Army for 21 years working in the areas of human resources, auditing, policy development and compliance as well as internal discipline and grievance procedures. Following this she studied International Relations (MA) at the University of York before working in the charity sector with charities supporting vulnerable young people, refugees and migrant communities. Sarah assisted in the formation of the Sulha Alliance CIO which supports Afghan former interpreters and other locally employed civilians employed by the British Armed Forces. She remains a trustee for this organisation.