2026 Judges

We are hugely fortunate to have a fantastic panel of judges with a great diversity of experience across the legal world.

Let’s take a look at our judges for 2026.

More to be announced soon…

Judith Birkett, Compliance Officer – Muckle LLP

View Judith’s Biography

 

Professor Deveral Capps, Dean of Leeds Law School

View Deveral’s Biography

 

Ian Cosgrove, Costs Lawyer – Cosgrove Costings Limited

View Ian’s Biography

 

Laura Coapes, Assistant Professor – Northumbria Law School

View Laura’s Biography

 

Richard Clark, Director at Barclays Wealth & Private Bank – Chartered Wealth Manager

View Richard’s Biography

 

Ian Dormer CBE, CDir, HonFIoD, BA, Managing Director – Rosh Engineering Ltd

View Ian’s Biography

 

Nigel Emmerson, General Counsel – Gibson O’Neill Group

View Nigel’s Biography

 

Andrew Entwistle, Partner – GFW

View Andrew’s Biography

 

Chris Fletcher, Undergraduate Degree Programme Director – Newcastle Law School

View Chris’s Biography

 

Laura Farnworth, General Counsel and Company Secretary – Atom Bank

View Laura’s Biography

 

Alison Gittins, CEO – Durham Business Group

View Alison’s Biography

 

Gill Hunter, Managing Partner – Square One Law

View Gill’s Biography

 

Anu Kaura, Barrister – Trinity Chambers

View Anu’s Biography

 

Angela King, Head of Teesside University Law School

View Angela’s Biography

 

Kevin Maloney, Philanthropy Advisor – Community Foundation North East

View Kevin’s Biography

Rob Matthewson, Account Manager – Progressive Legal Solutions

View Rob’s Biography

 

Siobhan McConnell, Assistant Professor – Northumbria University Law School

View Siobhan’s Biography

 

Richard Morgan, Director – Nigel Wright Group

View Richard’s Biography

 

Ammar Mirza, CBE MBA FRSA FIoEE FIoL

View Ammar’s Biography

 

Erin Peart, Director of Estates and Facilities – Newcastle University

View Erin’s Biography

 

James Pickford, Assistant General Counsel – Procter & Gamble

View James’s Biography

 

Andy Poole, Legal Sector Partner – Armstrong Watson

View Andy’s Biography

 

Katherine Richards, General Counsel and Company Secretary – Barbour

View Katherine’s Biography

 

Laura Farnworth, General Counsel and Company Secretary - Atom Bank

Laura joined Atom Bank, initially on secondment, in July 2014 when the business was still very much in the early stages of development. She has been involved in all of the company's funding rounds, including the initial investment by Banco Bilboa Argentaria Vizcaya as part of a £100m raise in late 2015, as well as the application for Atom's banking licence and the associated lifting of restrictions on that licence in April 2016. Laura was appointed General Counsel and Company Secretary of Atom Bank in December 2019 and was recognised in the Professional and Financial Services section of the Innovate Finance Women in Fintech Powerlist 2020 and as a member of the Standout 45 in the Innovate Finance Women in Fintech Powerlist 2024. Laura was part of the team that oversaw Atom's HQ move in 2025 from Durham to the Pattern Shop in Newcastle's Stephenson Quarter.

 

Laura Coapes, Assistant Professor - Northumbria Law School

Laura is an Assistant Professor in law at Northumbria University and lectures on both undergraduate and Bar Programmes. She is a barrister at Trinity Chambers (nee Nagel) and has a research interest in family law, with publications in Child & Family Law Quarterly and the Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law. Laura also acts in various consultancy roles for the Bar Standards Board, including as an Associate Examiner for the Professional Ethics Pupillage/Work-based learning assessment

 

Gill Hunter, Managing Partner - Square One Law

Gill is the owner and the managing partner of commercial law firm, Square One Law, where she leads a team of highly talented people committed to delivering top quality service in a way that suits clients’ needs, not their own.

She joined Square One Law as Managing Partner in 2018 from a national law firm where she was head of technology. Throughout her career she has worked with a broad range of public and private sector clients from NHS trusts, universities and port authorities to biotech and ecommerce companies and engineering and manufacturing businesses.

As Managing Partner she is leading the firm forward with a vision for growth whilst preserving the entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to disrupt the status quo that have made the firm successful.

Gill believes that people are the firm’s key asset and is committed to creating a culture that is supportive, inclusive, and fun. In her view, there is nothing better than seeing talent within the business grow and thrive.

Gill is a tech and commercial lawyer by trade, with a specialism in IP and IT law and over 25 years’ experience working in commercial law firms. She is passionate about the creative and tech industries and tech as a facilitator for business growth. Previously, she has been involved in a non-executive capacity in a variety of creative, cultural and tech organisations.

She is determined - through her own firm - to reinvent the traditional lawyer stereotype by being more creative in advice and solutions and treating each clients’ business as if it were their own.

Gill is the host of Square One Law’s podcast ‘Fear Less. Do More’ which is all about sharing and championing the stories of inspiring and interesting people. She is also the vice chair of trustees at Disability North, a trustee of the West End Women and Girls’ Centre, chair of the NECC Digital Forum, a founding member of and mentor for the Northern Power Women’s Power Circle 150, Chair of the BCC Workplace Equity Commission, regional council member for NECC, business board member at the North East Combined Authority and a single mum of two children and an angry dachshund!

Nigel Emmerson, General Counsel - Gibson O'Neill Group

Nigel is General Counsel for the Gibson O’Neill Group which includes:

  • Bulkhaul – a global ISO Tank Operator;
  • Hotel Group – Rockliffe Hall, The Pheasant and The Feversham Arms Hotels; and
  • Middlesbrough Football Club.

In addition, Nigel is a Trustee of the Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation and chairs its Governance and Risk Committee.  He also sits on the Newcastle and North of England Law Society’s Standing Committee and is the Immediate Past President.

Prior to his current role Nigel was a Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson where he was Head of the Newcastle Office, Head of the Living Sector and Residential Team Leader.

Andrew Entwistle, Partner - GFW

The son of Northumberland vet, Andrew began his career as a Chartered Surveyor in Northumberland before furthering his development the Midlands. Andrew returned to the North East in 2000 to join GFW and became partner in 2006.

Appointed Head of Valuation for GFW in 2010, Andrew also sat on the Global Valuation Standards Board (GVSB) of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) representing the Rural faculty for 11 years. The GVSB oversaw production of the RICS Appraisal and Valuations Standards (The “Red Book”).

Andrew is well known for his appointments as Expert Witness in property disputes, with restrictive covenant matters being a particular speciality, receiving instructions throughout England. Andrew gave evidence in Father’s Field v Namulas, considered by Property Week as one of the top 10 property law cases of 2021.

Rob Matthewson, Account Manager - Progressive Legal Solutions

Rob is an Account Manager at Progressive Legal Solutions, with over 10 years experience in the property and conveyancing market, working closely with solicitors across the North East on residential conveyancing matters.

Ammar Mirza CBE MBA FRSA FIoEE FIoL

Ammar Mirza CBE is a multi-award-winning enterprise, investment and innovation leader whose work has supported the establishment and scale up of more than 15,000 businesses globally. Across two decades he has built a reputation not only as a respected architect of inclusive growth and entrepreneurial ecosystems, but also as a trusted financial strategist with deep expertise in commercial modelling, investment readiness, organisational governance and long-term value creation.
As Executive Chair of the AmmarM Group of Companies, Ammar oversees a diversified portfolio across consultancy, property, skills, health tech, media, international trade and digital innovation. The Group operates on a strong financial and commercial foundation, with Ammar personally leading investment decisions, financial planning, due diligence, risk management and capital structuring across its ventures. His unique 3IP model Innovation, Investment and Internationalisation supports’ businesses to secure finance, expand globally and build financially resilient, scalable models.
Ammar is the driving force behind the SME Centre of Excellence, which has helped thousands of SMEs start, survive and thrive through programmes emphasising financial capability, investor readiness, business modelling and sustainable growth planning. He is also the founder of the International Space Station ISS Group, home to ISS Airview at Newcastle International Airport and ISS Teesside within the UK’s operational Freeport. These hubs reduce friction for growing companies by providing commercially centred soft landing and launchpad services. They integrate workspace, advisory support, trade corridors, investment pathways and financial structuring to accelerate scale up and export activity.
With extensive experience across public, private and third sectors, Ammar has shaped regional and national economic development agendas. His portfolio includes advising on multimillion pound innovation programmes, supporting major organisations through financial transformation, developing new investment pathways, and strengthening governance across boards. His balanced approach blends strategic insight, financial discipline and a commitment to enabling businesses and communities to thrive.
Ammar serves on the Business Advisory Board of the North East Combined Authority, and previously chaired the North East LEP Business Board representing SMEs and trade bodies across the region. He is Founder and Chairman of Asian Business Connexions ABC, President of the Federation of Asian Business, Chair of the Health and Life Sciences Pledge, and Fellow of the Institute of Leadership, Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs, and the Royal Society of Arts. He holds an MBA with Distinction, with strong grounding in accounting, finance, investment appraisal and organisational performance.
His commitment to inclusion and education led to the creation of the Primary Inspiration through Enterprise PIE Project, the first UK charity to embed enterprise and financial awareness within primary education. He also led the development of the world’s first Ofqual registered Level 6 qualification in Business Model Innovation, ensuring innovation and commercial literacy are accessible to both leaders and learners.
Ammar has played a pivotal role in shaping innovation ecosystems nationally, working with the Scale-Up Institute, MIT REAP and the NHS England Health Innovation Network. His work includes designing investment pathways, building commercialisation frameworks, strengthening financial readiness among clinical entrepreneurs, and connecting innovators with investors.
Recognised as one of the most influential Asian figures in the North East, Ammar has received numerous accolades. In 2014 he was appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire CBE for outstanding services to business and the community. He has been named British Asian Entrepreneur of the Year, featured in the Maserati Top 100, Williams and Glyn Top 50, and honoured by the Institute of Directors and British Community Honours Awards.
His additional roles include Honorary Colonel of 101 Regiment Royal Artillery, former Chair of the Institute of Directors North East North, Northern Representative on the APPG for Ethnic Minority Business, and Trustee of Together TV. He is also Patron of Charlie Bear for Cancer Care and co-host of a long running business programme on Spice FM supporting Asian and wider communities through open, accessible financial and enterprise guidance.
Whether developing physical infrastructure such as trade and investment hubs, strengthening governance and financial resilience in organisations, designing nationally recognised qualifications, or championing community led enterprise, Ammar consistently delivers impact that endures. His work brings together People, Place and Programmes to create financially sustainable, innovation led opportunities that turn potential into prosperity at local, national and global scale.

Judith Birkett, Compliance Officer - Muckle LLP

Judith has been a lawyer for over 30 years in real estate and for the last few years has been the Compliance Officer at Muckle LLP.

Katherine Richards, General Counsel and Company Secretary - Barbour

Katherine is currently the General Counsel and Company Secretary at Barbour.  She has been in the role for 4 years and prior to that was a corporate partner at Ward Hadaway where she had worked for 23 years having joined at the start of her career back in the 90’s.

Since joining Barbour, Katherine has established the legal function and aligned its priorities to the business goals so that the legal team is seen as an integral part of the growth plans.  Katherine also has undertaken numerous other projects within Barbour outside of her legal role which has given her the opportunity to expand the breadth of her knowledge and skills.

In her spare time Katherine likes to run stupidly long distances in various locations around the world.

Richard Clark, Director at Barclays Wealth & Private Bank - Chartered Wealth Manager

Richard, a Director at Barclays Wealth & Private Bank is a Chartered Wealth Manager who specialises in advising HNW client across the region. He has been advising individuals, trusts, charities and companies on their Wealth Management needs for over 25 years across the North of England and beyond. Prior to his 11 years at Barclays Wealth he was a Wealth Manager at a National Law Firm, which allowed him insight into how intrinsically linked clients Wealth Management, Legal and Tax affairs are. This experience allows Richard to work closely with is clients and support them in navigating the many options available to them in protecting, managing and growing their wealth, encompassing areas such as succession planning and wealth structuring. In his current role Richard advises a select number of family relationships across all of their Wealth Management needs.

Kevin Maloney, Philanthropy – Community Foundation North East

Kevin is a philanthropy and development advisor at Community Foundation North East and manages a portfolio of funds set up by individual, family and business donors. Kevin works with current donors to develop their giving in line with their wishes as well as engaging new donors. Before joining the Community Foundation, Kevin was a corporate banking lawyer at Muckle LLP for over 20 years where he provided a range of advice for banks and other lenders, businesses and organisations. At Muckle, Kevin was also graduate recruitment and trainee partner.

Ian Dormer CBE, CDir, HonFIoD, BA , Managing Director - Rosh Engineering Ltd

Ian has been Managing Director of Blaydon on Tyne based specialist high voltage engineering contractor Rosh Engineering Ltd since 1989.

After joining the Institute of Directors for professional development and to share best practice he became more involved both regionally and nationally, being appointed national IoD Chairman in 2012 for a three year term.

Always passionate about promoting a positive business climate, it has resulted in past appointments to the Board of Regional Development Agency, ONE North East, through to Chairing Business Link Tyne & Wear among others. He also has a passion for life-long learning and qualified as a Chartered Director in 2013.

Ian was previously Chairman of Newcastle College, Chairman of the Primary Science Teaching Trust. He is also an Independent Member on Gateshead Council’s Audit Committee and Vice Chair of Veterans homeless charity Launchpad.

He was made a CBE in Her Majesty the Queen’s 2016 New Year Honours list.

Siobhan McConnell, Assistant Professor, Northumbria University Law School

Siobhan is an Assistant Professor at Northumbria University Law School. As well as teaching on a range of modules, Siobhan works closely with the careers team to provide careers and employability support to students in the Law School. Siobhan trained as a solicitor at Muckle LLP and specialised in commercial and corporate finance work for a number of years.

 

Erin Peart, Director of Estates and Facilities - Newcastle University

Erin joined Newcastle University as Director of Estates and Facilities in March this 2025, following 4 years at Northumbria University as Executive Director of Campus Services. Prior to joining Higher Education Erin worked at the local Property Investment Company Hanro Ltd where she managed the £150m asset portfolio.

Now leading both the Estates elements, Capital Works and Maintenance of the campus, and the operational services including Security, Cleaning, Catering and Student Accommodation, she is developing the University Estates Optimisation Project creating the vision to provide the right facilities for students and staff for the coming 10 years.

 

James Pickford, Assistant General Counsel - Procter & Gamble

James is a European and UK Chartered Patent Attorney with over 16 years experience in the profession. Having been awarded a PhD in Molecular Microbiology and Biochemistry from the University of Sheffield, he completed a Diploma in Intellectual Property Law at the University of Manchester. He subsequently studied to become a European Patent Attorney and then UK Chartered Patent Attorney and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys and Authorised Representative before the Unitary Patent Court.
At Procter & Gamble, James is part of the legal team that supports the Fabric and Homecare business (which sells products under well-known brands such as Ariel, Lenor, Fairy, Bold and Flash) with their patent and intellectual property needs and also has experience in Regulatory and Advertising law.

 

Richard Morgan, Director - Nigel Wright Group

Richard is a Director & Shareholder at Nigel Wright Group, responsible for leading multiple business areas of the Northern focused, Regional Business. Over a 20-year career, Richard has developed an extensive Business & Professional Services leadership network, specialising in connecting and collaborating to support leadership career transitions, advise on the management of people-centric businesses, and sharing valuable market insights.

 

Professor Deveral Capps, Dean of Leeds Law School

Deveral is the Dean of Leeds Law School, Leeds Beckett University. He is a barrister and legal academic and has taught extensively across undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional courses, publishing widely on legal education, legal skills, and eCommerce law. He is a door tenant at Trinity Chambers and has practiced both civil and criminal law.

With over 25 years in Higher Education, Deveral has played a key role in shaping legal education and training in the UK. He served on the steering panel for the landmark Legal Education and Training Review and was a member of the Bar Standards Board’s Future Bar Training Programme Board. He contributed to developing the new syllabuses and assessment strategies for bar courses introduced in 2020 and led a review of European Law as a requirement for bar training post-Brexit.

An expert in Quality Assurance, Deveral has extensive experience as an external examiner and member of institutional panels for the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Bar Standards Board. He served as deputy chair for the QAA subject benchmark statement review for law and recently retired as the Honorary Treasurer of the Committee of Heads of University Law Schools (CHULS).

 

Angela King, Head of Teesside University Law School

Angela is Head of Teesside University Law School, which encompasses Law, Policing, Investigation and the Social Sciences. With over 20 years of experience in legal education, Angela has worked with and supported the local legal profession in nurturing legal professionals of the future. The student-led Law Clinic which operates within the Law School has twice won the Pro Bono Legal Initiative Award in 2022 and 2024.

Anu Kaura, Barrister - Trinity Chambers

Anu Kaura joined Trinity Chambers as a barrister in February 2025, following more than 20 years’ legal experience across in-house leadership, private practice, and consultancy. She practises in corporate governance, civil work, commercial and property law, employment law, data protection, and dispute resolution.

Prior to joining the Bar, Anu was Head of Legal at a large North East care group, where she advised at board and executive level on governance, regulatory compliance, complex disputes, and high-value commercial matters. She has particular expertise in tribunal work and contentious advisory matters, combining technical rigour with a pragmatic, commercially focused approach.

Anu is a former Chair of the Law Society In-House Division and is recognised for her contribution to the legal profession and legal leadership. She regularly works with businesses, public bodies, and individuals, delivering clear, strategic advice in both contentious and non-contentious matters.

Andy Poole, Legal Sector Partner - Armstrong Watson

Andy is the Legal Sector Partner at Armstrong Watson, a top 40 UK firm of Chartered Accountants and Financial Advisers.  Andy heads the firm’s nationwide services to the legal sector, covering all of the firm’s 19 offices.  He has specialised exclusively in the legal sector since 2004.  He helps firms to improve by providing valuations, merger and acquisition advice, benchmarking, strategic consultancy and training courses. He understands and proactively informs law firms on issues that may impact on them. Andy speaks at national solicitors’ conferences and is a regular contributor to the legal press. Andy is co-author of the Law Society’s toolkit on financial stability and also co-author of Adjusting the Numbers: The Future of Finance in Law Firms, published by ARK Group.  Andy works with law firms throughout the UK

Chris Fletcher, Undergraduate Degree Programme Director - Newcastle Law School

Chris trained as a solicitor with commercial firm Muckle LLP specialising in banking and corporate finance work for a number of years.  Prior to joining Newcastle University as a lecturer in 2019 Chris taught on the Legal Practice Course at Northumbria University and was the Risk and Compliance manager for Square One Law.  Chris now teaches on a range of UG and PG modules at Newcastle.

 

Ian Cosgrove, Costs Lawyer, Cosgrove Costings Limited

Ian Cosgrove has been engaged in the world of legal costs since 1990.

As a Costs Lawyer  he advises on both Claimant and Defendant costs issues and regularly appears in court on Detailed Assessment hearings and Costs Budgeting hearings.

Alison Gittins, CEO of Durham Business Group

Alison is the CEO of Durham Business Group (Durham Business Club, Durham Office Services and The Executive Group).
Alison has a passion for people and a love of networking, so feels she landed her dream job in 2010, and is lucky to work with businesses from all sectors across the region, and bring them together while showcasing some wonderful venues. DBC holds monthly breakfast and evening events for its 200 members, while The Executive Group’s lunches, are must-attend events for North East business leaders. To recharge her batteries Alison enjoys escaping to the sun on a cruise ship.