Judges 2023

We are hugely fortunate to have a fantastic panel of judges with a great diversity of experience across the legal world. We are very grateful for the time they dedicate to reading the nominations, shortlisting and interviewing all of our finalists on judging day. Thank you!

Dr Joanna Berry, Associate Dean (External Engagement)  Durham University Business School

View Joanna’s Biography

 

Judith Birkett, Partner – Muckle LLP

View Judith’s Biography

 

Professor Deveral Capps – Dean of Leeds Law School at Leeds Beckett University

View Deveral’s Biography

 

Richard Clark, Director in the North team of Barclays Wealth Management.

View Richard’s Biography

 

 

 

Ian Cosgrove – Costs Lawyer

View Ian’s Biography

 

 

 

 

Rebecca Cresswell – Head of Litigation and Family Department, Sweeney Miller Law

View Rebecca’s Biography

 

 

 

 

Mark Dale, Principal Consultant, Professional Services – Nigel Wright Group

View Mark’s Biography

Representative from Trinity Chambers – TBC

 

 

 

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

View Ian’s Biography

 

Michael Downes, FCA Director, Deal Advisory Corporate Finance – KPMG

View MIchael’s Biography

 

Katherine Dunn – Senior Lecturer, Northumbria Law School

View Katherine’s Biography

Jacqueline Emmerson
Vice President – Sunderland Law Society

View Jacqueline’s Biography

Andrew Entwistle- Partner & Head of Valuations, George F White

View Andrew’s Biography

Laura Farnworth – General Counsel and Company Secretary, Atom bank

View Laura’s Biography

Chris Fletcher – Undergraduate Degree Programme Director, Newcastle Law School

View Chris’s Biography

Dr Jonathan Galloway – Head of School, Newcastle Law School

View Jonathan’s Biography

Alison Gittins, CEO – Durham Business Group

View Alison’s Biography

Simon Goldberg K.C. – Trinity Chambers

View Simon’s Biography

Sarah Hawkins, Solicitor  – Adderstone Group

View Sarah’s Biography

Emma Heather – Incoming President,  Newcastle Law Society

View Heather’s Biography

 

Larissa Hope-Rogers – Campus Manager, The University of Law

View Larissa’s Biography

Paul Jennings – Chief Executive Officer, NorthStandard

View Paul’s Biography

Mrs Anu Kaura, Head of Legal & Group In-House Lawyer – Malhotra Group PLC
Vice Chair – Law Society In – House Division

View Anu’s Biography

George Marsden – Stratstone Jaguar Land Rover Newcastle

View George’s Biography

 

Siobhan McConnell –  Assistant Professor, Northumbria University Law School.

View Siobhan’s Biography

Ammar Mirza CBE – Community and Business Leader representing the North of England. Chair of Asian Business Connexions, SME CofE Group & North East LEP Business Growth Board. NED. Angel Investor. Proud Hon. Col. 101 Regiment RA

View Ammar’s Biography

Melanie Morley – Partner, BHP Law

View Melanie’s Biography

Erin Peart – Director of Campus Services, Northumbria University

View Erin’s Biography

Richard Pickles, Sales Director (Residential) – tmgroup

View Richard’s Biography

William Ralston – Senior Lecturer, Northumbria University

View William’s Biography

William Scrimshire CDir – Managing Director, Communicourt

View William’s Biography

Barry Speker OBE DL LLB

View Barry’s Biography

Michael Stubbs, Commercial Director – Parklane Plowden Chambers

View Michael’s Biography

Jo Summers, Chief Client Officer – Lamp House Strategy

View Jo’s Biography

Representative from Trinity Chambers – TBC

 

 

Dr Joanna Berry Biography

Joanna was born, brought up and educated in Hartlepool, NorthEast England. Her academic experience runs from her Oxford University law degree (1985) to her MBA and PhD from Newcastle University. Her MBA focused on the impact of broadband connectivity on the TV industry, and her PhD took this one step further, using her creation and management of a London-based record label as a lens through which to assess the impact of digital technologies on the music industry's business models and value chains.

Joanna is Associate Dean, External Engagement for Durham University Business School. She is responsible for building and developing relationships with external commercial, public sector and third sector organisations regionally, nationally and globally for the benefit of the School’s world-class researchers and students. She is Associate Professor, Entrepreneurship at the Business School, teaching new venture creation, entrepreneurship, innovation, marketing and a wide variety of other management disciplines to MBA, DBA, PhD, MSc and undergraduate students. She is Trustee/Director of Acumen Community Buildings, and was Advisory Board member for the NorthEast LEP "ScaleUp NorthEast" programme. Joanna is Director for Business, Innovation and Enterprise for the Durham Energy Institute and has been Regional Chair for both the Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Institute of Directors.

Her professional experience encompasses law (mostly company and contract, practiced in South Africa from 1985 to 1987) science, creativity and technology. In her professional commercial career Joanna has undertaken a variety of international business development roles in marketing, advertising and publishing. Roles include Manager of Europe and East Asia for the World Economic Forum and international PR manager for Mobil 1 Motorsport with McLaren.

Joanna has also founded, bought and run a variety of digital and creative companies, and continues her personal and practical involvement with new venture start-ups. She places a particular emphasis on supporting the 'women in STEM' agenda in a variety of ways. These include teaching, mentoring, and public appearances, as she undertakes a wide variety of public and media activities on TV and Radio. She is winner of the Forward Ladies Scotland, NorthEast and Yorkshire Academic Leader Award and a member both of the Northern Power Women ‘NPW Power List’ and NPW Power Circle for Teesside and Newcastle, nominated in the 2023 Northern Power Women Awards as Mentor of the Year and Agent of Change.

Judith Birkett - Partner, Muckle LLP

Judith has been a solicitor for over 30 years.  She is a partner at Muckle LLP originally specialising in real estate but now managing risk and compliance at Muckle.  Whilst she did work in London for 10 years, she is firmly committed to a life and career in the North East.

Professor Deveral Capps - Dean of Leeds Law School at Leeds Beckett University

Deveral is a professor of law and the Dean of Leeds Law School at Leeds Beckett University and has been involved in Higher Education for over 20 years. As a barrister, in both civil and criminal law, he has appeared in courts across the North of England and is a door tenant at Trinity Chambers in Newcastle upon Tyne. As a legal academic he has taught on undergraduate, postgraduate and professional courses and published widely on legal education, legal skills and eCommerce law.

Deveral has had significant input into the development of legal education and training in the UK. Between 2011 and 2013, he sat on the steering panel for the Legal Education and Training Review, the largest review of legal education since 1971. He has particular expertise in barristers training and was a member of the Bar Standards Board’s Future Bar Training Programme Board between 2017 and 2019 and is a member of the Curriculum and Assessments Review group reviewing barristers’ training. He was also a panel member for the subject pilot of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and Deputy Chair of QAA’s subject benchmark for law.

 

Richard Clark, Director in the North team of Barclays Wealth Management.

Richard is a Chartered Wealth Manager and has been advising individuals, trusts, charities and companies on their Wealth Management needs for over 20 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 myriad of options available to them in protecting, managing and growing their wealth, encompassing areas such as succession planning and wealth structuring.

Ian Cosgrove - Costs Lawyer

Ian has been engaged in the world of costs since 1990. He became an Associate of the Association of Law Cost Draftsman in 1993, gaining Fellowship status by examination in 1997.

In 2007, he became one of the first Fellows bestowed with Costs Lawyer status.

As a Costs Lawyer, Ian has the right to conduct costs litigation without the need to be instructed direct by a solicitor.

Ian is an Accredited Trainer and regularly delivers lectures to solicitors on how to maximise their own costs and minimise other parties’ costs. He is particularly experienced in undertaking Costs Management, regularly appearing in Cost Budgeting Hearings both in the Royal Courts of Justice and before Case Managing Judges in the provinces.

 

 

Rebecca Cresswell Biography

Rebecca is Head of the Civil Litigation and Family at Sweeney Miller Law. She completed her training by qualifying as a Chartered Legal Executive specialising in Civil Litigation and Family law and has worked in the North Eastern Circuit ever since; predominantly dealing with private family law matters, including divorce, finance, separation, pre and post nuptial agreements and private law children matters.

Outside of her career, Rebecca loves to travel and go on hikes in the Lake District.

Mark Dale

Mark is responsible for the recruitment of senior professional services talent for clients based in the North of England.

Typical assignments cover roles within accountancy practices, legal disciplines and back office support roles for corporate clients, including Property, Company Secretarial, Compliance as well as Financial Services Risk and Regulatory disciplines.

Mark is responsible for permanent recruitment, and due to the diverse nature of the desk, has experience of contingent and retained search recruitment processes.

Mark has recruited for a number of international & regional clients across both the public and private sector including Big 4 & regional accountancy firms, North Yorkshire Police, Redde Northgate Plc, UBS, Cumberland Building Society, END Clothing, Inn Collection Group and many more.

Ian Dormer Biography

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 3 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, and currently serves on the Board of the Employee Benefit Trust that manages the £90million turnover builder’s merchant JT Dove. He is also an Independent Member on Gateshead Council’s Audit Committee.

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

Michael is an experienced business advisor, working with clients to assist with strategic decision making, growth plans, debt and equity finance raising and all aspects of M&A.

Working with clients from a broad range of sectors including many owner managed businesses in technology, software, business services, pharmacy and pharmaceuticals, retail, distribution and wholesale, catering, waste management and construction. Significant experience working with Private Equity investors.

Katherine Dunn is a senior lecturer in law at Northumbria University and lectures on both Police Apprenticeship Degrees and Bar Programmes. She is currently programme leader for the Bar Training programme and the two-year Police apprenticeship Degree for Durham Constabulary.  In addition, she is a barrister at Trinity Chambers. Katherine has a research interest in criminal law, currently participating in the “Consulting the Oracles” project on complex disclosure issues. Katherine is also an external examiner for Liverpool John Moores University, an advocacy  trainer for the Bar on Vulnerable witnesses and conducts training courses for  social workers on “How to be an Impressive witness in Court”.

Jacqueline Emmerson - Solicitor & Managing Director, Emmersons Solicitors

Jacqueline is the Managing Director of Emmersons Solicitors Ltd which is based in the North East of England; the firm represents clients nationally and internationally.

Jacqueline leads a team of award winning Private Client Lawyers and is very much involved with all aspects of Law Firm Management and Marketing. She has a keen interest in strategy.

She is the current President of Sunderland Law Society and Honorary Counsel for SSAFA in Newcastle

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 George F. White and became partner in 2006.

Appointed Head of Valuation for George F. White 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.

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.  As Head of Legal, she was 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 Atom's legal lead for its inaugural RMBS, where £400M of bonds were publicly placed.

Laura was appointed as General Counsel and Company Secretary in December 2019.

Formerly, Laura was an associate in the banking team at Womble Bond Dickinson, working on transactions for both borrowers and high street lenders as well as clients including the British Bank and local fund managers.

Chris Fletcher - Undergraduate Degree Programme, 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.

 

Jonathan has been Head of Newcastle Law School since April 2020, and has overseen development of the Law School's research strengths in: law, digital and data; rights, lawyering and justice; constitutionalism and governance; business law; mediation; environmental law and justice; and obligations. He has also led on the Law School's new strategic partnership with the University of Law. Prior to becoming Head of School Jonathan served as Associate Dean (Internationalisation and Strategic Projects) for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences with a broad portfolio covering global strategy and estates and space planning as well as involvement in various capital build projects. Jonathan sits on the Learning and Development Steering Group of the Law Society, he is a qualified Attorney and Counsellor at Law (New York), and holds a PhD from the University of Glasgow. His academic expertise specialises in Competition/Antitrust Law, EU law, and with a keen interest in Corporate Governance and US Constitutional Law.

Alison Gittins Biography

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.

Simon heads Trinity Chambers’ Business and Property team and is well established as one of the region’s leading commercial litigators. Appointed Queen's Counsel in March 2022, Simon is the first and only specialist Business and Property silk based locally. He has been described by a member of the senior judiciary as a "standard setter and standard bearer for the North East." He regularly appears in the Chancery and King’s Bench divisions of the High Court, and in arbitrations, often with an international dimension.

Simon is also a recognised senior employment law practitioner, and is the first and only specialist Employment K.C. based in the North East. He acts on behalf of clients in employment disputes involving issues of significant factual or legal complexity and/or which are high value. Advising and representing both employers and employees, Simon appears across the UK in the Employment Tribunal, the Employment Appeal Tribunal and the High Court.

Simon is also instructed in complex regulatory as well as public law matters such as commercial related Judicial Review, including procurement challenges and providing policy advice.

Called to the Bar in 1999, Simon became a Crime, Civil & Chancery Recorder in 2018 and was a member of the Attorney General’s Regional Panel of Counsel for over 10 years.

www.trinitychambers.co.uk

 

Sarah is firmly rooted in the North East having moved from Cumbria in 1996 to study law and the University of Northumbria before undertaking her training contract at Northampton Borough Council. Sarah specialises and has extensive experience having worked for Eversheds, Dickinson Dees, Kingswalk Law and Ward Hardaway.

Sarah joined the legal team at Adderstone Group at the November 2021 further broaden her experience as she has always worked in private practice.

Sarah has been a Chair of Governors for 9 years a local school and has previously worked as a volunteer in the criminal justice system.

In her spare time Sarah enjoys spending time with her family and friends and two dogs.

Emma is the incoming President of the Newcastle Law Society.

After gaining experience in many areas of general practice whilst training, Emma has honed her skills and now specialises in litigation, dispute resolution and family law. Despite the areas of law that she practices in she is sharply focused on achieving pragmatic and workable solutions for her clients outside of the court arena and therefore takes pride in how few of her cases actually end up in court.
Emma’s practice has been exclusively in the North East of England with the majority of her career spent in the market town of Hexham in the Tyne Valley.
Emma holds a number of judicial appointments as a Deputy District Judge, Employment Judge and Tribunal Judge (Special Educational Needs and Disability)

 

Larissa Hope-Rogers, Campus Manager - The University of Law

Passionate about early careers and professional development, Larissa has had a varied people-focused career. Larissa trained at Magic Circle firm Allen & Overy, where she qualified as an employment solicitor, subsequently moving in-house to the BBC. Having identified a passion for early careers, Larissa moved into graduate recruitment and trainee development at international law firm, Latham & Watkins, before relocating back to her northern roots, joining ULaw in 2021 as the Campus Manager for Newcastle. Larissa is delighted to be supporting the Rising Star of the Year category in recognition of the wealth of legal talent in the region

Paul Jennings Biography

“Paul Jennings is a Managing Director at NorthStandard, one of the largest Marine Insurance mutuals in the world. NorthStandard is jointly headquartered in London and Newcastle, with a global reach that spans offices in Asia, Australasia, Europe and North America.

As well as his responsibilities for overseeing and driving NorthStandard’s development, Paul is the immediate past Chair of the International Group of P&I Clubs. In this role, he helped shape the future of the maritime industry, working globally with governments and legislators to provide solutions to some of the biggest challenges faced by shipowners.“

 

Anu is Head of the Legal Department at Malhotra Group and also sits as the Vice Chair of the National Law Society In-House Division.  As a member of the Newcastle Law Society,  Anu represents the interests of in-house lawyers in the North East. Anu has spent over 18 years dealing with private, union and legal aid funded work prior to joining Malhotra Group PLC in 2017

 

George is the Head of Sales at Stratstone Jaguar Land Rover in Newcastle. With over 8 years’ experience in the industry, George previously studied at Northumbria University in Business Management gaining a first class with honours. He has subsequently gone on to various positions within the motor trade and has a keen interest in the world of business and finance.

Siobhan is an Assistant Professor at Northumbria University Law School. Siobhan also works closely with the careers team to provide careers support to undergraduate students in the Law School.

Siobhan trained as a solicitor at commercial law firm Muckle LLP in Newcastle.  Siobhan specialised in commercial and corporate finance work for a number of years, eventually becoming an associate solicitor.  Siobhan later worked as an associate lecturer in law for the Open University before joining Northumbria University in September 2010.

Ammar Mirza CBE, MBA, FRSA, FInstLM, FIOEE

A multi-award winning entrepreneur, angel investor and organisational growth expert who has helped establish and scale several hundred businesses globally.  Ammar is Chair of the Business Growth Board and SME representative on the North East Local Enterprise Partnership Main Board, Founder and Chairman of not for profit social enterprise Asian Business Connexions (ABC) and President of the Federation of Asian Business alongside being a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership & Management (FInstLM), Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs (FIOEE) and Royal Society of Arts(FRSA).  He has a particular interest in enterprise education as ex-Chair of Governors of a Primary School, current Chair of the Progression Forum and a David Goldman visiting Professor of Practice at Newcastle University.  Ammar launched the Primary Inspiration through Enterprise (PIE) Project Charity in 2013, the first of its kind within the UK to deliver enterprise vocational qualifications to primary age pupils.

Ammar was appointed a CBE in 2014 for outstanding services to Business and the Community, and has been consistently recognised across the UK for his tireless efforts in supporting and promoting trade and industry, including British Asian Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019, Maserati top 100 Entrepreneur, Williams and Glyn top 50, Institute of Directors Special Judges Award, and British Community Honours Award to name but a few.

Other roles held by Ammar include Honorary Colonel 101 Regiment RA,  immediate past Chair of the Institute of Directors North East North, Member and Northern Representative on the All Party Parliamentary Group for BAME Business, Private Sector Representative on European Structural Funds Advisory Board, Patron of Charlie Bear for Cancer Care Charity, Founder of the SME Centre of Excellence which helps SMEs start, survive and thrive, and he hosts his own radio show on Spice FM.

Melanie Morley is a Partner and Court of Protection Solicitor at BHP Law, she is dual trained, specialising in both Court of Protection Health & Welfare and Property & Affairs.

As a Court of Protection Solicitor, Melanie represents vulnerable clients who may lack capacity in areas of care and support, accommodation, contact with family, sexual relations, to instruct a solicitor and to use social media.

Melanie is directly instructed by the Official Solicitor, Advocates, family members and Relevant Person’s Representative’ (RPR’s) who represent those who are deprived of their liberty.

Melanie has worked extremely hard to establish her reputation as an outstanding Court of Protection litigation solicitor and has developed excellent relationships with counsel who assist Melanie in relation to her contentious and complex section cases. Melanie’s attention to detail and relaxed personality enables her to communicate on all levels to ensure that her clients understand the legal issues and the court process.

In September 2022 Melanie was appointed President for The Tees Valley Law Society.  Melanie uses her presidency platform to promote legal diversity and social inclusion and to bridge the gap between the legal profession and education establishments, to assist in filling the wider skills gaps. Melanie is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Teesside, due to her specialism of Court of Protection and offers work experience within her team to the law students of Teesside University.

Melanie was awarded Rising Star of the Year at the 2022 Northern Law Awards where Judges praised her hard work and dedication.

In May 2022 Melanie was elected as a local councillor in the borough of Hartlepool.

 

 

Erin joined Northumbria University as Director of Campus Services in 2021, following 8 years at the local Property Investment Company Hanro Ltd where she managed the £150m asset portfolio.

Now leading the operational services including Maintenance, Security, Catering and Student Accommodation, she is also developing the University Estates Strategy and Master Plan, creating the vision to provide the best facilities for students through to 2035.

Erin is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and Chair of the North East RICS Regional Board.

Richard has been involved in supplying products and services to the legal sector for more years than he cares to remember! Firstly, during the nineties, as Market Manager for the DX responsible for the Legal & Government sectors (he managed to get Cherie Booth/Blaire to officially open the ‘new’ Chancery Lane DX Exchange!) then via the NLIS project to be General Manager of TransAction Online and part of the team that acquired Searchflow and Richards Gray. Latterly he has been National Sales Director at CDS and is now Sales Director (Residential) – tm group.

William Ralston, Senior Lecturer - Northumbria University

Prior to joining Northumbria in 2013, William spent 13 years in full-time-practice in the Bar at a common law set of chambers in Liverpool.

William Scrimshire, took over as Managing Director of Communicourt in 2020 and shares the founder, Naomi Mason’s passion for enabling fair access to justice.

Communicourt now has more than 100 full time intermediaries working in family and criminal courts across England and Wales. William has extensive experience in the education and criminal justice sectors, and is a Chartered Director with the Institute of Directors.

Barry Speker OBE DL LLB

Barry practised as a solicitor in Newcastle for almost 50 years. He was senior partner at Samuel Phillips for 25 years and a Consultant at Sintons. His specialisms included medical law and ethics and he was Trust Solicitor for Newcastle Hospitals.
He expertised in employment law and sat as employment judge in Newcastle, Teesside and London for 31 years until June 2022.
He has long experience in acting for businesses in the Chinese community and is Hon. Chair of the North East Chinese Association.
Other areas of specialism include family law, adoption and fostering.
Barry is an assessor and interviewer for the National Law Society.
He was President of Newcastle Law Society in 2000.
In 2018 he received the Law Society Outstanding Contribution Award.
In 2022 he received the the Northern Law Awards Outstanding Achievement Award.
He is a Director of NIBE (Northern Institute for Business Ethics), President of the North East Council of Addictions, a Director of Tyne Theatre and a member of Northumbria University Research Ethics Committee and Newcastle Hospitals Ethics Committee

 

Michael has over 30 years’ experience as a barristers’ clerk and is a highly regarded and a trusted figure amongst the legal fraternity. His expert clerking abilities has secured him several impressive legal directory recommendations and recognition at industry awards.

He played a pivotal role in the merger of Park Lane with Plowden Chambers in 2007 and sits on the Executive Management Board of Chambers

Michael works closely with his clerking team in the day-to-day clerking of members’ practices. He is responsible for the business development of chambers and ensures a close working and open relationship with our clients.

Incredibly well-connected, not just amongst solicitors but also the wider legal community, he is known for his expert knowledge and infectious enthusiasm, making him a popular go-to figure in the legal community.

Michael is focused on exploring new ways Chambers can work with clients to deliver a service that evolves with the changing legal landscape. He strives on being responsive to the market and working with clients to provide pragmatic solutions to the engagement of barristers and fee structures.

He has secured many new work avenues and clients, and generated respect for his honesty and approach. Michael’s work and abilities are key to the success that Chambers enjoys.

Jo is our lead on client development and go-to market strategy. She scopes client project needs and works with the Lamp House team to deliver the right solutions. Jo’s passionate about helping firms to evolve and developing talent within the profession. She is an experienced global relationship lead for our clients, and can present complex data in a practical way to help clients make the optimum use of research insights. She is a regular speaker and panellist in the professional services community.

A graduate in Human Resources Management, Jo has more than 20 years’ experience in research insights projects for professional services firms. She formed part of the initial team launching Acritas in 2002, developing client relationships and building both the team and the brand globally.

Outside work, Jo is kept busy with two active boys and their sporting commitments. She is also a fair weather paddleboarder, tennis player and loves to travel.