Speakers

	David Allen Green Solicitor Preiskel & Co David Allen Green is Of Counsel and head of the litigation and media practices at Preiskel & Co. Recognition for David includes being selected by The Lawyer as one of the Hot 100 Lawyers and in The Times as lawyer of the week. David was educated at the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham and was called to the Bar in 1999. David then cross-qualified as a solicitor in 2001 and went on to work for leading City law firms and the Treasury Solicitor. David joined Preiskel & Co in 2009. David is also an award-winning journalist, and he now writes the Law and Policy blog at the Financial Times. In 2013, David was given the “mainstream media blogger of the year” award.

	Sheriff Aisha Anwar Sheriff of Glasgow and Strathkelvin Aisha Anwar graduated with an LLB Hons from the University Edinburgh in 1996 and a Bachelor of Civil Law (Oxford 1998). She joined Maclay Murray and Spens in 1998 as a trainee, was admitted as a solicitor in 2000 and became an associate in 2003. From 2009 to 2012 she became a partner and then head of litigation at DLA Piper. She was appointed as a part-time sheriff in 2011. She has authored numerous publications, lectured and tutored. She recently co-authored the Civil BenchBook for Sheriffs on behalf of the Judicial Institute.

	Emma Boffey Lawyer CMS and Past President of the Scottish Young Lawyers’ Association Emma is a solicitor based in Edinburgh, working with international law firm CMS. Emma specialises in dispute resolution. Emma is a graduate of the University of Strathclyde (LL.B (First Class Honours) and Diploma in Professional Legal Practice). She served as Legal Assistant to the Scottish Law Commission from 2010 – 2011, before completing her traineeship with Dundas & Wilson CS LLP. From May 2014 – May 2016, Emma served as President of the Scottish Young Lawyers’ Association, a non-profit organisation which represents young lawyers in Scotland. During that time, the SYLA launched a campaign to promote reflection upon the wellbeing of lawyers in the profession.

	Jan Bowen-Nielsen Coach & Trainer Quiver Management Jan is founder of Quiver Management Ltd, a European quality award winning executive coaching and leadership training company specialising in coaching and development of senior executives and business owners. Quiver Management provides accredited leadership and management development courses and runs internationally recognised coaching and mentoring training programmes. He has coached a large number of senior executives, helping them grow their leadership skills, their teams’ performance and their businesses. Jan has been on the Advisory Board of EMCC UK, the European Mentoring and Coaching Council, for a number of years and regularly speaks at industry events. In addition, Jan is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management and holds an MBA from Henley Management.

	Maureen Burnside Senior Legal Counsel Müller UK & Ireland Maureen has had a varied career both as an in house solicitor and as a solicitor in private practice. Currently Senior Legal Counsel at Müller UK & Ireland, she was Company Secretary at Robert Wiseman Dairies PLC, then a FTSE 250 listed company, before its takeover by Müller in 2012. Prior to that she was a Corporate Partner at Maclay Murray & Spens LLP for nearly 20 years, where she acted for Wiseman Dairies in over 50 acquisitions. She also developed a specialism in Executive Remuneration where she was topped ranked in Scotland in the Chambers and Partners Legal Directory.

	Laura Cameron Partner and Head of the Risk Advisory Services Group Pinsent Masons Laura is recognised as a leading lawyer in the field of health and safety. She is the Chair of the Health and Safety Lawyers Association in Scotland. She also carries out advisory work and has conducted training for a number of major plc boards on their Health and Safety responsibilities. She is regularly called upon to speak at conferences and events organised by IOSH, HSE and safety groups. She has written the chapter on Health and Safety legislation by Renton & Brown, the leading Scottish publication on Criminal Law. She is rated as a Star Individual by Chambers 2015 and The Legal 500 comments that she “has a huge depth of knowledge and is excellent at communicating her advice”.

	Joanna Cherry QC Member of Parliament Scottish National Party Joanna Cherry QC has been in practice as an Advocate for about 20 years. She became a QC in 2009 and is ranked by the Legal 500 as one of the leading QCs in Scotland. She previously held the offices of Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish Government and Advocate Depute . She has appeared at the UK Supreme Court on a number of occasions, including twice on behalf of the Lord Advocate. She recently co-authored the textbook “Mental Health and Scots Law in Practice’ (2nd edition). Joanna has been a member of the SNP since 2008 and is a long term supporter of independence and home rule. During the Referendum she co-founded and led “Lawyers for Yes”.

	Michael Clancy OBE Director of Law Reform The Law Society of Scotland Mr. Clancy was awarded an O.B.E. in the Queen’s Jubilee Birthday Honours List in June 2002. He graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1979 taking an LL.B degree and in 1985 taking an LL.M degree. In 1987 he graduated LL.B (Hons) from the University of London. He is a solicitor and Notary Public. After qualification as a solicitor in private practice he had attained a partnership with the Glasgow firm of Franchi Wright & Co. He resigned this partnership in 1988 to become a Deputy Secretary of the Law Society of Scotland. Since 1996 he has been a Director of the Society with responsibility for Law Reform.

	Alex Cole-Hamilton Member of Scottish Parliament Scottish Liberal Democrats Alex was elected to Holyrood in May 2016 as member for Edinburgh Western. He has been involved with the Liberal Democrats since 1987. In September 2001 he was appointed as national communications officer for the Scottish Liberal Democrats. Subsequently, he worked in policy and communications roles within the third sector, latterly at Aberlour Child Care Trust. Alex has dedicated his working life to a range of children’s charities where he has used his knowledge of the Scottish political system to bring about real change.

	Dave Cook Managing Director Mason & Cook Dave is regarded across the market as a “pioneer” in the field of Resource Management. He is highly skilled in introducing Resource Management approaches and developing sustainable structures in new markets, particularly the legal sector. Having introduced the first function of its kind to a prestigious global firm, Dave continues to be seen as the key individual in developing best practice functions for other major international law firms.

	Caroline Donaldson Director Kynesis Caroline has extensive experience of working with senior teams and bringing out talent at all levels within an organisation. She has a keen interest in the behavioural aspects of executive and board development, which is supported by over 20 years’ experience as an executive coach.

	Bill Drummond Managing Partner Brodies Educated in Nairn, Kirkwall, North Berwick and (for University) Aberdeen, Bill Drummond has been with Brodies for 34 years and Managing Partner since 1998. Whilst committed to the principle that providing clients with the quality of services they want will deliver Brodies’ business goals, he sees his main role as promoting strategy development and operational effectiveness to create the framework within which that can happen. Amongst other awards, Bill was named UK Management Partner of the year in the 2013 Legal and was a winner of the 2014 EY Scotland Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. Brodies has won numerous awards for business performance, legal expertise and innovation, including Scotland Law Firm of the Year 2016 at the Who's Who Legal Awards, the UK Regional Firm of the Year at the 2016 The Lawyer Awards and the UK National/Regional Law Firm of the Year at the 2015 Legal Business Awards. Bill is also committed to encouraging the development and sustainable growth of Scotland's economy. He was appointed Chair of the Scottish Council for Development & Industry in 2013, leading SCDI through the Scottish independence referendum campaign and standing down at the 2015 AGM, when he was awarded the Fellowship Medal.

	Sir David Edward Professor Emeritus at the School of Law Edinburgh University Professor Sir David Edward, KCMG, PC, QC, FRSE was called to the Bar in 1962 and appointed Queen's Counsel in 1974. From 1989 to 2004 he served as the British Judge, first of the European Court of First Instance, and then of the European Court of Justice. From 2004 to 2009 he sat as a Temporary Judge in the Inner House of the Court of Session. He is Professor Emeritus of the School of Law of the University of Edinburgh and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, from which he received its Royal Gold Medal in 2005. He is also an Honorary Fellow of University College, Oxford and an Honorary Bencher of Gray's Inn.

	Willie Finlayson Director FWB Park Brown Willie was educated at Inverness Royal Academy and at the University of Aberdeen where he graduated with an Honours degree in Psychology and afterwards a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resources. He went on to pursue a career in management within the NHS, based in London. He returned to Scotland in 1985 to join a major UK recruitment group and became a Director of that group in 1988, he was a key figure in its management buyout the following year. Willie subsequently established a successful 'standalone' executive search business for that group before leaving to help found FWB (now FWB Park Brown) in 1993. Willie is also a Non-Executive Director of Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club.

	John Finnie Member of Scottish Parliament Scottish Green Party John Finnie is the Green MSP for the Highlands and Islands region. He is the Scottish Green Party spokesperson on Justice, Transport, Tourism and Rural & Island Communities and serves on the Justice Committee and the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee of the Scottish Parliament. John is a member of Amnesty International and Scottish CND, and a fan of traditional Scottish music and Hearts FC. He lives in Inverness.

	Stephen Gold Principal Stephen Gold Consulting Stephen Gold founded and for over 25 years was at the heart of building a market-leading law firm of 450 people which won multiple awards for its innovative skills, before merging with national giant Irwin Mitchell. Today, he runs a highly-regarded law firm consultancy, which works shoulder-to-shoulder with leading firms to deliver the insight, guidance and hands-on help that will achieve their ambitions. Stephen acts as a non-executive board member and confidential mentor to senior people. His specialist areas are strategy and entrepreneurship, the rainmaking skills (relationship building, tendering, pitching and pricing), merger and acquisition. Stephen writes extensively for the professional press and is a frequent speaker in sector forums.

	Lorna Jack Chief Executive The Law Society of Scotland Lorna joined the Society in January 2009. Prior to the Law Society, Lorna was based in the United States, as President Americas for Scottish Development International (SDI), the Scottish Government's trade and investment arm. Previously, Lorna was Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise (SE) Forth Valley, one of 12 local enterprise companies covering Scotland. A chartered accountant by profession, she completed her training with Arthur Andersen and spent six years in financial management roles with a UK telecoms and cable television company before joining SE. She is a graduate of Aberdeen University and for four years sat on the board of the university's US Development Trust.

	Austin Lafferty Austin Lafferty Limited Austin Lafferty is a solicitor, broadcaster, journalist and artist, who has worked in general practice since 1981. As well as running his own multi-branch firm around Glasgow, he was elected Vice-President of the Law Society in May 2011 and took over the presidency in May 2012, and is thus now a Past President of the Society. Austin has also worked in a variety of media roles, having been a radio and television presenter on numerous programmes. Austin is a newspaper columnist who has written extensively on legal matters. He has also authored ‘It's The Law!’, which is a handbook on Scots Law for citizens, published in 2004.

	Mickaël Laurans Head of Brussels Office Law Society of Scotland Mickaël Laurans has been the Head of the Joint Brussels office of the UK Law Societies since 2012, leading on their engagement with the EU institutions and the WTO. He is also the Information Officer of the UK Delegation to the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE). Prior to working in Brussels, Mickaël spent nine years in London working for the international department of the Law Society of England and Wales in charge of bilateral European and international regulatory issues. Mickaël graduated from the Institut d'Etudes Politiques of Rennes (France) in Law, Economics and Public Policy. He also holds an MA in Post-Communist Studies from Exeter University, a Diplôme D'Etudes Europeennes from I.E.P. Rennes and an MRes in EU Politics and Public Policies from Birkbeck College, University of London.

	Gordon Lindhurst Member of Scottish Parliament Conservative Party Gordon Lindhurst is a Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP for the Lothian region. Gordon is an Edinburgh advocate, and studied law at Edinburgh University and Heidelberg University in Germany. In the Scottish Parliament, Gordon is the convener of the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee, as well as being the Scottish Conservative spokesman for Legal Affairs.

	Grace McGill Principal Grace McGill & Co Solicitors Grace is Principal and founder of McGill and Co Solicitors, established in 2008. She has worked as an immigration solicitor in Scotland for nearly 20 years. Grace sits on the Board of Trustees of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association in London and also the Scottish Child Law Centre in Edinburgh. She holds a Master’s degree in International Human Rights Law from the University of Strathclyde and is a member of the International Bar Association, Commonwealth Lawyers Association, and British Association for Sport & Law. She has recently been appointed as a member of the Society of Writers to Her Majesty’s Signet (WS). She is the present author of the 2nd Reissue of the Immigration Law Chapter of the Stair Memorial Encyclopaedia, which has recently been published. She has been commended for her work by the Legal 500 for the last 3 years.

	Christine McLintock Past President The Law Society of Scotland Past President of the Law Society Scotland Christine was also formerly the Risk & Knowledge Management Partner and a board member at McGrigors. She then became General Counsel for Pinsent Masons, following its merger with McGrigors, and headed up the Risk, Compliance and In-House Legal Services Group for the firm until 2013. She joined the Law Society’s Council in 2005 and also sits on the Society’s Board, where she has played an important part in directing the strategy of the organisation.

	Graeme McWilliams Convener, In-House Lawyers Committee The Law Society of Scotland Graeme is a Legal Adviser with Standard Life and has worked there since 1988. Graeme joined the In-house Lawyers’ Group Committee in 2012, was appointed ILC Convener in July 2016 and as such, is also a co-opted member of the Law Society Council.

	Stephen Millar Managing Partner CMS Stephen is the Managing Partner for CMS based in the UK. He joined the board in 2013 as Practice Group Manager of the Energy, Projects and Construction team. In this role Stephen held international responsibilities with teams based in London, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dubai, Muscat, Rio and Singapore. He also was Co-Executive Partner in Scotland. Stephen was instrumental in orchestrating the combination with Dundas & Wilson in 2014, initiating and leading the discussions that led to what media called one of the most successful mergers in the legal sector that year. In his role as Executive Partner, Scotland, he also had responsibility for teams in Banking, Corporate, CRD, Human Capital and Real Estate.

	Rachel Moon Senior Solicitor and Legal Services Manager Govan Law Centre Rachel is the Senior Solicitor at the Govanhill office of the well-known Govan Law Centre which works primarily with EU migrants and Roma population in terms of realising their rights in housing, employment and benefits. Rachel has worked there for 4 years and has seen many changes for EU migrants over the years. Rachel graduated with a First class honours law degree from University of Edinburgh and a Masters Degree in Human Rights Law at Strathclyde University before completing her traineeship at HBJ Gateley, and then moving to Govan Law Centre as a newly qualified solicitor. She was previously a Trustee at Edinburgh Womens’ Aid and now works with a number of charities and organisations in Govanhill.

	Frank Mulholland QC Frank Mulholland PC QC is a Scottish lawyer and who served from 2011 to 2016 as Lord Advocate, one of the Great Officers of State of Scotland and the country's chief Law Officer.

	Craig Nicol Joint Managing Partner Thorntons Craig specialises in all areas of commercial property investment and leasing, and has a particular interest in property finance. He joined the firm's commercial property unit in 2003, bringing with him a wealth of experience gained as a solicitor with Bird Semple and as a partner with DLA. He was previously head of the Business Law Department, before becoming Joint Managing Partner in 2011. Craig is highly regarded both by clients and other solicitors, acting for a number of the UK's clearing banks and building societies on significant property finance deals. He also advises a number of developers on site acquisition and financing.

	RA Thomas Oberhäuser European Immigration Lawyers Network Thomas is a lawyer based in Ulm/Germany, member of the European Immigration Lawyer Network and head of the branch „Rights of Migrants“ in the German Bar Association. He is author of a commentary of wide parts of the EU-Migration law and the rights of family reunification, has authored numerous publications in learned journals and gives lectures for lawyers who want to specialize in Migration Law.

	Professor Steve Peters Chief Executive Officer Chimp Management Professor Peters is a Consultant Psychiatrist working in Elite Sport. He works with Liverpool Football Club, England Football and Sky ProCycling, and has current and past involvements in many other Olympic and non-Olympic Sports, including, British Cycling, England Rugby, World Championship Snooker and Premier league Football. Professor Steve Peters is a member of the Royal College and is on the College Membership Panel for examinations. He is a member of the Therapeutic Use Exemption Panel for UK Sport and an expert witness to WADA (World Anti-doping Agency). His specialist interest is in the working of the human mind and how it can reach optimum performance applied to all walks of life. Professor Peters will share some of the experiences where this has taken place and offer some take home points for the audience to use themselves.

	Naomi Pryde Council Member for England & Wales Law Society of Scotland Naomi is a senior associate at Dentons, based in London and is the first ever elected Law Society of Scotland Council member for England & Wales. ‎Naomi has been actively involved in lobbying for changes to the treatment of Scottish notaries in England & Wales during her time as council member. Naomi is a notary public, registered with the foreign and commonwealth office, and is a Writer to Her Majesty's Signet. Naomi specialises in commercial litigation and property litigation. She has a wide practice, acting for all manner of clients. She is a strong believer in pro bono work, undertaking pro bono work for the National Centre for Domestic Violence. Naomi completed her undergraduate LLB honours degree at the University of Glasgow, spending part of her third year at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon ‎and completed her postgraduate diploma in legal practice at the University of Edinburgh. Naomi trained and qualified at Tods Murray LLP where she worked for 6 years before making the move down south.

	Carole Ritchie Director of Human Resources Shepherd & Wedderburn Carole studied English Literature at Aberdeen University and completed her IPD qualifications by distance learning during the early years of her career. Upon graduating Carole moved to London to work with the BBC Russian Service as a Production Assistant prior to moving into HR roles. In terms of HR roles Carole has worked in local government, computer software manufacturing, Further and Higher Education and for the last 17 years has worked as HR Director at legal firm Shepherd and Wedderburn. Carole is a MIPD qualified and her team manages all generalist HR, payroll/benefits and learning and development within the 500 employee, 4 office business.

	Judith Robertson Scottish Human Rights Commission Judith Robertson is the full time Chair of the Commission. She took up office on 21st March.Previously, Judith was Programme Director of See Me - Scotland’s national programme to end mental health stigma and discrimination. Prior to this post she had a 17 year career with Oxfam as both Programme Manager for Oxfam’s Poverty Programme in Scotland (8 years) and as Head of Oxfam Scotland (9 years). Judith has had a long-standing involvement in international issues, in social justice issues and in advocating for change and for the rights of many disadvantaged groups.

	Gillian Russell Director for Safer Communities Scottish Government Gillian has many years of experience within the Senior Civil Service in the Scottish Government working across five very different high impact roles. A lawyer by background, Gillian spent three years advising at senior level across health and social care before moving to a social policy role. In that role Gillian developed experience on enabling assets based approaches and coproduction to deliver better outcomes. Gillian then moved to reforming and transforming public services by ensuring the effective delivery of the benefits of Police Reform. During summer 2014 she worked on readiness for the referendum outcome.

	Dr. Marsha Scott Chief Executive Scottish Women's Aid Dr. Marsha Scott is a feminist activist, researcher and practitioner and has advocated, volunteered, researched, and worked in the violence against women sector in the United Kingdom, the United States and Europe for 30 years. Prior to taking up post at Scottish Women's Aid in April 2015, Marsha worked for 10 years at West Lothian Council, where she helped set up and had strategic responsibility for the West Lothian Domestic and Sexual Assault Team. Marsha sits on the board of Engender, Scotland’s national feminist organisation, and is the UK Expert delegate to the EWL’s European Observatory on Violence Against Women; she co-chairs the Observatory's Steering Group.

	Keir Starmer, QC Labour MP for Holborn and St Pancras Keir Starmer QC is a British politician and barrister. Since the 2015 General Election, he has been the Labour Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras. He was the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) from 2008 to 2013. He has prosecuted in numerous cases for the CPS during his career, while acting principally as a defence lawyer specialising in human rights issues.

	The Rt Hon Lady Dorrian Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland Lady Dorrian was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Courts in 2005, having served as a Temporary Judge since 2002. She was appointed to the Inner House in November 2012 and was appointed The Lord Justice Clerk in April 2016. Lady Dorrian is a graduate of the University of Aberdeen (LLB). She was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1981 and was Standing Junior Counsel to the Health and Safety Executive and Commission between 1987 and 1994. Lady Dorrian served as Advocate Depute between 1988 and 1991, and as Standing Junior to the Department of Energy between 1991 and 1994. Lady Dorrian was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1994. Between 1997 and 2001 she was a member of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

	Kim Walker Managing Director Advance Consultancy Specialist in Leadership and Management Development, Talent Management, Executive Coaching and Employee engagement.

	Eilidh Wiseman President Law Society of Scotland Eilidh is President of the Law Society of Scotland. She was first elected to the Society’s Council in August 2009 and was re-elected in 2011 and 2014 as one of the representatives for the Edinburgh constituency. She has previously served as Convenor of the Society’s Education and Training Committee, on the Board of Council and she also sits on the editorial board of the Society’s Journal magazine. Before retiring in 2014, she held the position of partner and UK head of Employment and Pensions at Dundas & Wilson CS LLP and previously sat on the firm’s Board. Outside of her legal life, Eilidh is a Trustee of National Museums of Scotland and chairs its Personnel and Remuneration Committee and is a Legal Assessor and a member of the Personnel Appeal Group of the Church of Scotland.