More than 80 law firm leaders and GCs team up with big business names for LegalWeek Connect

A host of top names from law firms and the world of business are set to join a line-up including Rugby World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward and BBC presenter Naga Munchetty at Legal Week‘s brand new LegalWeek Connect event this November.

The two-day event, which will aim to generate debate about how law firms can reinvent their business models, will feature 10 keynote speakers including entrepreneur and investor Azeem Ibrahim, ethical hacker Jamie Woodruff, former TalkTalk CEO Baroness Harding of Winscombe, Wired editor-in-chief Greg Williams and former Ratners Group CEO Gerald Ratner.

More than 80 global law firm leaders and general counsel have been involved in creating the event, with 14 signed up as ambassadors for the event. These include Berwin Leighton Paisner managing partner Lisa Mayhew (pictured), Ashurst managing partner Paul Jenkins, Macfarlanes senior partner Charles Martin, White & Case London head Oliver Brettle and Dentons global chief executive Elliott Portnoy.

Mayhew said: “The programme has been crafted with input from an unrivalled list of more than 80 global law firm leaders, and I am pleased to be a part of it.”

In-house speakers include World Bank group GC Sandie Okoro, PayPal chief business affairs and legal officer Louise Pentland and Roche GC Funke Abimbola, while leading law firm figures in the line-up include Clifford Chance global head of innovation and business change Bas Boris Visser, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer global innovation architect Milos Kresojevic, Eversheds Sutherland co-CEO Lee Ranson, Ashurst co-head of innovation Mike Polson, CMS senior partner Penelope Warne, Mishcon de Reya chief strategy officer Nick West and Hogan Lovells London managing partner Susan Bright.

On the first day (29 November), the event will feature a mix of keynote speeches, panel discussions and a Question Time-style debate on the future of law, with special guests including British judge Sir William Blair.

On the second day (30 November), the conference will be divided into two streams: LegalEngage, which will focus on law firm management and strategy, and LegalTech, which will examine how technology can be effectively harnessed by law firms.

Legalweek Connect, which will be held at the Institute of Engineering and Technology, will be followed by Legal Week’s flagship annual event, the British Legal Awards, on the evening of 30 November.

To register, please visit: LegalWeekConnect.com

• General event enquiries: Rhiannon Van Ross, strategic projects director, ALM – International Division: [email protected]
• Sponsorship enquiries: Thomas Pearson, commercial director, ALM – International Division: [email protected]