Alice Boullier de Branche
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-boullier-de-branche-53a23098/

Alice Boullier de Branche is the senior HR manager of the Paris HR team at Allen & Overy. She graduated from a business school (ESSEC Global BBA) and has a Master’s degree in Sociology (Paris VII). Alice has been working on HR matters at Allen & Overy for over ten years. She joined A&O to work on training and development, then later specialized in providing human resources support to the fee earners population. She is especially engaged in areas such as performance evaluation, compensation strategies, recruitment, retention, and talent development, as well as diversity and inclusion initiatives. Serena Brent qualified as an associate in the banking and finance team at Mayer Brown in March 2024. She trained at the firm, completing her other three seats in the corporate, tax, and restructuring departments.

Victoria Cromwell
https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-cromwell-0b05a648/

Victoria Cromwell is a solicitor with over 12 years’ experience in practice at Addleshaw Goddard and Linklaters, and as a professional support lawyer at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. After private practice, Victoria taught postgraduate law for Kaplan and BPP, and led on the development of BARBRI’s SQE courses. As head of new business and account management, Victoria leads on the strategy, creation, and execution of B2B contractual covering law firms, universities, corporate entities (including ALSPs), and government and public sector. Victoria is co-chair of the International Bar Association’s Academic and Professional Development Committee and sits on the City of London Law Society (CLLS) training committee. Victoria is committed to improving access to the legal profession, and in 2020 co-founded the Social Welfare Solicitors Qualification Fund with the CLLS and Young Legal Aid Lawyers to support social welfare lawyers to qualify as solicitors to help improve access to justice for the most vulnerable in society.

Robert Dudley
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertdudley1/

Having operated in various professional development organizations across the legal sector for over two decades, Robert Dudley joined BARBRI in 2015 as international director, moving into his current head of employability and engagement role in January 2023. Here, he is aiding individual candidates on their journey to qualification through the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE). Robert proactively supports aspiring lawyers from school age through to gaining Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) and practice-ready skills. With QWE an essential consideration for aspiring solicitors looking to qualify in England and Wales, he is creating innovative partnerships across the industry to help pave clear, accessible routes to qualification in conjunction with BARBRI’s SQE Prep courses. Robert holds a BA (Hons), an LLB (Hons) and PG Dip Law from The College of Law, London along with a postgraduate certificate in career development. He is a member of the Institute of Student Employers, the International Bar Association (IBA), and a representative for the European Lawyer’s Association.

Anne Harnetty
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-harnetty-31b40a5/

Anne Harnetty is the founder and director of Jonson Beaumont, which specializes in search and selection in professional service firms for the c-suite and Jonson Beaumont Core, which is a merger integration service providing project management and planning for all aspects of integration. Anne has over 35 years’ experience working in the legal sector and is a director of several CEO, COO, and CFO forums. She has a wealth of experience providing constructive advice to managing partners and boards on a range of issues within the legal sector and exchanging ideas and insights. Anne is the author of Mergers with the Benefit of Hindsight, published in 2022, and also works with Millbourn Ross as a merger broker.

Tea Hoffmann
https://www.linkedin.com/in/teahoffmann/

Tea Hoffmann is the managing principal of Law Strategy Coach. Her mission is to be the change agent law firms and lawyers need to become more successful long-term. Tea practiced law for over 13 years, serving in a law firm and as the GC of a publicly traded company. Over the next 15 years, she served as a legal consultant, keynote speaker, chief business development officer for an AmLaw 100 firm, and chief strategy officer for an AmLaw 200 firm. In 2014, she founded Law Strategy Corp. Since then, she has coached over 400 partners in law firms across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Italy. In addition, she has facilitated over 200 high-energy retreats and developed a first-of-its-kind soft skills online training program. Tea is a certified life, wellness, executive coach and a Franklin Covey™ facilitator. She is a fellow in the College of Law Practice Management, has served on the editorial board of the Law Practice magazine for the American Bar Association, and has had her work published in multiple journals and legal publications. She also serves on the Forbes Small Business Council.

Rebecca Holdredge
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-holdredge/

Rebecca Holdredge is the director of knowledge management at Levenfeld Pearlstein, where she is able to leverage over two decades of experience as an attorney, actuary, and innovator to transform the landscape of legal services. She specializes in integrating business, law, and technology, pioneering strategies that not only enhance client value but also invigorate and motivate legal talent through innovative practices. Her approach to complex business challenges blends advanced analytics, design thinking, and modern technologies, fostering an environment that inspires legal professionals to innovate and excel. Rebecca’s collaborative leadership style promotes creativity and strategic risk-taking. As a recognized thought leader, Rebecca often shares her expertise on topics like data visualization, design thinking, legal innovation and change management. Her academic credentials include a J.D. magna cum laude from Tulane University Law School, and a B.S. magna cum laude from Washington University. Her commitment extends to founding Blueprint Legal Solutions, a nonprofit aimed at improving legal operations and access to justice.

Jean-Baptiste Lebelle
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jean-baptiste-lebelle-2789816a/

Jean-Baptiste Lebelle is the head of HR at Allen & Overy’s Paris office. He holds a law degree from Paris II Assas and graduated from Sciences Po Paris. Jean-Baptiste taught at the Sorbonne and HEC on recruitment, retention, and career management in law firms. Jean-Baptiste has over 20 years of HR experience in the consulting sector and he is especially engaged in topics related to compensation policies, recruitment, talent retention, diversity and inclusion, and wellbeing applied to law firms. He switched from headhunting for law firms to HR, becoming PWC Legal’s HR director for Paris before A&O.

Sophia Margetts
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophia-margetts-99b321181/

Sophia Margetts is a trainee solicitor at Osborne Clarke’s London office. She studied English at Bristol University before taking the GDL and LPC, and started her training contract in September 2023.

Suhail Mayor
https://www.linkedin.com/in/suhail-mayor/

Suhail Mayor is a trainee solicitor at DLA Piper, currently completing his second seat in litigation and arbitration. Having previously worked across intellectual property and technology and corporate crime, he holds an LLM from King’s College London.

Dr Catherine McGregor
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-catherine-mcgregor-acc-cpcc-mcmi-chmc-787b354/

Dr Catherine McGregor is an author, executive coach, and management consultant. She started her career in teaching and the performing arts and is grateful to draw on these skills and experiences in her work in the corporate world to give unique insights and perspectives. Catherine is the author of Business Thinking in Practice for In-House Counsel: Taking Your Seat at The Table (Globe Law and Business, 2020), which focuses on the application of human-centered business skills by legal departments and received numerous accolades. Catherine spends most of her time working with executive leadership consultancy, Chief Legal Executive, where she leads all professional and executive development and executive coaching efforts working with many Global 100 and Fortune 500 legal departments. Her work is focused on developing the skills that professionals will need to master opportunities in the exponential age in blending human work with AI and other technologies.

Patrick J. McKenna
https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickjmckenna/

Patrick J. McKenna is an internationally recognized author, lecturer, strategist, and seasoned advisor to leaders of premier law firms, having the honor of working with one of the largest firms in over a dozen countries. Patrick is author/co-author of 12 books. His three decades of experience led to his being the subject of a Harvard Law School case study entitled Innovations In Legal Consulting. One example of that innovation was launching the first instructional program designed to address the issues that new firm leaders face in their first 100 days – graduating over 80 participants, many from AmLaw 100 and 200-sized firms. Patrick is the recipient of an Honorary Fellowship from Leaders Excellence of Harvard Square and was voted by readers of Legal Business World as one of only seven international thought leaders.

Becky Jo Morgan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-morgan-133a815b/

Becky Jo Morgan is a seasoned director of practice operations at Levenfeld Pearlstein, with over 29 years of comprehensive paralegal experience. Her journey in the legal field has seen her evolve from a hands-on role in the corporate and securities group to an influential leader in firmwide practice operations. In her current role, Becky expertly oversees the daily operations of various practices, demonstrating a profound ability to collaborate with practice group leaders in designing and executing strategic group plans. Her approach integrates crucial elements of business planning, talent development, workflow, and operations management, all aimed at fostering a productive and motivating environment for legal professionals. Becky’s career is marked by a commitment to process improvement and project management, highlighted by her tenure as the firm’s practice group manager and paralegal project manager. Her acumen extends to providing adept support in transactional matters across diverse areas like real estate, trusts and estates, and financial services. Becky’s expertise is further endorsed by her Yellow Belt certifications in Legal Lean Sigma and project management and in change management. This blend of operational leadership and legal knowledge positions her uniquely to drive innovation and inspire growth in legal talent.

Molly Peckman
https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-peckman-852a247/

With over 30 years of law firm experience, Molly Peckman launched her training, development, and coaching company (Molly Peckman Training and Development) in 2017 to help organizations and professionals maximize their talent. At MPTD, Molly works with organizations on their talent management strategies including training, development, evaluation, engagement, retention, orientation, integration, respectful workplace, and business development. Molly is an engaging speaker and provides customized training programs on communications, leadership, business development, and management skills. She facilitates focus groups, conducts needs assessments, and presents at retreats. Molly also provides one-on-one coaching on career and business development and is a certified master coach. Molly served as the head of talent at a global firm and helped create that firm’s culture of learning by building an integrated legal talent department, spearheading the diversity initiative, designing the competency and career path model, and creating the training curriculum. Molly is a frequent writer and lecturer on legal talent management and law firm life. She served as a trusted advisor to the Professional Development Consortium and chaired NALP’s Lawyer Professional Development Section. Molly is a graduate of Temple University (J.D., BA Journalism) and practiced as a litigator in Philadelphia.

Kathryn Rousin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-lippert-rousin-6450302/

Kathryn Rousin is an advisory board member and former co-chair of the IBA’s Academic and Professional Development Committee. Kathryn is the global director of learning and development at White & Case, responsible for leadership and management training and coaching worldwide. She works directly with senior business leaders on talent and learning initiatives to help deliver on organizational strategies. She has 20 years’ experience in global leadership roles in talent management and learning and development in the legal sector, consulting and delivering training in EMEA, Asia Pacific, the US, and Latin America. Kathryn qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales, practicing in mergers and acquisitions at two international firms before moving into talent management and learning and development. Kathryn has a BA and MA in Modern Languages from the University of Oxford in the UK, postgraduate diplomas in Law and Legal Practice from the University of Law in the UK, and a postgraduate diploma in Organizational Leadership from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

Lara Selem
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laraselem/

Lara Selem is an attorney and professor, expert in legal management, and co-founder of Selem Bertozzi Consulting. In Brazil, she is a pioneer in disseminating the subject, having advised over 1,200 law firms since 1998. With multiple specializations, including international ones, she has become a reference in strategic planning, governance, compensation, succession, and leadership for law firms, with extensive experience in consulting and mentoring. She also serves as external board advisor for medium and large law firms, and is an active speaker and author of 19 books.

Charlotte Smith
https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlottesmithlawyercoach/

Charlotte Smith is an executive coach and management consultant supporting GCs, law firm partners, and legal tech entrepreneurs with innovative legal leadership and organizational excellence strategies. As a solicitor qualified in England and Wales, Charlotte’s expertise is rooted in over 15 years of experience working in and with the profession, both in the UK and the US. Relocating to the US, she founded her consultancy Level7 with a mission to deliver critical support and drive innovation across Silicon Valley’s legal landscape. Her approach addresses legal’s critical challenges, from leadership development to culture, through innovative strategies that blend energy management and human performance enhancement. In 2024, Charlotte championed initiatives like pre-acquisition executive evaluations for legal tech firms and developed professional branding strategies for legal professionals with an emphasis on thought leadership. Charlotte emphasizes the irreplaceable human element in the era of AI and technology, positioning her consultancy at the forefront of equipping legal teams for the dynamic evolution of careers in today’s legal landscape. Her contributions ensure legal professionals and teams are prepared to thrive amid the changing demands of the legal profession, making her an invaluable asset to those looking to excel in this new era.

Heather Suttie
https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathersuttie/

Heather Suttie is an internationally recognized legal market strategy and management consultant to leaders of premier law firms and legal service providers worldwide. For 25 years, she has accelerated performance within law firms and legal service businesses – global to solo, BigLaw to NewLaw – by providing consultative direction on innovative strategies pertaining to business, markets, management, and clients. Heather is an authority on Big Four Legal and one of the world’s only legal market strategists with both legal MDP and client consulting expertise, which qualifies her as a conduit within and between traditional and non-traditional legal enterprises. She consults based on solid business acumen attained through corporate management, including restructurings and turnarounds. A speaker and writer, she presents at legal conferences, comments on global legal market and industry trends, and contributes to international legal publications where she writes “prescriptively” and “with a certain stark honesty about the business of law”.

Caroline Vanovermeire
https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-vanovermeire/

Caroline Vanovermeire is the global director of talent, leadership, and organizational development at dentsu and founder of Effra consult. She specializes in working with organizations and partnerships that are at a crossroads due to growth and/or disruption. Typical activities are related to culture shaping, organizational effectiveness, talent management, leadership, assessment, and development. In addition, she is an NED for Biolizard, an agile data science consulting company with expertise in scientific data analysis, data mining, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Caroline has also mentored startups in the fintech industry. She is a published author and has won several awards acknowledging her expertise, experience, and thought leadership, often pioneering. In her free time, Caroline is a trustee for the Regenboogschool, a charity that offers cultural, inclusivity, and Dutch language education for fourto 18-year-olds, as well as a key supporter of Sense, a charity for deaf blind people, and has been a proud member of its corporate fundraising board for over five years. She has also volunteered for the Media Trust.

Tara Waters
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tlwaters/

Tara Waters is a partner and global chief digital officer at Ashurst LLP in London. Having spent seven years working as a web developer prior to becoming a lawyer, Tara is known for being the rare lawyer who truly understands new technologies and the needs of technology-enabled businesses. Tara has spent the past decade working at the intersection of technology and the law, balancing advising and mentoring emerging technology companies and their advisers with pioneering the establishment of Ashurst’s own technology- enablement. Her expertise and experience includes supporting a full range of corporate and finance transactions, strategic business advice, and digital transformation. As chief digital officer, Tara is responsible for setting and overseeing the strategy for how Ashurst develops and delivers digital capabilities that support enhanced client and employee experiences and drive new business opportunities.

Chrissie Wolfe
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissiewolfe/

Chrissie Wolfe is a clinical negligence solicitor and a strategic and operational consultant for the legal sector with a particular focus on talent and culture. Formerly a solicitor at Irwin Mitchell, Chrissie set up her own consultancy in 2021 and has since worked with some of the industry’s most innovative leaders, including Richard Susskind, Mark Cohen, and Isabel Parker. She sits as director of operations at the Digital Legal Exchange as a consultant and has worked directly with the SRA to design and implement the SQE route to solicitor qualification. Aside from the day job, she has a social media following of over 120,000 in the legal space and is a frequent conference speaker and presenter on a range of topics within legal and beyond.