What do you do?
All businesses are now tech businesses – and I advise on all aspects of tech risk and opportunity from an M&A, risk and crisis management perspective. A decade ago, “data law” was considered a niche area. How that’s changed! Data is often a business’s most valuable asset; but also, in the new environment of global regulatory and customer scrutiny, its greatest risk. Whether businesses are planning IT renewal, developing new AI tools, diligencing a potential target, or responding to a cyber attack, I’m there to help across the board.
What have been some of your career highlights?
Being asked to launch and co-lead our cross-practice tech group is a definite highlight. Unlike the traditional law firm model of tech expertise sitting in one practice or team, this virtual group sits across every practice area and sector – in the same way that technology cuts across every industry.
Influences and mentors?
Our senior partner Malcolm Sweeting has been a great mentor and friend. Despite being a finance lawyer by background, he’s pivoted to tech in a really brilliant way. He’s seen how technology will disrupt our industry and encourages everyone, regardless of practice or background, to come on the journey with us. Malcolm is always there to encourage and help, always has an open door and mind, and now is as techie as the rest of us. He draws a line at wearing Converse trainers though!
What will lawyers in your field be advising on 10 years from now?
It’s a cliché now to say that ‘data is the new oil’ – but I think the next frontier is how safely to monetise this digital commodity while building a robust legal (and moral) framework and process to do so.
What do you do to relax?
Read. A lot. A passion from my days of studying English at university. It helps working with a great team at Clifford Chance who, like me, are all very creative. We have a table in my office covered in books, autobiographies and magazines we’ve read. It’s so important to make time to be creative and share ideas outside our everyday work.
What’s your favourite restaurant?
Bistrotheque, in Hackney. I used to go there a lot pre-kids, and now they love it too! No late nights any more though, only brunches.