David Aird
IT Director
DAC Beachcroft
IT Director
DAC Beachcroft
David Aird joined DAC Beachcroft autumn 2013 as IT director. Previously he headed up the IT function at Mitie, the facilities and outsourcing company. Objectives at DAC for the next 12 months are to bed in our new IT Strategy. Key projects and initiatives this year include continuing investments in MI, efficiency, “world class basics” and planning for DAC Beachcroft's new PMS. Interests include cloud and social media and outside of work, rugby is a passion.
Neil Cameron
Consultant
NCCG
Neil Cameron is one of the leading law firm technology consultants. Originally a barrister he worked for LexisNexis and Allen & Overy before joining KPMG Management Consulting in 1986. In 1994 he left KPMG to set up his own independent consultancy, the Neil Cameron Consulting Group. NCCG now has a team of four dedicated legal IT professionals. Neil and his team have advised hundreds of law firms throughout the globe about technology projects including IT strategies, reviews of technology related working practices, and procurement of systems such as document management, office systems, practice management, CRM, Intranet/ Extranet and client collaboration and know- how systems. He writes blogs and articles for the NCCG Web site, articles for a range of legal journals and for over 25 years has been a frequent speaker at International Bar Association and other conferences.
Consultant
NCCG
Neil Cameron is one of the leading law firm technology consultants. Originally a barrister he worked for LexisNexis and Allen & Overy before joining KPMG Management Consulting in 1986. In 1994 he left KPMG to set up his own independent consultancy, the Neil Cameron Consulting Group. NCCG now has a team of four dedicated legal IT professionals. Neil and his team have advised hundreds of law firms throughout the globe about technology projects including IT strategies, reviews of technology related working practices, and procurement of systems such as document management, office systems, practice management, CRM, Intranet/ Extranet and client collaboration and know- how systems. He writes blogs and articles for the NCCG Web site, articles for a range of legal journals and for over 25 years has been a frequent speaker at International Bar Association and other conferences.
Katie DeBord
Global Chief Innovation Officer
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Kathryn DeBord is Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner’s Global Chief Innovation Officer and co-leader of BCXponent, Bryan Cave’s legal operations consulting group. Ms. DeBord leads the firm’s Client Technology Group, which includes software developers, automation and legal technology specialists, and business analysts. Ms. DeBord leads the firm’s TechX group, which is a group of lawyers, technologists, and related professionals participating in technology trials and prototypes relevant to their practice areas. Ms. DeBord also serves as advisor to the firm’s various initiatives to train its associates in legal innovation, including the Bryan Cave Business Academy, Ms. DeBord also sits on the Advisory Board for the Silicon Flatirons Tech Law Accelerator Program, and the Future of Law Practice. As co-leader of BCXponent, Ms. DeBord works with law departments to help them work better with their internal business clients, outside counsel and vendors. Prior to her current role, Ms. DeBord was a partner in the firm’s Commercial Litigation Group.
Global Chief Innovation Officer
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Kathryn DeBord is Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner’s Global Chief Innovation Officer and co-leader of BCXponent, Bryan Cave’s legal operations consulting group. Ms. DeBord leads the firm’s Client Technology Group, which includes software developers, automation and legal technology specialists, and business analysts. Ms. DeBord leads the firm’s TechX group, which is a group of lawyers, technologists, and related professionals participating in technology trials and prototypes relevant to their practice areas. Ms. DeBord also serves as advisor to the firm’s various initiatives to train its associates in legal innovation, including the Bryan Cave Business Academy, Ms. DeBord also sits on the Advisory Board for the Silicon Flatirons Tech Law Accelerator Program, and the Future of Law Practice. As co-leader of BCXponent, Ms. DeBord works with law departments to help them work better with their internal business clients, outside counsel and vendors. Prior to her current role, Ms. DeBord was a partner in the firm’s Commercial Litigation Group.
Andrew Dunkley
Head of Analytics
BLM
Andrew Dunkley is Head of Analytics, BLM and is a qualified solicitor whose legal career spans 10 years, including several years practicing as a construction litigator at a major city firm. He has change management experience in a previous role, including designing and leading the implementation of several major data related projects. Extensive experience prior to joining BLM developing innovative techniques to model and predict litigation outcomes, including co-founding a start-up that provided litigation statistics. Andrew joined BLM in December 2016 to found the predictive analytics team
Head of Analytics
BLM
Andrew Dunkley is Head of Analytics, BLM and is a qualified solicitor whose legal career spans 10 years, including several years practicing as a construction litigator at a major city firm. He has change management experience in a previous role, including designing and leading the implementation of several major data related projects. Extensive experience prior to joining BLM developing innovative techniques to model and predict litigation outcomes, including co-founding a start-up that provided litigation statistics. Andrew joined BLM in December 2016 to found the predictive analytics team
Abby Ewen
IT director
BLM
Abby Ewen has been IT director at BLM for five years following ten years at Simmons & Simmons where she was director of business transformation. Abby is responsible for aligning technology change across the firm, providing technology solutions and innovations for internal and external clients. Abby has a talent for reengineering roles, reshaping resources to satisfy new initiatives. Abby is a director of LITIG, the Legal IT Innovators Group and is also on the CIO Advisory board of a global technology company.
IT director
BLM
Abby Ewen has been IT director at BLM for five years following ten years at Simmons & Simmons where she was director of business transformation. Abby is responsible for aligning technology change across the firm, providing technology solutions and innovations for internal and external clients. Abby has a talent for reengineering roles, reshaping resources to satisfy new initiatives. Abby is a director of LITIG, the Legal IT Innovators Group and is also on the CIO Advisory board of a global technology company.
Gavin Gray
Regional operating officer
Baker& Mckenzie
Gavin Gray is the regional operating office for North America at Baker McKenzie. He is a member of the firm’s global management team and is responsible for driving North America operations to deliver exceptional service, quality and efficiency. Gavin has a broad ranging background in legal services, having served in a number of roles at major firms for nearly 20 years. Prior to rejoining Baker McKenzie in his current role, he was the chief information office at Perkins Coie. Gavin is based in New York City.
Regional operating officer
Baker& Mckenzie
Gavin Gray is the regional operating office for North America at Baker McKenzie. He is a member of the firm’s global management team and is responsible for driving North America operations to deliver exceptional service, quality and efficiency. Gavin has a broad ranging background in legal services, having served in a number of roles at major firms for nearly 20 years. Prior to rejoining Baker McKenzie in his current role, he was the chief information office at Perkins Coie. Gavin is based in New York City.
Nathan Hayes
IT Director
Osborne Clarke
Nathan Hayes is IT director at Osborne Clarke. With almost 20 years of experience in the delivery, sourcing, strategic development and transformation of IT in the legal market, Nathan has provided these services to numerous law firms including CMS Cameron McKenna and Bevan Brittan. His latest challenge is to balance Osborne Clarke's ambitious growth across Europe and Asia, whilst developing and adhering to the firm's global IT strategy and meeting it's people's high expectation of service, all within the context of good financial management.
Nathan is an active member of the Legal IT community making regular contributions at conferences and to a range of legal publications. Prior to moving into the legal sector, Nathan enjoyed extensive experience within the global distribution sector. When away from the office, he can be found surfing attached to a kite, and occasionally being dragged out to sea in a tangle of lines.
IT Director
Osborne Clarke
Nathan Hayes is IT director at Osborne Clarke. With almost 20 years of experience in the delivery, sourcing, strategic development and transformation of IT in the legal market, Nathan has provided these services to numerous law firms including CMS Cameron McKenna and Bevan Brittan. His latest challenge is to balance Osborne Clarke's ambitious growth across Europe and Asia, whilst developing and adhering to the firm's global IT strategy and meeting it's people's high expectation of service, all within the context of good financial management.
Nathan is an active member of the Legal IT community making regular contributions at conferences and to a range of legal publications. Prior to moving into the legal sector, Nathan enjoyed extensive experience within the global distribution sector. When away from the office, he can be found surfing attached to a kite, and occasionally being dragged out to sea in a tangle of lines.
Karen Jacks
IT Director
Bird & Bird
Karen Jacks has been IT director at Bird & Bird for 15 years. Her role covers the provision of global support, strategic planning and delivery of IT solutions, information security and telecommunications to 26 offices in Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia. Karen has overseen the rapid international expansion of Bird & Bird into 23 new territories since she joined the Firm and has built the international team and solutions to support this. She has led the Firm through a number of major projects including most recently global ISO27001 certification and implementation of a global talent management solution. She is a member of the Executive Committee and also inputs to a number of Customer Advisory Boards for key providers and a keen participant at legal events.
IT Director
Bird & Bird
Karen Jacks has been IT director at Bird & Bird for 15 years. Her role covers the provision of global support, strategic planning and delivery of IT solutions, information security and telecommunications to 26 offices in Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia. Karen has overseen the rapid international expansion of Bird & Bird into 23 new territories since she joined the Firm and has built the international team and solutions to support this. She has led the Firm through a number of major projects including most recently global ISO27001 certification and implementation of a global talent management solution. She is a member of the Executive Committee and also inputs to a number of Customer Advisory Boards for key providers and a keen participant at legal events.
Angelos Kokkinos
IT Director
Mayer Brown International
Angelos is the regional EMEA IT director and global customer services director at Mayer Brown. He has over 25 years of legal IT experience across 5 different top 30 International law firms, 22 years of which have been in IT management positions. A strategic thinker with a focus on people, process and technology to deliver efficient business outcomes. He has a strong background in service delivery and customer experience. He has led some of the Mayer Brown’s largest combination, integration and harmonisation projects with a focus on simplifying complex technology and streamlining business processes to deliver business value.
IT Director
Mayer Brown International
Angelos is the regional EMEA IT director and global customer services director at Mayer Brown. He has over 25 years of legal IT experience across 5 different top 30 International law firms, 22 years of which have been in IT management positions. A strategic thinker with a focus on people, process and technology to deliver efficient business outcomes. He has a strong background in service delivery and customer experience. He has led some of the Mayer Brown’s largest combination, integration and harmonisation projects with a focus on simplifying complex technology and streamlining business processes to deliver business value.
Judy Mackenzie Stuart
Global Chief Knowledge Knowledge Officer
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Judy Mackenzie Stuart is Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner’s global chief knowledge officer, responsible for the firm's central knowledge, knowledge development lawyer and library & research teams globally. Her role focuses on the creation, capture and dissemination of knowledge and information, efficient service delivery and leveraging new KM technologies for the benefit of clients and firm. Judy was previously Chief Knowledge Officer of Shearman & Sterling LLP, with responsibility for Knowledge Management, Conflicts & New Business Intake and Research, Information & Library services worldwide. She has expertise in business and practice management, and has also been involved in many aspects of law firm risk management and regulatory compliance over the years. Judy is a qualified lawyer, having trained and practised in Linklaters’ competition group in London and Brussels from 1990-1999.
Global Chief Knowledge Knowledge Officer
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Judy Mackenzie Stuart is Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner’s global chief knowledge officer, responsible for the firm's central knowledge, knowledge development lawyer and library & research teams globally. Her role focuses on the creation, capture and dissemination of knowledge and information, efficient service delivery and leveraging new KM technologies for the benefit of clients and firm. Judy was previously Chief Knowledge Officer of Shearman & Sterling LLP, with responsibility for Knowledge Management, Conflicts & New Business Intake and Research, Information & Library services worldwide. She has expertise in business and practice management, and has also been involved in many aspects of law firm risk management and regulatory compliance over the years. Judy is a qualified lawyer, having trained and practised in Linklaters’ competition group in London and Brussels from 1990-1999.
Andrew McManus
IT Director
Eversheds Sutherland
A CIO with a track history in a diverse range of industries including Construction, eCommerce, Live Events, Professional Services and Legal Services. Most recently as Global CIO, Andrew has led the continued development of the technology platform at Eversheds Sutherland, the Global law firm and led the development of a totally new set of client facing digital solutions and innovative capabilities. In previous roles Andrew has also delivered major system and infrastructure projects, servicing some of the world’s largest and busiest Arenas and Exhibition Centres, as well as the technology behind a major element of the Olympic Park during the London 2012 Olympics. As an experienced CIO, Andrew has a particular interest in how fast moving technology platforms can totally revolutionise the client experience and quality of operations in any organisation.
IT Director
Eversheds Sutherland
A CIO with a track history in a diverse range of industries including Construction, eCommerce, Live Events, Professional Services and Legal Services. Most recently as Global CIO, Andrew has led the continued development of the technology platform at Eversheds Sutherland, the Global law firm and led the development of a totally new set of client facing digital solutions and innovative capabilities. In previous roles Andrew has also delivered major system and infrastructure projects, servicing some of the world’s largest and busiest Arenas and Exhibition Centres, as well as the technology behind a major element of the Olympic Park during the London 2012 Olympics. As an experienced CIO, Andrew has a particular interest in how fast moving technology platforms can totally revolutionise the client experience and quality of operations in any organisation.
Isabel Parker
Director of Legal Services Innovation
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Isabel Parker is trained and qualified as a finance lawyer at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. In 2013, she moved from fee earning into the management office of Freshfields as strategy lead for a firmwide global change project to shape the firm’s target operating model. She set up the firm’s legal Services Centre in Manchester, which formally opened in July 2015. In December 2015, Isabel was made a senior director of the firm, responsible for legal services innovation. She has responsibility for reshaping the legal services elements of the Global Centre and the wider firm, to enhance the value of Freshfields’ client service.
Director of Legal Services Innovation
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Isabel Parker is trained and qualified as a finance lawyer at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. In 2013, she moved from fee earning into the management office of Freshfields as strategy lead for a firmwide global change project to shape the firm’s target operating model. She set up the firm’s legal Services Centre in Manchester, which formally opened in July 2015. In December 2015, Isabel was made a senior director of the firm, responsible for legal services innovation. She has responsibility for reshaping the legal services elements of the Global Centre and the wider firm, to enhance the value of Freshfields’ client service.
Derek Southall
Partner, Head of Innovation and Digital
Gowling WLG
Derek Southall leads Gowling WLG in innovation, digital and a range of related areas such as knowledge management and futures. Derek has over 20 years' experience within the business and with clients in developing strategies and implementing a range of business improvement projects relating to technology, compliance, risk, and productivity. Derek has worked with many of the world's leading in house teams, this work has included document management, knowledge management, financial management, procurement, operational and resourcing strategies, emerging technologies and more.
Derek was ranked one of the top three most innovative lawyers in the UK in the FT's first study into the UK market, and the firm have won numerous awards for their use of technology including the Legal Business Technology Team of the Year 2015. After nearly 20 years as a partner in 2017 Derek also launched Hyperscale Group Limited, an advisory business relating to digital, technology and innovation.
Partner, Head of Innovation and Digital
Gowling WLG
Derek Southall leads Gowling WLG in innovation, digital and a range of related areas such as knowledge management and futures. Derek has over 20 years' experience within the business and with clients in developing strategies and implementing a range of business improvement projects relating to technology, compliance, risk, and productivity. Derek has worked with many of the world's leading in house teams, this work has included document management, knowledge management, financial management, procurement, operational and resourcing strategies, emerging technologies and more.
Derek was ranked one of the top three most innovative lawyers in the UK in the FT's first study into the UK market, and the firm have won numerous awards for their use of technology including the Legal Business Technology Team of the Year 2015. After nearly 20 years as a partner in 2017 Derek also launched Hyperscale Group Limited, an advisory business relating to digital, technology and innovation.