Chair: Sir Nigel Knowles - Nigel is the Managing Partner and Joint CEO of DLA Piper, responsible for operations across Europe, the Middle East and Asia . As Managing Partner of DLA since 1996, he led the organisation through a host of successful mergers, dramatically expanding its presence across these markets. In 2005 he was instrumental in the single largest transatlantic law merger in recent history, when DLA joined with US firms Piper Rudnick and Gray Cary to form DLA Piper. In the same year, Nigel was named Partner of the Year by both Legal Week and The Lawyer, and in 2006 DLA Piper was named Law Firm of the Year at the Legal Business Awards.
Deputy Chairman: Ed Smith - Ed recently retired as a senior partner in PwC and Global COO and Strategy Chairman for its Assurance business. He is Chairman of WWF-UK and a member of its International Board. He is a Board member of the Higher Education Funding Council in England, Chair of its Leadership, Governance and Management Committee and a member of its Strategic Development Fund and the Business and Community Committee. He is also Chairman of British Universities & Colleges Sport, a member of Council and Treasurer of Chatham House, a Board member of The Work Foundation and an Advisory Board member of Opportunity Now (ON), the leading campaign for gender inclusiveness in UK business and public sector and part of BITC..
Executive Director: Richard Chaplin - Richard is founder and executive director of the Managing Partners' Forum and the Professional Marketing Forum. He is also publisher of Professional Marketing magazine. Richard qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG. He is a former council member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.
Executive Director: Paul Lemon - Paul is Executive Director of the Managing Partners' Forum. Having spent five years in the legal publishing sector as a sales manager, Paul spearheaded an international launch and was part of the advertising team that saw Legal Week crowned Business Magazine of the Year 2001/2. With experience of working with professional firm leaders, managers, fee earners and support staff, Paul provides a key interface for the MPF network managing the relationship between regional committees, MPF Panels and the Executive.
Ken Baker - Ken is managing principal of the London office of Gensler, a leading international architecture and design firm. An award winning designer with over 30 years of experience, Ken is an expert in the analysis of efficient space utilisation and workplace design, focusing specifically on the challenges facing professional firms and financial institutions.
Scott Barnes - Scott is the Chief Executive Officer of Grant Thornton UK. He joined the firm in 1984 and set up the insolvency practice in Leeds. In 2001 he took the job of Managing Partner for Specialist Financial Services (recovery and reorganization, corporate finance and forensic) in which capacity he was a member of the firm's management board. Scott carried out the global head of SAS role, during the last three months of which he was transitioning into his present CEO position.
Ted Burke - Ted became Chief Executive of law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in March 2006. Prior to this he was the managing partner of the firm's US offices. His experience covers acquisitions and projects in North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Ted joined the firm as a partner in 1998 having started his career in 1986 as an associate with Millbank, Tweed Hadley & McCloy where he became a partner in 1994.
Jonathan Clelland - Jonathan is a professional and financial services consultant with Hermitage Associates. He has over 20 years experience in managing finance and administrative functions in a COO capacity at HSBC, Shearman & Sterling and CRA International. His expertise covers strategic planning, business development, financial management and developing high quality administrative services, working closely with marketing and other management disciplines.
Sarah David - Sarah was a partner at Whitehead Mann until 2009 with responsibility for People and Corporate Affairs. A lawyer by background, she was Executive Director at Linklaters for six years to 2007, following four years recruiting partners at QD.
Neville Eisenberg - Neville is the Managing Partner of City law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner. A corporate lawyer, Neville joined the firm in 1989, became a partner in 1995, was elected Managing Partner in 1999 and was re-elected in 2003 and 2006. Born and educated in South Africa, Neville qualified to practice law in South Africa. He completed a Masters in International Business Law at the London School of Economics in 1988.
Alan Hodgart - Alan is Managing Director of Huron (UK) Limited. He has specialised in working with professional firms for over 20 years on strategic development and on aligning their organisation to their strategic goals through practical steps. Alan has an extensive client base throughout Europe, the US and Asia Pacific.
Rodney Kaye - Rodney has been a tax partner with PwC for over twenty years. In that time he has worked on many of the firm's most prestigous clients. He has worked in London and New York. Currently, he specialises in services to Professional Partnerships, particularly Law Firms and Consultancies. Rodney is responsible for the Tax Affairs of PwC, both in the UK and Globally.
Peter Matthews - Peter is Managing Partner, Markets for the UK & Ireland business of Ernst & Young. Prior to this he was Managing Partner of Ernst & Young′s Technology, Communications and Entertainment business nationally. In addition to his leadership role he also acts as Global and EMEA Client Service Partner for major clients. Prior to joining Ernst and Young, Peter qualified as a trained management consultant and executive coach, with a focus on change management. He is both ICAEW and FCIPD qualified. He is also a visiting fellow at Roffey Park and formerly sat on the executive board of the European Mentoring and Coaching Conference.
Gareth Pearce - Gareth is Executive Chairman of Smith & Williamson, one of the leading independent professional and financial services groups in the UK. The group employs over 1,300 people in 10 locations in the UK, with annual revenues exceeding £150 million and funds under management of over £8 billion. He is also chairman of Nexia International, an international network of accounting and consulting firms employing more than 12,000 professional staff in over 90 countries.
David Pester - Named ‘Managing Partner of the Year' in the 2007 British Legal Awards, David Pester has been Managing Partner of TLT since 2002. David is responsible for the firm's strategy and development and is regarded by market commentators as the driving force behind TLT's exceptional growth, impressive client wins, strong financial performance and growing national reputation. Chambers UK, 2009 commends David for "his strong leadership skills."
David continues to be involved with client work and is a corporate finance specialist recommended as a 'Leader in his Field' by independent guides to the legal sector, Chambers and Legal 500. David speaks regularly on management issues. He qualified as a solicitor in 1989.
Mike Strong - Mike is Chairman & CEO of CB Richard Ellis EMEA with responsibility for over 100 offices and in excess of 4,000 employees. He became a Partner in 1977, a Group Director on incorporation in 1997, and Chairman in 2001. When he isn't working, Mike's interests include his family, golf, theatre and jazz.
John Turzynski - John is a Director of Arup and Chief Operating Officer for the UK - Middle East Region. He has led multidisciplinary project teams on a variety of projects in the UK, Europe, and the USA and beyond. These have ranged in size from master plans to more modest projects, depending on the client’s needs. John has developed a keen interest in all aspects of sustainable development and has been involved in promoting sustainable design for buildings, both within Arup and the wider community. Some of John’s noteworthy projects include: King’s Cross & St Pancras Station Redevelopment; Crossrail; the Royal Opera House Development; Glyndebourne Opera House; and Portcullis House.