Champions

Paul Bennett is a solicitor, mediator and arbitrator who advises law firms and solicitors on SRA regulatory matters, anti-money laundering, employment and partnership law at the specialist law firm to other law firms Bennett Briegal LLP. Mental health and solicitors wellbeing is a constant topic of discussion with clients.

Chloe is a legal assistant and future trainee solicitor at Freeths LLP. Chloe is currently working in the Real Estate department in London whilst studying the LPC part-time. Chloe is a member of the firm’s Wellbeing Committee and has recently qualified as a Mental Health First Aider. As a keen advocate of mental wellbeing in the workplace, Chloe is passionate about driving new initiatives to bring about positive change in the profession.

Andrea is a Chartered Patent Attorney and European Patent Attorney, a former President of CIPA and a member of the Institute’s governing Council. She founded the IP Inclusive initiative in 2015 to promote diversity and inclusion throughout the IP professions. Promoting mental wellbeing is a key part of IP Inclusive’s agenda; Andrea has worked with LawCare on a number of related projects.

Samantha is a partner at City firm, Herbert Smith Freehills, which she joined as a trainee in 2003. Sam is Head of Pensions and has a wide ranging practice, involving transaction, advisory and contentious matters. In addition to her legal practice, Sam co-chair's the Firm's Ability Network. She is a trustee of the mental health campaigning charity United for Global Mental Health and an advocate for mentally healthy workplaces.

John has overall responsibility for the day-to-day management and operations of the firm globally and takes a particular interest in mental health and wellbeing at work, leading the firm's programmes in this area.

Simon Davis is the President of the Law Society of England and Wales and a senior litigation partner at the London office of Clifford Chance. After nearly 40 years as a litigator Simon understands well how difficult life can be. He says ' We solicitors shoulder the burdens of our clients, taking their stress onto ourselves. Knowing that there is a caring professional out there whose job it is to look after the solicitor is so important.'

Joanna Fleck practiced as a solicitor in civil liberties and inquests. She now teaches yoga and meditation. She also works with a mental health charity to deliver specialist support and mental health awareness training. She recently completed a Master’s degree in psychology, researching secondary traumatic stress in the legal profession.

Clare is a Commercial Disputes solicitor at Capital Law in Cardiff. As chair of the Cardiff JLD wellbeing was top of her agenda and she planned a number of fully booked events for Mental Health Awareness Week. As Clare stands down from chair she will take the role of Well-being Officer with both the JLD and the local Cardiff Law Society.

Catherine is a partner and professional support lawyer at Digby Brown LLP, a Scottish firm that specialises in pursuing personal injury claims. Catherine is a member of the Lawscot Steering Group, which was set up in 2018 to provide a clear strategic direction for Lawscot Wellbeing, a Law Society of Scotland initiative that promotes emotional wellbeing. Catherine has a long standing interest in mental health issues.

Gillian is an international criminal barrister at The Chambers of 9 Bedford Row. She is head of the International Practice Group and is also an accredited meditation teacher. Since 2016, she has been introducing the concept and benefits of mindfulness to the Bar and the legal profession generally. She is author of "Mindfulness at Work and Home".

Jodie trained as a barrister, cross-qualified as a solicitor & founded Thrive Law in Leeds. She's passionate about encouraging understanding and ending stigma around mental health to create a happier, healthier workforce. Her campaigning led to extensive media coverage and saw her shortlisted for Law Society Gazette Legal Personality of the Year 2018 and awarded a fellowship of the Royal Society for Public Health.

Karen Jackson is a leading expert in disability discrimination law. She has a particular interest in mental health and is also a fierce advocate for equality and freedom from discrimination and harassment for women at work. Her firm, didlaw, was established following her successful recovery from a heart transplant. Didlaw advises across all areas of employment. Karen is a commentator on disability and sex discrimination issues.

Charlie is Linklaters Senior Partner and Chairman and is a leading high-end M&A practitioner. He is passionate about creating a culture that supports good mental health in a demanding environment. Most recently he championed the introduction of an onsite psychologist service in Linklaters London office.

Claire is a part-time commercial/technology lawyer at Taylor Vinters and is also an accredited psychotherapist. She has a particular interest working with professionals and academics; exploring the challenges of working in an often high-pressured professional environment and the impact this can have on emotional/physical wellbeing.

Nigel is an advocate for change in the way workplace mental health is addressed. He was Co-Founder of the City Mental Health Alliance in 2012, and has held a leadership position there ever since. In May 2018, after 32 years, he retired from a full-time career as a partner at Linklaters to pursue his interests in workplace wellbeing, and to expand his executive coaching and NED/Trustee activities. He has significant Board experience.

Susan is a lawyer for Shell International specialising in information management compliance. She leads the Care in Legal Programme for Shell Group Legal and was awarded Shell Legal Leadership team individual award for the Programme . She is passionate about creating a culture that supports mental health and believes that lawyers should “thrive not just survive”. She is a qualified NLP Practitioner.

Retired employment lawyer, keen runner and advocate for work life balance in the workplace.

David leads the Global Commercial, Innovation and Technology Legal team in Barclays and leads the Legal Department’s work on Wellbeing. He qualified as a barrister after getting his law degree from Reading University and a Master of Law degree from Cambridge. He is chair of trustees of a counselling charity in Suffolk, a Governor at Goodenough College in London and on the board of Now Teach.

Nick is a solicitor 20 years PQE, who has worked in a management capacity for the last 8 years. After a 20 year career as a litigator in the private sector, he moved to the public sector and am currently the Governance and Practice Manager for the Wirral Council. He is a Lawcare volunteer, mental health first aider and OU student coach / mentor.

James is a tenant at Francis Taylor Building, practising in planning and environmental law. He engages in learning, practicing and teaching techniques to support professional performance and wellbeing in the law, believing that the best lawyers are well lawyers. He is a professional organisational and systemic coach, a licensed NLP Master Practitioner, trained in creativity, meditation, hypnosis & non-violent communication.

Wendy has longstanding experience of helping colleagues with mental health issues in the workplace and sees mental wellbeing as key in the legal profession with technological advances making it more difficult to leave work behind at the end of the day. She also tutors at Glasgow University, so sees challenges faced by those entering the profession.

Lloyd Rees is a Knowledge Lawyer in the Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer London office. Lloyd’s main specialism is Brexit and its implications for business. Lloyd has spoken and written extensively about his own mental health conditions to help raise awareness in the legal profession.

Anna retrained as a psychotherapist (and soon to be clinical supervisor) following a long career as a senior immigration solicitor in the City. She has since practised in both careers; working with a range of emotional issues in her private therapy practice and leading wellbeing initiatives at a highly acclaimed boutique law firm. Anna presents on mental health issues within the legal profession and is a Mental Health First Aid Instructor.

Joanne is the General Counsel of Simply Business, the UK’s largest business insurance provider where she is a passionate advocate for workplace wellbeing. She sits on the board of trustees of Mind, the mental health charity, bringing a compassionate understanding of mental health problems based on experience, and with it the vital message of hope.

Emma advises and supports practices and individuals dealing with regulatory matters, including responding to questions from, or investigation or prosecution by regulators such as the SRA. Emma understands the significance of wellbeing in the regulatory context and has seen how it can affect decision-making and the impact regulatory and disciplinary matters can have on individuals.

Claire is an Associate at DAC Beachcroft specialising in Clinical Negligence. Claire has worked in private practice for nearly 20 years, but feels that DAC Beachcroft is the first firm she has worked for that puts employees health and wellbeing front and centre. As a member of the firm’s Wellbeing Committee, Claire is passionate about making the workplace a better place for all. She has trained as a Mental Health Champion and writes a regular “Wellbeing Wednesday” blog which covers a wide variety of topics connected to achieving the elusive work/life balance.