‘Responding to a Crisis’ Conference: 1 October 2025

The role of a GC has never been more important, or more complex. While every crisis is different, all require the full range of a GC’s skillset and mandate: risk management; working with the c-suite; the intersection of legal and compliance; strategic communications; and reputation management.
 

This is our second GC conference, the aim of which is to help GCs and other senior in-house lawyers navigate the most critical, often unexpected issues that might occur.

Whether you are faced with ethical and governance challenges, enforcement action, regulatory investigations, sexual misconduct allegations, litigation or data and cyber breaches to name just a few, a single misstep can cause considerable damage. 

In addition to a series of insightful panel discussions, we are delighted that our GC life stories session will be led by Alun Milford, Juliet Oliver and Harry Carter, the ex-GCs at the SFO, the SRA and No.10 who now practice at Kingsley Napley. 

Finally, we will be treated to two different perspectives from our keynote speakers. First, Toby Lewis, a former British Intelligence Services member and founding member of the National Security Centre, and current leader at Darktrace, will share his extensive experience in combating major cyber threats and applying artificial intelligence to cybersecurity. Then, Eddie Hawthorne, the former CEO of Arnold Clark, the UK’s largest independent family-run car retailer, will share his firsthand experience managing a major cyberattack on 23 December 2022 by a Russia-linked Play ransomware gang.

It promises to be a fascinating discussion. We hope it will help us all to be better prepared for whatever challenges the future may bring.

Agenda
 

Time	Title	Speakers
1.30pm - 2.00pm	Registration and welcome coffee
2.00pm - 2.40pm	Tackling Fraud and Economic Crime - the do's, the don't's, the never's	Caroline Day, Nicola Finnerty, Nikola Southern and William Christopher
2.40pm - 3.20pm	Sexual Misconduct in the Workplace - what's happening behind the headlines?	Sandra Paul, Mark McWilliams and Ben Atkin
3.20pm - 4.00pm	Ethics and AI - Balancing risk and reward	Sarah Harris, Iain Miller, Emily Carter and Jessica Clay
4.00pm - 4.20pm	Coffee break
4.20pm - 5.05pm	GC Life Stories - A fascinating insight from the former GCs of the SFO, SRA and No. 10	Alun Milford, Juliet Oliver and Lord Carter of Haslemere CB
5.05pm - 6.15pm	Keynotes  Toby Lewis - Global Head of Threat Analysis at Darktrace Eddie Hawthorne - Former CEO of Arnold Clark	Melanie Hart
From 6.15pm	Drinks and canapés

Meet the Speakers

Caroline Day - Partner, Criminal Litigation and Investigations

Caroline is a leading investigations lawyer with deep expertise in corporate crime, regulatory enforcement, and internal investigations. She advises companies and senior executives on complex, multi-jurisdictional matters involving the SFO, FCA, CMA, and other authorities.

She is regularly instructed in cases involving serious fraud, bribery and corruption, money laundering, and non-financial misconduct cartel conduct, and is experienced in managing sensitive internal reviews. Caroline also acts as Independent Legal Advisor in regulatory and criminal interviews.

Caroline is ranked in Chambers UK and Legal 500, listed in Lexology’s Investigations Index, and was named in GIR’s Top 100 Women in Investigations. She co-authors the UK chapter on witness interviews for GIR’s Practitioner’s Guide to Global Investigations and is Vice Chair of the Fraud Lawyers Association.

 

Nicola Finnerty - Partner, Criminal Litigation and Investigations

Nicola is a leading defence lawyer with over 30 years’ experience advising on high-profile and complex Government enforcement matters, including white collar crime, fraud, asset forfeiture, AML, and regulatory investigations in the UK and internationally. She represents individuals, corporates, and financial institutions in cases involving the SFO, FCA, CMA, HMRC, CPS, and other enforcement agencies.

Nicola’s expertise spans bribery, corruption, insider trading, cartels, directors’ disqualification, and mutual legal assistance, with sector experience ranging from financial services and construction to the art market and mining. She is frequently appointed as an independent legal advisor in internal investigations and is a recognised authority on POCA and the Money Laundering Regulations.

Nicola is ranked in Chambers UK, Chambers High Net Worth, The Legal 500, Lexology’s Investigations Index, and Leaders League. She also sits as a Judge in the First Tier Tribunal.

 

Nikola Southern - Partner, Employment

Niki is a leading employment lawyer known for her strategic, commercially focused advice across contentious and non-contentious matters. She supports employers, LLPs, and senior executives—particularly in regulated sectors—on complex employment issues, including exits, investigations, and litigation.

Her practice spans high-value severance negotiations, whistleblowing, discrimination, team moves, and business protection. Niki regularly advises on internal investigations, including those involving sexual misconduct, often coordinating with regulatory and criminal teams.

With 20 years’ litigation experience, Niki has successfully represented clients in the High Court, Employment Tribunal, and EAT. She is ranked in Chambers UK and Global, and co-edits employment precedents for Thomson Reuters.

 

William Christopher - Partner, Dispute Resolution

William is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution team, specialising in civil fraud litigation and asset recovery. He has extensive experience in complex commercial disputes, including breach of fiduciary duty, trust claims, and insolvency-related litigation, often with a multi-jurisdictional dimension.

William is highly skilled in deploying freezing injunctions, search orders, and disclosure orders in international fraud investigations, and frequently acts as a supervising solicitor in search order executions. He regularly collaborates with Kingsley Napley’s criminal team on internal investigations, advising on civil law aspects.

Recognised as a Thought Leader in GIR – Asset Recovery and ranked in Chambers, The Legal 500, and Lexology Index, William is a trusted advisor to corporates and financial institutions navigating fraud, shareholder disputes, and fraud related contentious insolvency.

 

Sandra Paul - Partner, Criminal Litigation and Investigations

Sandra is a leading criminal defence lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in complex and sensitive litigation. She is widely recognised for her discreet and strategic representation of high-profile individuals and corporates, particularly in cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct.

Sandra advises organisations and individuals on workplace investigations, including those arising from the #MeToo and Everyone’s Invited campaigns. Her expertise spans crisis management, internal investigations, police station representation, and preparing witnesses for inquiries and proceedings. She is a trusted advisor in safeguarding reputation while navigating legal risk.

Ranked as a Star Individual in Chambers UK, Hall of Fame in Legal 500, appears in the Powerlist 2025 and is Top Recommended in Spears, Sandra also served on the Times Crime & Justice Commission.

 

Mark McWilliams - Senior Associate, Employment

Mark is a Senior Associate in the Employment team, advising employers and senior individuals on complex workplace disputes. He has particular expertise in handling sensitive allegations of sexual misconduct, including grievance and disciplinary investigations and high-value discrimination claims in finance, law, academia, healthcare, and other sectors.

Mark combines strategic advice with litigation expertise, regularly representing clients in Employment Tribunal proceedings. He is known for his empathetic approach and understanding of the emotional and reputational impact of misconduct allegations.

Mark is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association, Discrimination Law Association, and Industrial Law Society.

 

Ben Atkin - Senior Associate, Reputation Management

Ben is a Senior Associate and Solicitor Advocate in the Dispute Resolution team. He advises clients on high-profile disputes involving defamation, privacy, and reputational risk, with particular experience in cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct in the workplace.

Ben has acted for media organisations, corporates, and individuals in litigation and pre-publication matters, including successfully defending press freedom in cases involving serious misconduct allegations. He is known for his strategic, responsive approach and ability to resolve sensitive disputes through litigation or alternative dispute resolution.

Ben’s cross-border experience and background in intellectual property and media law make him a trusted advisor in navigating reputational challenges arising from workplace investigations and public scrutiny. He is ranked in Chambers High Net Worth Guide and praised by clients for his judgement, diligence, and calm nature when under pressure.

 

Sarah Harris - Director of Innovation and Knowledge

Sarah leads the firm’s strategy on AI and innovation, helping clients and colleagues harness legal knowledge and workflows through ethical and effective technology solutions.

Sarah co-heads the firm’s AI Advisory Services, guiding clients, particularly in regulated sectors, on the responsible adoption of AI, with a focus on governance, compliance, and strategic opportunity. Her work also includes designing regulatory frameworks and advising on legal process optimisation for established regulators.

With a background in criminal and regulatory law and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Sarah brings a unique blend of legal insight and process expertise to her work. She is a regular speaker at industry events on knowledge, innovation and the future of law.

 

Iain Miller - Partner, Regulatory

Iain is a leading expert in the regulation of legal services, with over 30 years’ experience advising on legal ethics, professional discipline, and the regulatory impact of innovation and investment in legal businesses.

Iain has acted in many of the most significant regulatory cases involving lawyers in England and Wales and is General Editor of Cordery on Legal Services, the leading textbook in the field. His work spans disciplinary proceedings, business structures, public law challenges, and regulatory compliance in the context of legal technology and alternative business models.

Ranked in Chambers UK and the Legal 500 Hall of Fame, Iain also chairs the City of London Law Society’s Professional Rules and Regulation Committee.

 

Emily Carter - Partner, Public Law

Emily is a Partner in the Public Law team, specialising in information law, internal investigations, and complex inquiries. She advises corporates, law firms, regulators and individuals on sensitive data protection issues, including workplace misconduct and regulatory investigations.

Emily has deep expertise in navigating the legal challenges of data governance, including the exercise of individual rights (including DSARs) as well as the development and deployment of AI. She regularly supports clients in managing privileged and confidential data within investigations, as well as representing clients in ICO enforcement proceedings and Freedom of Information Act challenges before the First Tier and Upper Tribunals.

Emily is listed in the Pro Bono Recognition List 2025. She advises the firm as DPO and is the author of the chapter on data protection in Cordery on Legal Services.

 

Jessica Clay - Partner, Regulatory

A recognised thought leader in legal services regulation and ethics, Jessica has a substantial practice advising on a range of SRA regulatory matters, including compliance and risk management (with a focus on AI and its safe and effective use within a business), authorisation and business structures, and reporting obligations. Jessica also advises those facing SRA investigation, particularly in relation to workplace conduct. 

Jessica brings unique insight from her previous in-house roles spanning eight years at the Legal Services Board and the Solicitors Regulation Authority, where she worked in the General Counsel team and oversaw a number of key developments within the regulatory landscape. 

Jessica is Deputy Editor of Cordery on Legal Services and is the Co-Vice Chair of the International Bar Association’s Regulation of Lawyers Committee. Jessica co-heads KN’s AI Advisory offering, supporting clients, particularly in regulated sectors, with the responsible adoption of AI, with a focus on governance, compliance, and strategic risk management, wherever the business is on that journey. She regularly speaks at events, spanning lethal ethics, AI and risk management and workplace culture.

 

Alun Milford - Partner, Criminal Litigation and Investigations

Alun is a Partner in the Criminal Litigation team, specialising in serious financial crime, corporate investigations, and cross-border enforcement. He advises corporates and individuals on fraud, bribery, money laundering and sanctions, often in cases involving UK and international authorities.

Before entering private practice, Alun spent 26 years in the public sector, including serving as General Counsel at the Serious Fraud Office for six years. His career has spanned leadership roles across the CPS, Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office and the Attorney General’s Office, giving him unique insight into the pressures and responsibilities of the GC role within government.

Alun is ranked in Chambers UK, Legal 500 and Lexology.

 

Juliet Oliver - Managing Director, Stratify

Juliet is Managing Director of Stratify by Kingsley Napley, a global consultancy advising legal businesses, investors, and innovators on regulatory strategy and compliance. Juliet is a trusted advisor on navigating complex regulatory environments and driving ethical transformation.

Previously, Juliet served as Deputy Chief Executive and General Counsel at the Solicitors Regulation Authority, where she led major reforms shaping the future of legal services. Her experience gives her unique insight into ethical and regulatory issues for the in house sector as well as the strategic, operational, and cultural challenges faced by in-house legal leaders.

Juliet is a Board Member of the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care and is a regular speaker on regulatory innovation, ethics, and leadership.

 

Lord Carter of Haslemere CB - Consultant, Public Law

Lord Carter of Haslemere CB (Harry Carter) is a barrister and former General Counsel to the Prime Minister, where he spent seven years advising No 10 on strategic legal risks, litigation, and high-stakes decision-making at the intersection of law and politics. His role demanded exceptional judgement, resilience, and the ability to navigate complex legal challenges under intense scrutiny.

Harry’s career in government spans over three decades, including senior roles at the Home Office. He played a pivotal role in shaping landmark legislation such as the Modern Slavery Act and reforms to extradition law, and has advised on national security, constitutional law, and international legal frameworks.

Now a crossbench Peer in the House of Lords, Harry brings unparalleled insight into the realities of life as a GC in government, including the pressures of public accountability, legal strategy, and ethical leadership. He is a trustee of the Prison Reform Trust and a Bencher of Gray’s Inn.

 

Melanie Hart - Partner, Dispute Resolution

Melanie is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution team, specialising in complex disputes involving data, intellectual property, and reputation risks. She is known for her strategic, commercially focused approach to risk management solutions, identifying and mitigating risk at an early stage.  

Melanie regularly advises on contentious information law including data protection disputes, cyber incident response, and IP disputes, as well as reputational issues arising from litigation, investigations, and public scrutiny. 

Her cross-border litigation experience spans jurisdictions including the Middle East, USA, Europe, and offshore financial centres.