PKF Francis Clark

Andrew leads the firm’s specialist national legal sector team and personally advises in the region of 100 law firms across the UK; focusing primarily on law businesses within the UK Top 200.

Having advised law firms for the last 25 years, Andrew has developed a national reputation for his practical and specialist advice to the law sector. The range of advice he provides is diverse, including strategy, profit improvement, tax planning and business structuring, as well as the usual compliance in relation to audit and accounting matters.

Nationally Andrew is the current vice chair of the Law Society Law Management Section and past chair of the ICAEW Solicitors’ Special Interest Group which works closely with national bodies and intermediaries that both represent and support the legal sector. Andrew is the current author of various benchmarking reports for groups of law firms across the UK including the Law Society Management Section’s South West benchmarking survey. He is also the co-author of the Law Society’s Solicitors and the Accounts Rules which was published in 2021.

Authentically Speaking

Hannah is a commercial property lawyer, leadership trainer, and wellbeing consultant with over 20 years' experience in the legal profession. In 2016 she began Authentically Speaking and as a nervous system informed trainer, coach and speaker, she specialises in helping lawyers and law firm leaders build sustainable success through authenticity, wellbeing, and psychologically safe leadership.  Hannah works with law firms, legal teams, and professional bodies across the UK and internationally. She is known for her warm, emotionally intelligent approach, and for bringing real-world legal insight to the wellbeing conversation.

Barrister

Natasha is Joint Head of Magdalen Chambers and specialises in housing and other civil disputes.  

Natasha is also the Co-Director of the Community Law Clinic at the University of Exeter, a student-led pro bono clinic assisting the local community.  She is passionate about access to justice and is a trustee of Advocate (the Bar's national pro bono charity).  She regularly supports Pathways to Law and other initiatives to encourage the next generation of lawyers into the legal profession.

Managing Director of The Somerset Chamber of Commerce

David Crew is the managing director of the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, which is the business representative organisation for Somerset. David has been a Somerset Chamber non-executive board director since 2023 and joined as managing director in September 2023. His role is to lead the Chamber’s strategy and operations to deliver value for its members, patrons and wider network of stakeholders. Somerset Chamber has an established and growing network of members and engages with its business community through a programme of events, and lobbying at a regional and national level on behalf of businesses in Somerset.

Principal & CEO, South Devon College

Laurence currently serves as the Principal & CEO of South Devon College, a role he has held since 2019, bringing a strong background in strategic leadership and management from the private sector (Banking & Finance) as well as across multiple phases in education. He has steered the College toward becoming a pivotal institution in the South West, focusing on meeting local, regional, and national skills demands across critical sectors.

Under his leadership, the College has experienced significant growth, with its turnover expanding from £30 million in 2019 to £36 million today and projected £45 million by 2030, with apprenticeships having grown in scale by over 50% during the past eight years.

The College has recently been awarded Sustainability Institution of the Year at the 2024 EAUC Green Gown Awards and is one of only 27 universities and colleges in the UK to be awarded Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold overall.

Laurence is a proactive leader in various capacities and sits on several local boards, actively contributing to local and regional economic development and strategic business engagement. His comprehensive career reflects a robust commitment to fostering educational excellence and sustainable community growth.

University of Exeter

Sue is a Professor of Law in the Law School at the University of Exeter.  She is an accredited CEDR mediator and teaches and researches in lawtech, AI and also mediation.  Sue is a member of the Civil Justice Council and also sits on the Learning and Development Group for the Law Society of England and Wales focusing on CPD and online learning.  She is an assessor for the Office for Students for new degree programmes.  Sue led the set-up of a student advice clinic, the Community Legal Helpdesk, at Exeter Combined Court which won the LawWorks Attorney-General Pro Bono Award. She also pioneered a Debt Literacy in Schools Project which was commended for Best New Pro Bono Activity and won an excellence award from Baroness Scotland. She is currently leading the Exeter initiative of Tech for Good SW.

Pexa Group

Paul is part of the senior leadership team at PEXA in the UK, a world-leading, digital property exchange and data insights business where he serves as COLP of Optima Legal, and Managing Director of both Amity Law and Legal Eye, all of which operate under the UK PEXA group umbrella. A solicitor for 38 years, Paul has held senior roles, including CEO and COLP at a leading Midlands firm and Head of Residential Property and Lender Services at Shakespeare Martineau. His extensive experience in compliance, risk management, and conveyancing positions him as a key figure in the sector.

Impact Coaching

Jess Wiggins, a former lawyer and Deputy Head of a law firm, left the legal profession after relocating from Manchester to Devon to be closer to family. Driven by her passion for leadership and helping people achieve their potential, she founded Impact Coaching International. Today, Jess partners with Leaders and Senior Leaders, equipping them with the skills and confidence needed to lead exceptionally; with authenticity, influence and impact.