Commercial Law Academy

Jake Schogger is a best-selling commercial awareness author, ex-Magic Circle lawyer, and the founder and CEO of Commercial Law Academy. He also co-founded SQE revision platform Law Student Academy. He trained at Freshfields, then spent years at a boutique law firm advising start-ups and scale-ups on a range of corporate, commercial and employment matters. He has also worked extensively as a career coach, and continues to deliver employability and skills presentations at leading universities and law firms across the UK. Connect with Jake on LinkedIn via www.linkedin.com/in/jakeschogger

Hannah Salton is a qualified executive coach, career consultant and former corporate graduate recruiter. She spent the first eight years of her career recruiting graduate talent for leading international corporations, including telecoms giant BT and elite law firm Allen & Overy. In 2017 she transitioned to a career in coaching and professional development, specialising in helping graduates achieve ambitious career goals. Through her personalised one-to-one and group coaching programmes, she helps people develop the skills, confidence and awareness needed to secure their dream job. For more information, visit www.hannahsalton.co.uk and connect with Hannah on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-salton-coaching

Leah trained and qualified at Magic Circle law firm Freshfields, where she also undertook secondments at BAE Systems and HSBC. She then worked in Latham & Watkins' corporate/M&A team, before moving to asset manager ICG. Leah’s aim, through her career and lifestyle videos, is to demystify corporate law and widen access to prestigious institutions, particularly for those from non-traditional backgrounds like herself. Check out her YouTube Channel ‘LegallyBraids’ (https://www.youtube.com/c/LegallyBraids) to hear about her experiences.

Laura Brunnen's career in the City spanned over 20 years. She started as an all-round M&A lawyer at Slaughter and May, before becoming a private equity specialist at Kirkland & Ellis. She then spent a decade balancing life as a private equity partner at three international law firms alongside raising her family, whilst (just about) managing to maintain her sense of humour. In 2021, after a year of lock-downs and WFH, Laura had an epiphany and left the City to found her own business, The Legal Strategist. This has allowed her to focus on doing what she loves most: mentoring solicitors and corporate law consulting. As a mentor, Laura draws on her vast experience to offer unique, honest and highly personal insights, and to provide practical and actionable advice that enables mentees to become the best versions of themselves. After all, she has personally trodden the path to promotion on many occasions, and as a partner, she was responsible for the hiring, training, appraising and promoting of other lawyers. In other words, she’s now spilling the magician’s secrets… For more information, connect with Laura via linkedin.com/in/laura-brunnen, instagram.com/iamlaurabrunnen and https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12702854.

Giles spearheads Avvoka’s growth strategy, which involves working with in-house legal teams, leading law firms, and businesses. Previously, Giles worked as a City lawyer at Herbert Smith Freehills and Kirkland & Ellis. Giles also has in-house experience working for BP’s in-house legal team and in the regulatory division of PAX Labs/Juul.

Akil Hunte trained as a City lawyer at CMS, before becoming a music lawyer. He is also a public speaker, a motivational influencer, the author of ‘Unlocking Yourself After Lockdown’, a mentor to dozens of aspiring lawyers, the founder of ‘LinkedIn Skills For Lawyers’ and Non-Russel Group Lawyers, and the recipient of multiple awards.

Peter Watson has been a stockbroker, headhunter and entrepreneur for over 20 years. He writes and publishes the Watson's Daily blog on business and financial markets news, helping professionals and students alike to understand key trends and developments on a daily basis. Peter studied Law and Japanese at Cardiff University and so when he started working in the City, he had to "learn" economics and markets rapidly in a highly pressurised and competitive environment. He knows what you need to know and serves it up in an approachable way. Peter's markets knowledge comes from being a stockbroker for 13 years at four different investment banks in London and Tokyo, where he advised some of the world's biggest investors who traded on the UK, European and Japanese markets. He also advised CEOs and Chairmen of global blue-chip companies on investor trends and strategies. He has also been a City headhunter in finance and investment banking and a successful candidate in many different professions! www.watsonsdaily.com I @watsons_daily

Helen Pamely is a former City law firm Partner, turned psychotherapist and executive coach. Helen knows first-hand the challenges of living and working in the high-octane legal world. Blending this experience with her in-depth knowledge of mental health, psychology & performance, she offers unique and powerful insights into how we can become the happiest, healthiest & highest performing versions of ourselves. This enables her to support lawyers to unlock their personal and professional potential.

LinkedIn personality Gordon Chung trained and qualified at Baker McKenzie, where he practises as a Corporate M&A lawyer. He completed his Bachelor of Laws degree at City University of Hong Kong before obtaining his postgraduate Master of Corporate Law degree at University of Cambridge. He has also passed the New York state bar examination.

Robert Hanna is the Founder & Managing Director of KC Partners, an innovative and world leading legal talent solutions and content creation firm focused on community. He specialises in helping aspiring and qualified legal professionals with their careers and to secure dream jobs with law firms & corporates across the UK, Europe, Middle East, Far East & US. Rob is a super networker & active content creator. He the most followed legal recruiter and talent solutions expert across social media. Rob has advised LinkedIn on various new product roll outs and been ranked as a Top 100 Rising Star & Influencer. He regularly features in LinkedIn News & Hosts the LinkedIn Creators Audio Townhall. He is also a Mentor, Speaker & Commentator having been featured in the Modern Lawyer and launched the world renowned Legally Speaking Podcast powered by Clio. Rob’s Legally Speaking Podcast became the first legal podcast in the world to embrace Web3, launching NFTs and a Social Token ($Legal Coin); all designed to protect and empower the legal community by giving everyone a voice. www.legallyspeakingpodcast.com

Luke trained and qualified at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where he worked for 3.5 years (this included a secondment at Bank of America Merrill Lynch). He was a project finance lawyer, but then joined the private equity team at Ropes & Gray, where he worked for 3 years, before changing careers to focus on legal headhunting. He has since co-founded and runs ARMA Search (www.armasearch.com).

Peggy Forell is the founder of Advocality, a consultancy born out of a passion for teaching presentation skills. These are the skills that go into delivering a message to a group of people (including interviewers!), with the intention of making them glad they heard it. Peggy has worked mainly with lawyers over the years and was employed by one of the City’s magic circle law firms to teach lawyers how to better communicate, structure and deliver presentations. However, Peggy is not a lawyer. In fact, this is her USP. For many years, she trained for the stage, after achieving a Degree in Speech & Dramatic Art with the University of Iowa. When her dazzling career in performance didn’t eventuate, she diversified into working with non-actors on their verbal and non-verbal communication skills: an actor’s bread and butter. Today Peggy works with lawyers in the City and in numerous other countries, at all levels of their careers…from law students to senior partners. www.advocality.co.uk

John Trimbos is a solicitor and training consultant who specialises in communication skills. He has a background in both the public and private sectors, and provides training and one-to-one coaching for a variety of organisations (including teaching business writing to LPC students at BPP University). John Trimbos provides training courses and one-to-one coaching for a variety of individuals and commercial organisations. For more information, check out www.trimbostraining.com.

Neel studied History at university, before training and qualifying as a finance lawyer at Allen & Overy (he also completed a secondment at Goldman Sachs). Neel then joined a growing start-up - small business credit card and spend management platform Capital on Tap - where he has progressed from Growth Associate to Head of Commercial Operations.

James Kinsley is a partner at a leading offshore law firm, with a practice that spans offshore finance and corporate matters involving Cayman, Bermuda, BVI and Jersey. James previously worked as an associate at Allen & Overy in both London and Hong Kong, a senior associate at Clifford Chance in London, at Carey Olsen in Jersey, and at Morgan Stanley in a front office investment banking role.

Leah trained and qualified at Magic Circle law firm Freshfields, where she also undertook secondments at BAE Systems and HSBC. She then worked in Latham & Watkins' corporate/M&A team, before moving to asset manager ICG. Leah’s aim, through her career and lifestyle videos, is to demystify corporate law and widen access to prestigious institutions, particularly for those from non-traditional backgrounds like herself. Check out her YouTube Channel ‘LegallyBraids’ (https://www.youtube.com/c/LegallyBraids) to hear about her experiences.

David Savage is a partner at international law firm HFW. He specialises in dealing with all aspects of international sanctions, including compliance, transactional advisory, internal and regulatory investigations, and linked contentious work. He was previously employed as the Group Senior Sanctions Officer for a private bank, where he developed expertise in international sanctions at a level usually found only within financial institutions, advising individuals, banks and corporates regarding their obligations in doing business around the world where there may be a possible sanctions exposure.

Raymond Kisswany is a partner and head of international trade, digital assets and start-ups at Dubai headquartered international law firm Davidson & Co. Raymond is qualified in both the US and the UK and has worked for a number of leading firms in New York and the UAE, developing a practice that spans a broad range of transactional, regulatory and contentious matters.

Alex has nearly 20 years' experience working as a private client and family law solicitor at a range of leading law firms, including Forsters, Mishcon de Reya, Lee & Thompson and Harbottle & Lewis, where he was made partner in 2022.

Daniel studied a politics undergraduate degree in Canada, where he also founded and ran a student painting franchise. Next, he studied a law degree and the LPC in the UK, and then an LLM in securities and corporate law in Canada. At this stage, he secured a training contract with Dentons in Canada, where he eventually qualified into the M&A team. He subsequently moved in-house at a private equity firm in Hong Kong and then to UBS in Singapore, before securing his current role as Chief Legal Officer at a crypto company in Singapore.

Mia run's the hugely popular "Legally Possible" channels on Instagram and TikTok, with 30,000+ followers. She studied at a non-Russell Group university and went on to train as a solicitor Womble Bond Dickinson. She then qualified into an in-house role at Womble Bond Dickinson, in the Risk and Best Practice Team.

Serena Tierney is a leading intellectual property and data privacy lawyer. She was previously Head of IP at Telefonica O2 and at City firm Bircham Dyson Bell, as well as a partner at Veale Wasbrough Vizards. She has also worked at Diageo and Wragge & Co, and now works as a senior consultant at boutique start-up-focused law firm Ignition Law.

James Richardson trained at Hogan Lovells, where he qualified into the insurance team and practiced for three years before leaving the City. He also ran a side hustle that produces revision guides for law students during this time - Law Answered - which he sold in 2022. After Hogan Lovells, James worked as a W&I insurer, before moving into a Head of Legal role at insurtech start-up Cuvva.

Henry Nelson-Case is a qualified lawyer, TedX speaker and social media creator known for challenging toxic corporate behaviours and promoting mental health in the workplace. His content posted under the handle @thatcorporatelawyer is relatable to individuals who may have experienced the negative impacts of corporate work place behaviours. With his personal experience as a lawyer in the corporate world and his passion for mental health and well being, Henry aims to create a community of people to talk about their experiences and support each other.

Hannah trained at Freshfields, where she qualified into the IP/commercial team. She worked there full-time for more than 9 years, then for another few years as a consultant. She now heads up Ignition Law's commercial, IP and data privacy team, which focuses on advising start-ups and scale-ups.

Greg is a partner in the Corporate Finance and Restructuring practices of O’Melveny’s London office, having previously been a partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, and an associate at Cleary Gottlieb. He is a highly experienced leveraged-finance, special situations and restructuring lawyer, with a focus on high impact cross-border matters. He has over 25 years’ experience advising borrowers, sponsors, lenders, creditors, and investors, and has been recognised as a leading practitioner by Chambers UK. He also advises on financial services compliance and regulatory issues including anti-money laundering and sanctions-related matters.

Andrew Thompson co-founded Lee & Thompson with Robert Lee in 1983 and today is a consultant with the firm. In the early years of his career his key clients were independent record labels. In time, most of these were acquired by the major record companies and Andrew’s focus switched more to the representation of recording artists, songwriters and other artistic talent. He became one of the stand out figures in the music business, acting for many household names, and was rated by Chambers and Partners in 2022 as a Senior Statesman in Music Law. Andrew also has extensive experience within the sports world. He was heavily involved in the re-structuring of Moto GP and he has had a high profile in the development of more complex arrangements for the exploitation of image rights on behalf of footballers and other sports talent. For our full interview with Andrew, check out https://www.commerciallaw.academy/courses/alternative-careers

Philip Dekker trained at Freshfields, before moving in-house at Philip Morris, where he spent a stint in Switzerland. He then worked as Senior Legal Counsel at a marketing, consulting and technology company, before moving to the Netherlands, where he currently works as Senior Managing Counsel at Booking.com. This role also involved a stint as Global Head of Legal at one of Booking.com's subsidiaries, a scaling technology business serving the travel industry.

Chrissie Wolfe is a global medical and cosmetic injury lawyer and an award-winning social media personality. She trained at Irwin Mitchell, where she worked for 8 years, specialising in catastrophic injury. She then founded her own legal and business consultancy firm, focusing on medical negligence and cosmetic injuries. She also founded Law and Broader - a social media based resource providing career advice and support to aspiring and junior lawyers - which has since grown to over 100,000 followers across platforms.