Moray McLaren moderated a senior leadership panel at the Sandpiper Partners Global Law Firm Leaders event in London, bringing together managing partners and firm leaders to discuss the strategic, governance and leadership challenges facing international law firms.
The session focused on how firms are navigating growth, complexity and leadership transition in an increasingly global and competitive legal market, with an emphasis on decision-making, partner alignment and long-term sustainability.
Uncertainty and Volatility Require Successful Leadership. The geo-political landscape in U.S., U.K. and EU is uncertain with wars continuing in Ukraine and Isreal, and disruption in the U.S. Companies and law firms are unwilling to increase their labor force, or make large capital expenditures in this time of uncertainty.
This year’s faculty of senior partners, managing partners, lawyer leaders of practice groups, and technologists plus corporate counsel is the best group of speakers ever. Please see the complete list below.
Leadership and Strategy: 2025-2026
Geo-Political and Economic Headwinds in U.K., U.S., Europe
Will inflation Continue to Rise? Will Rates Come Down?
Will Clients Use AI to Push Firms to Change?
How Will AI Transform the Law Firm Business Model?
Special Feature at Lunch:
Panel on Private Equity Investment in Law Firms
Private equity investment has become a vital strategic consideration for law firm leaders around the world. The drivers include the need to invest in AI and to grow not least so as to be able to access data to support the AI tools that clients are beginning to demand. Consolidation in the legal industry will require capital too. Some are looking beyond the partnership model for the right business structure for the future.
All Star Faculty of Managing Partners, Practice Heads,
Corporate Counsel and Advisors
Victoria C. Albrecht, Director of AI Acceleration, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, London
Sharon Blackman, Managing Director, Head of Services Legal, Citi, London
Roger Bull, Managing Partner, Burges Salmon, London
Jackie Karmel Collins, Head of EMEA, HARVEY, London
Justin D'Agostino, Global CEO, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, Hong Kong
Craig Earnshaw, Senior Managing Director, FTI Consulting, London
Inigo Esteve, Partner, White & Case LLP, London
Matt Fairclough, Partner, Co-Regional Practice Area Leader, Global Financial Markets for One Europe, Clifford Chance LLP, London
Denise Gibson, Managing Partner, A&O Shearman, London
Lizzie Goodburn, Regional Chief Operating Officer for One Europe, Clifford Chance LLP, London
Tom Green, Partner, Inflexion, London
Jon Hayes, Global Co-Chair, Senior Partner, DLA Piper, London
Portia Hickey, Co Founder, Communication Labs, London
Rhys Hodkinson, Chief Revenue Officer, Definely, London
Prakash Kakkad, General Counsel Corporate and Deputy Company Secretary, Unilever Plc, London
Dan Kayne, Founder, O Shaped, London
Matthew Layton, Senior Adviser, FTI Consulting, London
Martin Lebeuf, Managing Partner, Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier, Paris
Darren Maher, Managing Partner-Elect, Matheson, Dublin
Susan Manik, Global Head of Supplier Management & Engagement, Standard Chartered Bank, London
Charles Martin, Senior Advisor, Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier, Paris
Tom McGuffie, Partner, A&O Shearman, London
Moray McLaren, Professor of Law, LawAhead Centre, IE University, London/Madrid; Partner, Co-founder, Lexington Consultants, Madrid (Moderator)
Caroline Miller Smith, Partner, White & Case LLP, London
Geoff Moore, Managing Partner, Arthur Cox, Dublin
David Morley, Principal, Dejonghe & Morley LLP, London
David Morrison, Director, Rothschild & Co, London
Pedro Pérez-Llorca, Managing Partner, Pérez-Llorca, Spain
Martin Reufels, Managing Partner, Heuking, Germany
Jack Tomlin, Executive Director, Head of City Occupier Transactions, CBRE, London
Kerry Westland, Partner, Head of the Innovation Group, Addleshaw Goddard, London
Joel A. Wirchin, Senior Director, Sales Strategy, Williams Lea by RRD Global Outsourcing, New York
