Commercial, digital and data awareness — with Allen & Overy, Bird & Bird, Freshfields, Norton Rose Fulbright and BPP Law School

Wednesday 13 March, at BPP University Law School Holborn; open to all students

The corporate branch of the legal profession is changing, as the wave of technological disruption that has been sweeping through other industries reaches law and finance.

For City law firms, which find themselves at the centre of the lawtech and fintech revolutions, there are transformative opportunities. Students preparing to commence their professional lives have a once in a generation chance to play a central role in shaping a new legal landscape.

On the evening of Wednesday 13 March, lawyers from Allen & Overy, Bird & Bird, Freshfields and Norton Rose Fulbright will join BPP University Law School’s head of innovation, Adam Curphey, for a commercial, digital and data awareness Question Time-style discussion, the latest in the Inside Track series. Apply to attend.


Speakers

Nitish Upadhyaya, senior innovation manager at Allen & Overy

Nitish leads the ideas and investment (i2) team within Allen & Overy’s Legal Technology Group, focusing on prototyping and delivering solutions which tackle pain points raised by A&O staff and clients. His background as a solicitor specialising in litigation gives him a unique perspective on innovation within the legal sector, allowing him to act as a bridge between the business and legal tech group.

Zoe Fuller, legal director at Bird & Bird

Zoe specialises in contentious matters and her practice covers the full range of intellectual property rights, with a particular focus on patents. She is frequently involved in disputes involving complex technologies, working on many matters involving high profile telecoms companies on both standard essential and non-essential patents. Prior to becoming a solicitor Zoe graduated from Nottingham University with a first class MSci in biochemistry and biological chemistry.

Molly Russell, associate and innovation consultant at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Molly is a solicitor in Freshfields’ Disputes group. She acts for a broad range of clients in commercial and financial disputes, as well as contentious regulatory matters, with a particular focus on matters involving financial institutions. She is also a member of the firm’s global sanctions and trade practice, while acting as a consultant to the firm on innovation.

Jeremy Coleman, innovation manager (EMEA) at Norton Rose Fulbright

Jeremy Coleman qualified as a solicitor in 2016 and is innovation manager for Europe, Middle East and Asia (EMEA). He is a member of Norton Rose Fulbright’s Newcastle Hub, which was set up in 2015 as a centre of excellence for legal process, legal technology and testing new ways of working in the legal sector. Jeremy is responsible for delivering high-quality client solutions through legal process design and the development, deployment and integration of innovative technologies.

Adam Curphey, head of development (innovation technology) at BPP University Law School

Adam is an experienced lecturer and head of innovation technology with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. The Oxford University law graduate was previously a solicitor with White & Case.


The lawyers will share stories from the frontline about the tech and innovation-related developments taking place within their firms, and reflect on the skills that lawyers of the future will need to hone. There will also be opportunities for students to put their questions to the speakers. The session — hosted at BPP Law School’s London Holborn campus — will be chaired by a Legal Cheek journalist.

After the discussion, there will be drinks and networking with the speakers, trainees and members of the firms’ graduate recruitment teams.

Apply to attend below. The event is open to all students and graduates. You’ll be asked to submit a CV and two questions for the panel.