Private Client perspectives: Ayesha Vardag

Private Client perspectives: Ayesha Vardag

What made you decide to become a lawyer and, once you’d made that decision, why did you choose family law?

I wanted to be an actress, a journalist or a novelist, not a lawyer at all. I got interested in law spending time with my lawyer aunt in New York during my gap year, but still went to Cambridge to read English Lit. But I found that more of a crash course than an exploration, and felt that I might as well switch to the intellectual attractions of law. After a term I realised that studying law is terribly dull, it was the last thing I wanted as a career and I didn’t apply for any law jobs. I went straight to the BBC when I graduated. But then a scholarship that I’d forgotten I’d even applied for came through to study for a masters in European law in the French-speaking university in Brussels. I remember at the time my boyfriend told me: ‘Just because you get an opportunity it doesn’t mean you have to take it.’ But the BBC was supportive and I wanted the voyage of discovery offered by this exciting international frolic. Continue reading “Private Client perspectives: Ayesha Vardag”

Private Client perspectives: Ashley Crossley

Private Client perspectives: Ashley Crossley

What made you decide to become a lawyer and why private client?

My parents divorced at an early age, and I became very interested in how the law dealt with people and their relationships. That grew into an interest in law generally and how it could be used to solve problems. Having an interest in people and problem-solving meant private client work was a natural choice for me. It combines dealing with individuals’ personal issues, when they are often in a stressful or difficult situation, with helping solve their problems for them so they can move forward. Private client just seemed a natural and interesting choice for me. Continue reading “Private Client perspectives: Ashley Crossley”

Private Client perspectives: Sandra Davis

Private Client perspectives: Sandra Davis

What made you decide to become a lawyer and why practise family law?

I’m naturally a problem solver, and I’ve always wanted to make a difference. Family law makes a real difference to people’s lives. We can help make a bad situation better, create calm in an emotional storm, and save children from the turmoil by early intervention. I’m motivated by providing solutions that are creative, rather than those that are formulaic. Continue reading “Private Client perspectives: Sandra Davis”

Baker McKenzie: One eye open

Baker McKenzie: One eye open

‘What defines Baker McKenzie over the last few years is the sheer amount of work that has gone into financial integration. This is a massive achievement but it has come at a cost. Now, establishing the differentiator to attract the next generation is important. It isn’t going to turn into Kirkland & Ellis, but what is going to drive that entrepreneurial aspect now Bakers looks more like other firms?’ So speaks one commentator of the quandary facing Baker McKenzie, a sentiment reprising a prevailing theme of our 2017 deep dive into the firm, ‘Waking the Giant’, which found a firm struggling to maintain its unique international selling point amid escalating globalisation of Big Law.

Then, the firm had just embarked on a new and ambitious phase, with the respected veteran intellectual property (IP) partner Paul Rawlinson instated as its first British chair in October 2016. The mandate? To implement the firm’s 2020 strategy, which focused on integrating Bakers across three profit pools, increasing profitability and growing the firm’s transactional practices in London, New York and China. Continue reading “Baker McKenzie: One eye open”

Life Sciences perspectives: Grant Castle

Life Sciences perspectives: Grant Castle

Why did you decide to specialise in life sciences?

I have a science background – a PhD in organic chemistry – and worked for a short time as a medicinal chemist for Glaxo. I also had an interest in the humanities at school, so law had always seemed to be an option, and life sciences law made sense. I had assumed that I would go into IP/patents, but was lucky enough to meet a life sciences regulatory lawyer from Covington and spent some time there before my training contract. I came back to Covington on qualification and I am still here 25 years later. I clearly made the right choice. Continue reading “Life Sciences perspectives: Grant Castle”

Rising stars: Zina Chatzidimitriadou – ‘It is the one legal area that affects every single one of us and is, above all, human-centred’

Rising stars: Zina Chatzidimitriadou – ‘It is the one legal area that affects every single one of us and is, above all, human-centred’

Zina Chatzidimitriadou, senior managing associate at Sidley, on why she picked a career in life sciences law

Why did you decide to specialise in life sciences law?

In 2009, in my previous life as a molecular biologist at the Cancer Research UK institute, I experienced the multiple issues and complexities facing researchers and people involved in the development of life-saving treatments and methods. Life sciences emerged as the natural field of law for me and, while I am biased, I believe it is the most exciting field of law. Continue reading “Rising stars: Zina Chatzidimitriadou – ‘It is the one legal area that affects every single one of us and is, above all, human-centred’”

Rising stars: Jaspreet Takhar – ‘EU regulators are preparing an avalanche of new laws that are going to have a monumental impact on pharma and medtech’

Rising stars: Jaspreet Takhar – ‘EU regulators are preparing an avalanche of new laws that are going to have a monumental impact on pharma and medtech’

Baker McKenzie’s Jaspreet Takhar on the future of digital health solutions

What made you decide to specialise in life sciences law?

I specialise in advising on digital health solutions – that means advising on the regulation of health data, digital health solutions (including AI solutions, software and medical devices), as well as contracting in this space. I genuinely find the digital health space as exciting as it gets! The legal landscape is changing at breakneck speed, and I spend a few minutes every morning scanning for new regulations, new announcements and new guidance. Hot topics for legal developments include the regulation of AI, the European Health Data Space, and local laws on medical confidentiality. Continue reading “Rising stars: Jaspreet Takhar – ‘EU regulators are preparing an avalanche of new laws that are going to have a monumental impact on pharma and medtech’”

Rising stars: Dr Chris Boyle – ‘AI is going to have a transformative impact on the life sciences industry’

Rising stars: Dr Chris Boyle – ‘AI is going to have a transformative impact on the life sciences industry’

Dr Chris Boyle, counsel at Sidley, on the risks and opportunities facing the industry

What do you most enjoy about being a life sciences lawyer?

My passion for science led me to qualify and practice as a veterinary surgeon before I discovered that scientists and clinicians are uniquely placed to make a big impact in law, and I requalified as a life sciences lawyer. The best thing about being a life sciences lawyer is that I can harness my scientific interest and knowledge to serve clients on a far greater scale than I could in veterinary practice, to help them develop the health technologies and services of tomorrow. It is particularly helpful to ‘speak the same language’ when I am advising on matters that require interactions with healthcare professionals and regulators – for example it has proven key in assisting clients with NICE health technology assessments. Continue reading “Rising stars: Dr Chris Boyle – ‘AI is going to have a transformative impact on the life sciences industry’”

Rising stars: David Gibson – ‘There are so many great new technologies and medicines with potential to make a difference to populations and treatment pathways but key challenges remain in regulating them’

Rising stars: David Gibson – ‘There are so many great new technologies and medicines with potential to make a difference to populations and treatment pathways but key challenges remain in regulating them’

David Gibson, senior associate at McDermott Will & Emery

Why did you decide to specialise in life sciences law, and what’s the best thing about being a life sciences lawyer?

I find the subject matter fascinating, and I am genuinely curious about new technologies and medicines and how they can be used, shared and applied to improve healthcare for patients across the world. We are often involved in helping our clients with strategic projects and transactions, partnering with other organisations and bringing products to market and to scale – often across different jurisdictions. As a transactional and projects lawyer, I enjoy working with clients to bring the commercial, financing, regulatory and other legal elements together: it is an area of law that has a bit of everything! Continue reading “Rising stars: David Gibson – ‘There are so many great new technologies and medicines with potential to make a difference to populations and treatment pathways but key challenges remain in regulating them’”

Banking and Finance perspectives: Dr Sandie Okoro

Banking and Finance perspectives: Dr Sandie Okoro

Why did you want to become a lawyer?

I always wanted to. I wanted to fight injustice. It began when I watched Crown Court on TV – although I wanted to be the judge rather than any of the lawyers. So, my first inclination was after watching a TV programme, and thinking ‘I want to do that’.

Continue reading “Banking and Finance perspectives: Dr Sandie Okoro”