In-house interviews

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Glad scientists: John Stewart, The Wellcome Trust

As general counsel for The Wellcome Trust, John Stewart has found science to be a lot more interesting than it was at school. By Tom Phillips Here is a tip: if you shunned science at school, take a trip to The Wellcome Trust Exhibition on Euston Road. The space is dedicated to the history of medicine and acts […]

Playing FTSE: Shazanna Safdar-Karim, FTSE Group

Shazanna Safdar-Karim is rapidly climbing the ranks at FTSE Group. Tom Phillips reports It is an acronym that has barely moved off the front pages over the past year. When the world of stock markets became the number one story, FTSE and its various leagues of stocks and bonds became the number one measurement of […]

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Talking shop: Leon Shelley, Westfield Shoppingtowns

As corporate counsel at retail centre operator Westfield Shoppingtowns, Leon Shelley remains optimistic about the sector’s future. Tom Phillips reports For those who worship shopping, Westfield in London’s Shepherd’s Bush is a cathedral. Opened in October last year, it is the largest shopping centre in Europe, home to some 49 acres of shops from luxury […]

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Building bridges: Ed Gretton, Hanson

As legal head of a company with 400 subsidiaries, Hanson’s Ed Gretton had a tough job unifying the dispersed legal team. Tom Phillips reports. The property market has taken a battering in the past 18 months, which has, of course, been problematic for building materials supplier Hanson. The company provides the raw building materials to […]

Business forecast: Nick Benson, Met Office

Legal head Nick Benson needs to tread a fine line between the Met Office’s status as a public body and a commercial enterprise. Tom Phillips reports Like death and taxes, the weather is unavoidable. And as last month’s mass snowfall proved, there is nothing like a bit of bad weather to capture the British ­public’s […]

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Gate expectations: Adil Hussain, Gatehouse Bank

Gatehouse Bank legal head Adil Hussain has big ambitions – both for the fledgling bank and for Islamic finance. Tom Phillips reports. Full of ambition, Gatehouse Bank is the ­latest Islamic bank to open in London. Owned by Kuwaiti investment company Securities House, Gatehouse was granted its licence to operate in the UK by the […]

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Kid gloves: Samina Afzal, NSPCC

As the NSPCC’s head of legal, Samina Afzal says it’s vital that the charity be equipped to fight its corner where necessary. The National Society for the Prevention of ;Cruelty ;to ­Children (NSPCC) has been in the business of protecting ­vulnerable children for more than a century. Originally set up to prevent child abuse in […]

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Force of law: Edward Solomons, Metropolitan Police

Being under constant public scrutiny is just one of the challenges facing Metropolitan Police general counsel Edward Solomons. T­he Metropolitan Police is never far from the spotlight, what with it garnering more column inches than any other public sector department. The work its officers perform is carried out in the full glare of the public, […]

The hard cell: Clare Algar, Reprieve

As the executive director of human rights charity Reprieve, Clare Algar welcomes President Obama’s focus on the rule of law. Speaking ;from ;a ­windowless room at Reprieve HQ, Clare Algar could be forgiven for asking herself why she left a promising career as an IP lawyer to help people she has never met in South […]

In-house review of the year 2008: In good company

When it comes to keeping a lid on fees, in-house legal chiefs have been looking to drive a hard bargain during 2008. The past 12 months have been something of a rollercoaster for in-house lawyers. Those embedded in corporations and regulatory bodies may operate in ­varied industries, each with their own culture, but as 2008 […]

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Dance floor diva: Victoria Davies, Ministry of Sound

With record deals, fitness videos and even a festival tent, Ministry of Sound has become more than just a nightclub. Tom Phillips meets head of legal Victoria Davies The glow sticks may have been consigned to the museum of irony, but the music and lifestyle are still as popular as ever. The house music scene […]

Right Russian: Pavel Klimov, Unisys

When Pavel Klimov embarked on his career in communist Russia he had few options open to him. Now he is a globetrotting lawyer in charge of Unisys’ Emea legal team. It can be hard to understand what it is like to have no say in the direction of your own future. For Pavel Klimov, Unisys […]