Alex Alanson is an experienced commercial lawyer, with particular expertise in advising new and developing businesses. He has a strong commercial background, having spent significant time with media, entertainment and sports businesses, and with those seeking to use new and developing technology to bring their products to market.

Alex qualified as a corporate lawyer with top city practice Ashurst, having spent time in London and Brussels with the firm. Having recognised his skills were better suited to working more closely with business clients, he has worked in-house since 1999 in both legal and business affairs roles, whilst also developing expertise as a strategist and business coach.

During this time Alex has worked with clients as diverse as Nike, Manchester United, Virgin Media, MGM Studios and AOL, as well as a broad range of smaller and start-up businesses, both domestic and international.

Alex is based in London and Florence and can be contacted at alex.alanson@thelegaldirector.co.uk

Indy is one of those special brand of lawyers who worked in industry for a number of years (in engineering) before deciding to become a Solicitor which he did so with British Telecom in 1995. He spent time in private practice and then became sole in-house lawyer for Volkswagen Group UK. He then moved to Abbey National plc to head up its IT and Commercial Contracts team and then became Senior IT/IP Counsel at ABN Amro Bank. He has also worked in IT and Telecoms Consultancy and in the Life Sciences sector.

Indy has extensive experience in:

• National and International Outsourcing and Multi-sourcing projects including large IT infrastructure and Application & Development outsourcing deals.
• Financial Services and banking regulation.
• Employment law.
• Life Sciences regulation and contract negotiation.
• Data protection and privacy.
• IP including copyright and trademarks.
• Software licensing and International Software Development.
• Automotive law, Dealer Agreements, Franchise, Distribution and logistics.
• Competition Law, Advertising and Marketing.

Indy holds a Masters degree in Business Law for which he was awarded a University Prize. His commercial awareness and inter-personal skills have enabled him to be a trusted adviser to senior management where he successfully bridges the gap between the law and the business needs of his clients.

Indy is based in Hertfordshire and can be contacted at inderjeet.johal@thelegaldirector.co.uk

Julian qualified as a barrister in 1994 and has held senior in-house legal positions in a number of blue chip organisations including GE, British American Tobacco and Vivendi-Universal as well as General Counsel for a private equity fund and a family office.

Julian has considerable international experience having worked throughout Europe, the Middle East Africa and the Americas. Successful in handling a wide range of legal and business situations from commercial, corporate and M&A issues, but also taxation, intellectual property, dispute resolution, real estate and employment matters. Julian has regularly taken on development and operational responsibilities in addition to his legal role and has been appointed director and company secretary of both private and listed companies.

Prior to being called to the Bar, Julian read law in London and Paris and was awarded an MBA by London Business School in 2006. He is a dual national and is fluent in French with a good understanding of German.

Juilan is based in London and can be contacted at julian.henley-price@thelegaldirector.co.uk

Kirstie Penk is an experienced commercial lawyer and was a part owner of a wireless computer networking company prior to taking a career break to have 2 children in 2006. Kirstie is now based in Sheffield and has been working for The Legal Director since May 2009.

Kirstie has 10+ years experience of working as an in-house lawyer and has dealt with a wide range of legal and business issues in many different legal jurisdictions. Her work includes M&As, disposals, insolvencies, VC funding, manufacturing and supply agreements, software licensing, R&D agreements, distribution agreements, property and NASDAQ regulatory matters. Kirstie is an efficient lawyer who has a sensible, pro-active approach and excels at finding sound business solutions to complex issues.

Kirstie qualified in 1993 at Watson Farley and Williams in London, moving to set up a European Legal team for Madge Networks, a NASDAQ listed hi-tech company in 1994. In 1999 she was promoted to Legal Counsel and in 2003 Kirstie did an MBO from the receivers of Madge Networks to acquire a 20% stake in the business. She was responsible for all legal and HR matters within the newly formed business and was an integral part of the Board and its decision making.

Kirstie is based in Yorkshire and can be contacted at kirstie.penk@thelegaldirector.co.uk

Mark Williams has more than 25 years' experience working in both private practice and in the corporate sector. He has extensive experience in management and is particularly strong when it comes to developing and promoting strong collaborative relationships with internal customers to achieve commercially driven solutions.

He qualified as a Solicitor in 1981 and practiced initially in litigation before moving in-house to work for 2 leading insurance companies, Skandia Life in 1991, and then Unum in 2002 where he was Head of the Legal Department.

Mark has advised on a wide variety of corporate and commercial issues including complex corporate acquisitions in liaison with specialist lawyers and Counsel and a range of commercial contract issues including software licensing and maintenance, sales and marketing, and consultancy. Mark's other specialisms include Employment Law (he understands how Tribunals function), Data Protection, Anti-Money Laundering and the Prevention of Financial Crime.

One of Mark's key strengths is his ability to oversee and direct complex disputes and litigation. He has managed and co-ordinated High Court, County Court and Arbitration actions. Mark also has utilised the mediation process extensively and possesses a thorough understanding of the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Mark has experience in overseas litigation having instructed lawyers based in France, Germany and the US in proceedings issued outside the local jurisdiction.

Mark is based in Surrey and can be contacted at mark.williams@thelegaldirector.co.uk

Martin qualified as a Solicitor in 1980. He worked in private practice in Derby before moving into Industry.

He was Principal of the Secretariat at NEI IC Limited before becoming Company Solicitor at Automotive Products plc. In 1986 he was appointed as Deputy Group Solicitor of BBA Group plc where he spent 10 years before setting up his own business as a Legal Consultant.

Martin has extensive experience in the automotive, manufacturing and engineering industries. He has acted for both SMEs and PLCs specialising in company/commercial and employment law including drafting of various contracts, purchasing and selling companies and assets, all employment issues including representation at Employment Tribunals. Martin also presents seminars/workshops/training to senior managers on day to day commercial issues.

Martin is a Part-time University lecturer for trainee solicitors and barristers in Business Law and Practice, Business Accounts and Employment law.

Martin is based in Yorkshire and can be contacted at martin.harrison@thelegaldirector.co.uk

Peter Ewart is an experienced commercial solicitor who, since 2005, has run his own business working as a consultant for SME and start-up businesses providing in-house legal services on a part-time contract basis. His clients have included those in the nanotechnology, medical devices, internet security, chemical specialty, environmental waste and software industries.

Previously Peter had gained a broad range of commercial legal experience over more than 20 years as an in-house lawyer with 4 US multinationals in the computer networking (3Com), material science (Raychem – now Tyco Electronics), pharmaceutical (Sterling Drug) and food (Heinz) industries. In 3 of those companies Peter had responsibility for legal affairs in Europe, Middle East and Africa. In the case of Raychem he also headed up the UK subsidiary.

He has strong commercial awareness and an eagerness to find practical solutions to move business forward. Peter qualified in 1977.

Peter is based in Gloucestershire close to the borders of Oxfordshire and Wiltshire and can be contacted at peter.ewart@thelegaldirector.co.uk

Robert Ward Dyer qualified as a Solicitor in 1978 and worked for six years in private practice in London and the UAE before moving in-house. From 1984 until 2008 he worked for two major U.S. multinationals in branded consumer and industrial sectors (Sara Lee Corporation and Rockwell Automation, Inc.) acquiring extensive international experience throughout Europe and elsewhere.

He is effective at building relationships of trust with managers across the whole spectrum of business functions and at all levels, but with particular emphasis on support to CEO’s and General Management, HR, Finance and other infrastructure staff through reorganisations and cultural change, as well as managing external lawyers. He sees the value of an in-house lawyer in “integrated detachment” : taking care to understand the detail and practicalities of a business before objectively applying legal skills and judgment to facilitate its goals and help minimise cost and risk.

Aside from commercial legal work, he is the secretary and a trustee of a local educational/conservation charity in West London, and a school governor; and he teaches English to foreign language students (he has a CELTA qualification from International House, London). In 2008 he trained with the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution and is a CEDR-accredited Mediator.

Robert is based in London and can be contacted at robert.dyer@thelegaldirector.co.uk

Susan has worked for the second largest contract logistics provider in Europe for the last 8 years and left to join the Legal Director. Her aim is to build a winning relationship with her clients so that they can see she is adding value to their business.

She has worked on single distribution sites through to very complex supply chain solutions; records management through to construction projects; vehicle leasing, repair/maintenance; and associated agency and distribution arrangements. Susan has invaluable experience in the logistics field. She has the ability to work well with all levels of the operation and appreciates the need to understand the business before being able to truly provide support.

Susan is based in the South West and can be contacted at susan.lomax@thelegaldirector.co.uk

Tom Calvert-Lee is an experienced senior financial services lawyer and Compliance Officer with over twenty years experience - most recently operating at board level for a financial services company based in the City of London. He specialises in managing legal and regulatory risk for companies.

Tom qualified as a solicitor in 1987 and worked for six years in private practice. He then moved to head the Legal department at Hill Samuel Investment Services Limited - a subsidiary of Lloyds Banking Group. This role provided Tom with extensive and invaluable experience in regulation and compliance within a large banking and insurance group.

Since then he has worked as a senior lawyer for the UK branch of a global American employee benefit firm - Hewitt Associates Limited - and a consultancy firm in the City of London – Gissings Consultancy Service Limited.

In his most recent role as Head of Legal & Compliance with Gissings Consultancy Services Limited he acted as head of the Legal and Compliance functions as well as Company Secretary and Group Data Protection Officer responsible for data protection, data security and registering and protecting the company’s trade marks. He also acted as Head of Risk Management, designing the company’s Operational Risk Policy, monitoring compliance and being responsible for the Business Continuity Plan and testing. Tom has extensive experience in insurance matters, drafting and reviewing complex commercial agreements and directing complaint handing and overseeing litigation.

Tom is based in the City of London and can be reached at tom.calvert-lee@thelegaldirector.co.uk