Innovate Legal Summit 2025

Kerri Dearing

VP of International, Netdocuments

Kerri is the Vice President of International at NetDocuments, where she leads the company’s efforts to expand and strengthen its global presence. With over 15 years of experience in the legal technology sector, Kerri brings a proven track record of driving international growth, building high-performance teams, and fostering strategic partnerships. Her
expertise in sales leadership and market development has been instrumental in positioning NetDocuments as a leader in cloud-based document and content management solutions for law firms and corporate legal departments worldwide.

Chrissie Wolfe

Global Medical & Cosmetic Injury Lawyer, Partner, Nexa

Chrissie is a powerhouse in the legal and digital space – a solicitor, entrepreneur, change consultant and content creator with over 150,000 followers across platforms. She is a partner at Nexa Law specialising in medical negligence litigation where she has more than a decade of experience, and a strategic consultant for law firms and legal teams going through digital transformation – particularly focussing on talent and culture. She has been frequently recognised as a thought leader and one of the most influential voices driving change in the profession.

Caroline Hill

Editor-in-Chief at Legal IT Insider

Caroline became a legal journalist in 2004 after an earlier career as a criminal advocate and later a City solicitor at Norton Rose (now Norton Rose Fulbright). She started her journalism career at Legal Week (now part of ALM) and later became news editor at globally respected publication Legal Business Magazine.

Caroline took over as editor-in-chief of Legal IT Insider in 2014 and is recognised internationally for her no-nonsense coverage of all things legal technology.

Éamon Chawke

Partner – Briffa

Éamon is co-owner of Briffa, a boutique intellectual property law practice with firms in London and Dublin. Briffa is recognised as a Leading Firm by the Legal500 and was the winner of the Boutique Law Firm of the Year at the Modern Law Awards in 2023.

Éamon’s interests are in ‘soft IP’ (especially trade marks, copyright and design rights), as well data protection, information technology and commercial law. He advises a broad range of businesses in IP-rich sectors including cosmetics, fashion, photography/videography, retail, surgical robotics and software/tech. He is recognised by the Legal500 and the World Intellectual Property Review.

Kirsty Pappin

Founder & Director, Aries LPM

Kirsty is a seasoned operations leader and legal practice manager with over 20 years of experience in the legal industry, having worked across both UK and US firms. This diverse background has equipped her with unique insights into law firm operations, enabling her to assist law firms in enhancing efficiency and embracing innovation. Her relentless pursuit of organisational and administrative excellence was recognised in 2020 when she was awarded winner of the LPM Excellence Awards 2020 – ‘Practice Manager of the Year’, powered by Thomson Reuters and in association with the ILFM

Kirsty’s approach emphasises the importance of thorough planning, innovation, communications and creativity in running a modern legal business. She advocates for bridging gaps between different parts of a firm and presenting solutions rather than just problems to senior leaders.

Aries Legal Practice Management (“Aries LPM”) was founded at the start of 2023 by Kirsty Pappin, as a consultancy dedicated to supporting law firms in various aspects of business and operations. Aries LPM offers services such as fractional COO/Operations Director, Practice Management as a Service (PMaaS), operational consulting, strategy development, transformation and change management consulting, and bespoke projects – all tailored to meet the specific needs of law firms. More recently, Aries LPM was been shortlisted for Modern Law Awards: Supporting the Legal Industry (1-25 Employees).

Rob Hanna (Hon.causa)

Founder & Voice of the Legally Speaking Podcast

Robert Hanna is the Founder & Managing Director of KC Partners, a global legal talent solutions and content creation firm. A leading voice in legal recruitment, Rob helps legal professionals secure roles across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and the US.

He is a LinkedIn Top Voice, UK Creator Accelerator Programme winner, and host of the Legally Speaking Podcast, sponsored by Clio. Rob is also a strategic advisor to legal tech startups and co-founder of the Great Big Legal Offsite (GBLO). Featured in The Lawyer, Modern Law Magazine, and Law.com, Rob is a passionate legal community builder, speaker, and content creator.

Dr. Trevor D. Sterling (Hon.causa)

Senior Partner/Head of Major Trauma, Moore Barlow LLP

Trevor Sterling is a multi-award-winning lawyer with 40 years’ experience in the legal profession. Trevor started his career as an Outdoor Clerk, initially qualifying as a Fellow of Institute of Legal Executives before qualifying as a Solicitor. Trevor was elected Senior partner at law firm Moore Barlow LLP in 2021, becoming the first black Senior Partner of a top one hundred law firm in the UK. He is also Partner sponsor for Diversity & Inclusion and a member of the firm’s partnership council.

Trevor has been involved in some of the country’s highest profile and highly publicised cases of national significance which have led to significant media exposure, including many appearances on national television, radio and in publications providing astute insight and discussion. Examples of these cases include the Ladbroke Grove Rail Crash, Jimmy Saville Child Abuse cases (Co Lead), In Amenas Terrorist Attack, The Croydon Tram Crash and the Westminster Terrorist Attack. He is currently leading investigations into the fatal accidents arising from the Wimbledon Prep School tragedy in 2023. Notably he achieved success in the House of Lords with the landmark employer’s liability suicide case of Corr V IBC Vehicles, the first case of its type since 1957.

Trevor has been recognised by multiple industry leading organisations and publications for his contribution to both his profession and charity and is one of the most decorated lawyers in the country including receiving the Law Society’s “Rising Star: Advocate in the Face of Adversity Award”, three Rehabilitation First Awards and being awarded “Solicitor of the Year – Private Practice” at the UK Legal Diversity Awards. In 2023 he received The Black Talent – Senior Leader award at the Black Talent Awards. In 2024 he was awarded two Doctorates of Law, from the University of Law and from the University of Roehampton.

Trevor’s community activity includes being involved in the unveiling of the statue of Mary Seacole at St Thomas’s hospital in London in 2016, the first bronze statue of a named black female in the UK in 2016, he subsequently succeeded Lord Soley becoming Chair of the Mary Seacole Trust promoting diversity and social equality. Trevor also co-designed a £5 commemorative coin with the Royal Mint, the coin was released in 2023 and became the first British coin to feature a person of colour from outside of the UK. He has also delivered hundreds of diversity & motivational keynote speeches.

Trevor has recently launched U-triumph, a Social Enterprise platform which aims to inspire success by highlighting that, irrespective of social background or personal characteristics such as race, with fair opportunity and the appropriate mindset, success can be achieved. He hosts U-triumph’s podcasts which have featured individuals such as ITV’s first “Chaser” – Shaun Wallace. He has also established the Be The Ladder Foundation to support children from lower socio-economic backgrounds at risk of underachievement and the Be The Ladder awards, to celebrate individuals who have been the ladder for others as per his mantra “Don’t just aspire to climb the ladder, be the ladder”

Dana Denis-Smith OBE

Founder, First Hundred Years

Dana Denis-Smith OBE is the CEO of Obelisk Support and the founder of the First 100 Years campaign. A TedX speaker, Dana is regularly invited to address industry events and comment in the media on gender equality, entrepreneurship and legal technology. In 2020, she was recognised for her work as a women’s advocate and champion of gender equality with the Special Contribution Award at the Women in Law Awards. In 2019, she was awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Legal Services by The Legal 500 and, in 2018, she was voted Legal Personality of the Year at the LexisNexis Awards. Dana was shortlisted in the 2022 FT Innovative Lawyers Europe awards, and she was awarded her second honorary doctorate in laws from the University of Glasgow in recognition of her contribution, achievements, and positive impact on the legal profession in June 2022. In October 2022, Dana took her seat as an elected Council member of The Law Society to represent women solicitors and support DEI across the solicitors’ profession.

In 2010, she founded Obelisk Support to provide flexible legal solutions to FTSE100 and law firms by working with lawyers that needed to work remotely and more flexibly around their family or other caring commitments. Obelisk Support was highly commended at the 2022 Lawyer Awards for ‘Law Company of the Year’ and is again ranked in Chambers and Partners 2022 as a leading service provider – praised by clients for being “commercial and flexible”. In 2020 Obelisk Support won Supplier of the Year at the Women in Law Awards. In September 2023 Obelisk Support became a certified B Corporation.

In 2014, Dana founded the First 100 Years, a national charitable campaign to celebrate the first 100 years of women in the legal profession in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Under Dana’s leadership the campaign has created a lasting legacy for future generations of lawyers, involving institutions such as the British Library, Supreme Court and The Law Society. As of 2020, the campaign is now replaced by the Next 100 Years, focusing on the future of the legal profession for women.

On 31 December 2024, Dana received an OBE in recognition of her services to women in the legal profession.

Jodie Hill

Managing partner, thrive law

In 2018 Jodie Hill founded Thrive Law, a law firm that practices law differently and where people matter. Jodie is disrupting the legal sector with her forward thinking and innovative approach to the law by creating a uniquely positioned law firm that helps organisations get the very best from their people. Because wellbeing, diversity, inclusion and belonging, underpins Thrive’s approach and advice.

Henry Nelson-Case

Lawyer, Content Creator, and TEDX Speaker

Henry is a qualified lawyer with over 6 years experience in both private practice and as in-house legal counsel at top law firms and organisations. He also creates relatable and impactful content on social media that aims to positively impact the lives of all those who have been affected by negative corporate workplace behaviours.

Henry is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness, particularly in the workplace, and has been a vocal proponent of improving well-being for both legal professionals and corporate leaders. Through his talks, and his own personal journey, he highlights the importance of mental health support for all generations; work-life balance; and creating healthier environments within the corporate world.

Alongside keynote speaking and content creating, Henry has also spoken to a number of mainstream news publications, as well as speaking with law firms, banks and many other corporate organisations about culture and workplace wellbeing.