Helen Penwill | Associate | Reed Smith LLP
Helen attended state school in Devon and studied History at the University of Nottingham.
She obtained an LLM from the National University of Singapore on scholarship and worked as Vice President at JPMorgan Chase, as the youngest Vice President promoted in London, and later completed her training contract with Reed Smith LLP.
Following university, Helen was afforded a rotary scholarship to the National University of Singapore. Helen was partnered with a local club in Singapore and the scholarship itself is only granted to candidates who are committed long-term to measurable, sustainable change. In order to be afforded the scholarship, Helen displayed her academic experience but also volunteer experience which included 7 years of coaching Basketball at the local YMCA.
Since 2020, Helen has been an Associate in the market leading Financial Industry Group at Reed Smith, advising a range of clients on fund finance, leveraged finance and structured finance. Helen was promoted to mid-level associate just 18 months after qualifying. Helen is recognised for her technical skills, drafting expertise and good commercial judgement. She is calm under pressure and is respected by clients and colleagues alike, all of whom enjoy working with her and value her input. She is known for being very hard-working and a great team player who is happy to step into difficult situations.
Helen is a part of the team awarded ‘Best Law Firm – Lending and Securities’ at the European Credit Awards and is an integral member of the Tier 1 ranked Fund Finance Team.
Jessica Pinches | Apprentice Solicitor | Black Antelope Law
Jessica Pinches is a solicitor apprentice, the first at Black Antelope Law, an award-winning law firm in Central London.
In March 2020, as a school leaver, Jessica began her legal journey in a non-traditional way as a business administration apprentice. Jessica was able to utilise skills from the administration department, following completion of her course and receiving a distinction grade, to begin her Level 3 Paralegal apprenticeship with CILEx Law School in July 2021. After receiving a pass grade, including a distinction grade in her written assessments. In the summer of 2023, Jessica commenced a Level 7 Apprenticeship with Barbri law school and has bright ambitions to qualify as a solicitor specialising in family law and civil litigation, one of a few in the profession who will qualify without ever attending university.
Lindsey Melnecsuk | Head of Sales Operations | Simmons and Simmons
Starting my career in sales within publishing and dental sectors, I quickly grasped the importance of how to motivate and persuade.
This natural understanding led me to a digital agency, where I bridged the technical world of development teams with client needs, deepening my grasp of web technologies. My journey continued at another publishing house transitioning into the digital realm, where I gained comprehensive experience from establishing divisions to assisting in marketing, events, and commercial tasks. This variety sparked my move to digital marketing in the boiler manufacturing industry, where I delved into coaching and leadership training, project management training, alongside traditional marketing and user experience (UX) – a field I found particularly rewarding.
An unexpected twist led me to Wavelength after a chance meeting with the CEO, allowing me to leverage my diverse skill set gained from multiple industries in supporting its scale-up and integration into Simmons & Simmons. Here, my focus has shifted towards commercial and sales operations, enhancing our teams` capabilities in persuasion and negotiation backed up by good data.
Throughout my career transitions, including becoming a mother of four, I`ve faced challenges associated with being a woman, a non-lawyer, and a working parent. These experiences have fueled my passion for supporting inclusivity, leading me to actively participate in gender and neurodiversity networks and become a pioneering wellbeing champion. My journey underscores a belief in the transformative power of diverse experiences and a commitment to fostering an inclusive, innovative work environment.
Victoria Bryden | Senior Associate | Reed Smith LLP
I am a Senior Associate in the Global Corporate Group at the international law firm Reed Smith.
I advise on cross-border M&A transactions for clients in the UK, Europe and the US. I specialize in advising private equity sponsors and management teams across a broad range of sectors on acquisitions, exits and management incentivisation arrangements.
I support the development of more junior colleagues in our department – I work with a “junior buddy” with whom I meet regularly on both a formal and informal basis to offer mentoring and I also deliver training sessions to the junior members of my team.
I am also actively involved in contributing to my firm’s culture – I am an engagement champion for our London office and sit on the committee that represents London associates.
I studied law the University of Strathclyde and completed my Diploma in Legal Practice at Glasgow Graduate School of Law. I am also a Scottish Notary Public.
I balance a busy professional life with being a Mum.
Lee Burman | Executive Director | Morgan Stanley
I am an Executive Director in ORRC and is the EMEA head of International Tax Operations.
I lead Operational Tax processes covering Transaction Taxes, Withholding Taxes and Capital Gains Taxes.
I have been with Morgan Stanley for 18 years and have held a variety of positions including Global Head of Payment Governance, EMEA Head of Global Network Management, Global Head of Market Infrastructure, Global Head of Credit Risk Operations and EMA Head of Equity Collateral.
I began my career in 1995 at Robert Fleming in the City as an A-level trainee before attending the University of Surrey (I was the first of my family to go to University and the first to work in the City of London). I graduated in 1999 and subsequently worked at RBS and Nomura before joining Morgan Stanley in 2005. I relocated to Glasgow with my family in 2016.
Shaheen Mamun | Director | Black Antelope Law
I`m a Human Rights and Public Law Solicitor, co-founding Black Antelope Law with a vision for progress, leveraging collaborative strategies and early equity partnerships.
My focus on holding Public Bodies accountable has earned recognition, with contributions to outlets like the Law Gazette and LexisNexis.
Honours include Human Rights Lawyer of the Year at the 2022 Global Law Experts Annual Awards, the 2022 Lawyer Network Annual Awards, and the 2023 Corporate INTL Global Award. Recognized as a Rising Star in Immigration Law at the SME News Legal Awards 2021 and 2023`s Business Legal Awards.
Commendations include BSN Rising Star of the Year at the 2016 Legal Diversity Awards and One to Watch at the British Muslim Awards 2017. Finalist nods for Lawyer of the Year at the 2020 Modern Law Awards and the University of Westminster Alumni Awards 2023 underscore my dedication.
Inclusivity and diversity are core values, reflected in our inclusion in EqualityX`s Top 50 Inclusive Muslim Employers and initiatives like the Muslim Employment Charter and Bar Council`s Women in Law Pledge.
Under my leadership, Black Antelope Law became the first BSB-regulated firm to receive the Bar Council`s Certificate of Well-being, emphasizing mental health support.
Outside Black Antelope Law, I serve on the Law Society`s EDI Committee, act as a Social Mobility Ambassador, and hold a Non-Executive Director position at Coram`s Fields, aligning with my broader commitment to equality and inclusion in and beyond the legal profession.
David Morgan | International Treasurer | Royal Bank of Canada
I am currently Royal Bank of Canada`s International Treasurer where I have responsibility for managing RBC`s financial resources wisely and efficiently across our offices in Asia, Europe and the Caribbean.
Recognising the immense value in diversity of thought and experience for risk management as well as innovation in our business, I`ve actively striven to build diverse teams. Over 14 years, as my team has grown in size and in global reach, our composition has evolved and I am proud to lead my current highly talented team of global colleagues, where the gender balance is 50/50 with women comprising 50% of Director and above positions.
Within RBC I am an executive co-sponsor of RBC`s European Women`s Network, RWomen. The network currently has more than 800 members with big ambitions to grow. As co-sponsor I am responsible for convening the RWomen committee and helping support its growth and development. Our committee consists of 28 members across all levels and business segments of our organisation.
Prior to RBC i spent ten years at the Financial Services Authority, designing and implementing regulations to support the safety and soundness of the banking sector.
Outside of work i have spent 11 years on the board of a local credit union that supports the financial resilience of communities in some of London`s poorest wards. I am also the Chair of Coin Street Community Builders, a social enterprise working in Waterloo and North Southwark creating a diverse and welcoming place for people to live, work, and play.
Mario Furriel | Head of UHNW Private Solutions | HSBC
I am currently Head of Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) Private Solutions UK at HSBC Private Bank servicing UHNW clients with their Investment and Corporate banking needs.
I started my career over 18y ago starting at Banif Investment Bank and then worked at Barclays in a similar role before moving to HSBC.
In my day-to-day, I deal with sophisticated UHNW, Family Office and Entrepreneur clients with non-traditional Private Banking needs which includes M&A, Capital Raising, Equity/Debt Capital Markets, Institutional Financing, Corporate Banking and opportunities to invest directly into businesses via our unique Direct Investment service.
Scott Freeman | Culinary Director - ESS | Compass Group UK & Ireland
I started my career in Hospitality at the age of 15, and worked in Restaurants in London, Australia and New Zealand, before returning to the UK with a passion to inspire, teach and train the next generation of Chefs.
I taught for 8 years, and found new opportunities afterwards with Compass Group, developing the Chef Apprenticeship Academy, recruiting 16–19-year-olds into the business and supporting their training.
In 2014, I became Head of School for the UK’s first Career College for Hospitality and Enterprise with Bromley College – delivering GCSEs to 14–16-year-olds within a Hospitality environment; building a College from a blueprint and opening a fully functioning restaurant where Students were employed and learned their new trade as well as gaining their GCSEs through industry-sponsored Hospitality projects.
In 2015, I returned to Compass Group as Exec Chef for ESS Government Services, which later led to a Nationwide role. Three years ago I was promoted to Culinary Director, where I’m responsible for the food offer for our clients in the UK Military.
I’m still a supporter of helping young people into my Industry, and support Springboard UK and also Compass’ own Apprenticeship programmes.
My role also extends globally and I hold one of the nineteen positions on the Compass Global Culinary Council, advocating and supporting positive changes for our Chefs worldwide. I represent the UK on a “People” sub-committee, discussing gender and race equality, levelling up of pay, responsibilities, job roles and understanding how to support Chef-colleagues in my position.
Jennifer Grint | Consultant | FTI Consulting
Jenny is ambitious and determined to use her relentless optimism and psychological background to drive changes in the workplace.
Jenny consistently demonstrates excellence and a passion for people, focussing on the human aspect to encourage the best from her team.
At university, Jenny juggled her degree in Psychological and Behavioural Sciences with tutoring, interning as a Content Creator, and working as a Research Assistant. She enjoyed psychology because she enjoyed learning what creates a nurturing environment that encourages success. Jenny used this to get her pupils into their desired schools, and to drive the content of her internship. Jenny was the second Tongan to graduate from Cambridge; the first with a first-class degree, a prize for her results, and a published research paper on the impact of the digital world on adolescent social needs.
In her 2.5 years at FTI, she has assisted on several projects relating to fraud allegations against large banks while simultaneously working towards her ACA. Continuing her focus on people, she helped start two internal workstreams to improve communications and transparency within the workplace. Most recently, she was made lead Project Manager across two multi-million-pound contracts, at just age 23. She leads senior stakeholder management, coordinates multiple workstreams, and facilitates delivery of the projects overall.
Jenny is an advocate of finding a healthy work-life balance, and continues to make time for mentoring young students, as well as baking. She’s excited to see where her career goes, and hopes to build a workspace that is more human!