Jo Farquharson

CEO and Founder

Expertise

Leader of dynamic teams and high-profile organisations. Formerly legal and governance head of the Lawn Tennis Association, and Executive Director of its related charity, The Tennis Foundation.

Plays a critical role as a trustee for a number of charities; West London Welcome that supports refugees and asylum seekers, and the LEO Academy Trust.

previous organisations

Tennis Foundation; Lawn Tennis Association; Herbert Smith Freehills

Qualifications

MSc in Leadership and Strategy (London Business School); Solicitor’s Practising Certificate (1999 – 2018); MA in Medieval History (King’s College, London); BA in Ancient History and Latin (Manchester University)

 

DAVID
Farquharson

Founder

“Jane Smith is exceptional, having a great blend of legal skills and commercial acumen as well as injecting a sense of fun into the business.”

Expertise

David is a recognised expert in helping SMEs and start-ups thrive. His experience covers corporate, commercial, employment, data protection and privacy (including GDPR), and dispute resolution. His knowledge of the media and technology sector also means that he is now retained to advise upon the business interests of a number of globally recognised music artists and athletes, together with university spin-outs and intrapreneur groups.

Guest speaker on entrepreneurship at the London Business School, as well as to postgraduate groups at other European universities. David is an Advisor to Africat, a Foundation focusing on wildlife and community conservation in Africa.

previous organisations

Ignition Law; Swan Turton; Osborne Clarke; Herbert Smith Freehills

Qualifications

Solicitor’s Practising Certificate (1999 to date); BSc in Psychology (Nottingham University)

Tim Herbert

Director

“Jane Smith is exceptional, having a great blend of legal skills and commercial acumen as well as injecting a sense of fun into the business.”

Expertise

Tim has nearly 25 years’ experience advising start-ups, SMEs, trusts and individuals on corporate and company commercial matters, in the UK, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. He has particular experience in commercial dispute resolution. Trained at Herbert Smith Freehills and previously a barrister and an instructor for the College of Law in New Zealand, Tim is a regular speaker and contributor on company commercial and dispute resolution issues. He has made multiple appearances in New Zealand’s Courts and Tribunals, including in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.  He continues his advocacy in various forums in the UK.

Based between Devon and London, Tim is a trustee of the Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust. He volunteers for Torbay Hospital Radio and also runs his local pub quiz. He is keen to help businesses in the South-West, as well as in Greater London.

previous organisations

Ignition Law; Jones Day Reavis & Pogue; Herbert Smith Freehills; Coudert Brothers

Qualifications

Brasenose College, Oxford, Law, M.A.(Oxon), 2:1; Oxford Institute of Legal Practice, Diploma in Legal Practice – Merit

Solicitor, admitted in England and Wales, September 1999; Solicitor and Barrister; admitted in New South Wales, Australia, November 2005; Barrister Sole since 2010, admitted as Barrister and Solicitor in New Zealand in December 2005.

lizzie frost

Senior Counsel

“Jane Smith is exceptional, having a great blend of legal skills and commercial acumen as well as injecting a sense of fun into the business.”

Expertise

Specialist in supporting start-ups and SMEs. With a background in corporate law at Slaughter and May, Lizzie advises growth businesses and their founders on corporate and commercial legal issues. She is a trustee of a community centre in Mid-Wales and has been involved in several pro bono projects over the years. Lizzie is an active mum of three small boys.

previous organisations

Slaughter and May; Ignition Law

Qualifications

Solicitor’s Practising Certificate (2013 to date); BA (Hons) in History (Durham University; 1st class).

Teresa Wilcocks

Senior Associate

“Jane Smith is exceptional, having a great blend of legal skills and commercial acumen as well as injecting a sense of fun into the business.”

Expertise

Teresa has broad corporate and commercial experience having acted for clients ranging from individuals and start-ups to large corporates and financial institutions. Her experience includes private M&A, joint ventures, fundraisings and commercial contracts.

Teresa regularly DJs in her spare time and whenever possible combines her love of music with her love of travel to DJ overseas.

previous organisations

CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP; Client secondment to SSE plc.

Qualifications

Solicitors Practising Certificate (2015 to date); LLB in Law with European Legal Systems (University of East Anglia, Norwich).

Jessica
Kimelblat Adler

Associate

SRA Registered Foreign Lawyer (Brazilian Qualified)​

“Jane Smith is exceptional, having a great blend of legal skills and commercial acumen as well as injecting a sense of fun into the business.”

Expertise

With a background in corporate and commercial law and over six years of experience, Jessica now advises start-ups on a range of matters from incorporation throughout their scale-up journey, including the drafting of website terms and conditions (B2B and B2C), internal corporate policies, the drafting and negotiation of commercial agreements as well as other transaction documents in the context of M&A deals and funding rounds. With expertise in data protection, she also advises businesses on best practices in relation to UK GDPR compliance and cross-border data transfers.

previous organisations

Stocche Forbes Advogados; Cescon Barrieu Advogados; Demarest Advogados (Brazilian top-tier law firms)

Qualifications

Brazilian qualified lawyer (2014 – to date); LL.M. degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science (2019-2020) (distinction); a fully certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPPE/E) and an Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) with IAAP – International Association of Privacy Professionals.

 

 

Fehime Cekic

Paralegal

“Jane Smith is exceptional, having a great blend of legal skills and commercial acumen as well as injecting a sense of fun into the business.”

Expertise

Qualified as a lawyer in Turkey and completed an MA in international commercial law in Manchester. Undertaken voluntary legal work in different fields of law such as immigration law, litigation and commercial law.

Passionate about the environment, volunteered for environmental projects such as planting trees and distributing educational books to children.

previous organisations

Immigration Advice Service; The Growth Company; Oncel, Aydin & Uygun Attorney Partnership; Ersan & Co Solicitors

Qualifications

Turkish Qualified Lawyer; L.L.M degree (University of Salford)

Lynsey Braddock

Legal Operations Executive

“Jane Smith is exceptional, having a great blend of legal skills and commercial acumen as well as injecting a sense of fun into the business.”

Expertise

10 years expertise as a legal secretary at a firm of solicitors supporting a team on matrimony and child law, wills, probate and notary work. Previous experience as a Reinsurance Broker in the City of London where she worked for 14 years. Passionate about keeping fit, yoga and spending time with her family.

previous organisations

F Barnes Solicitors; HSBC; Craven and Partners; Minet; Bradstock Blunt & Crawley

Qualifications

Lloyds Introductory Test

Oliver Downie

Senior Consultant, New York

“Jane Smith is exceptional, having a great blend of legal skills and commercial acumen as well as injecting a sense of fun into the business.”

Expertise

Passionate about working for companies and organisations that are committed to their social values and purpose as well as sustainability management. Trained in London, works across a variety of briefs; corporate law, IP and employment issues.

Counsel for a Bio/Agri-Tech business that has designed technology to address some of the world’s most serious environmental challenges.

previous organisations

Ignition Law; Russells; Briffa; Live Nation Entertainment

Qualifications

Solicitor’s Practising Certificate (2014 to date); MBA (LSE); Law LLB (King’s College London)

Julia Montero

Senior Consultant

“Jane Smith is exceptional, having a great blend of legal skills and commercial acumen as well as injecting a sense of fun into the business.”

Expertise

Media, technology and data protection lawyer and entrepreneur with specialism in the creative industries. Provides strategic advice to SMEs and copyright counsel/ virtual GC services to media and technology companies.

Non-Executive Director of the Ivor’s Academy, a member of BLACA, and an Editorial Board Member for the Oxford University Press published Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice.

previous organisations

Ignition Law, Warner Music International, Vodafone Group PLC, EMI, Michael Simkins LLP

Qualifications

Solicitor’s Practising Certificate (2007 to date); LL.M University of London (IP); Law LL.B ( Hons)

Sarah Chiappini

Senior Consultant

“Jane Smith is exceptional, having a great blend of legal skills and commercial acumen as well as injecting a sense of fun into the business.”

Expertise

Specialist charity lawyer, (most latterly with Farrer & Co and Charles Russell Speechlys), advises charities and not for profit organisations. Provides wide range of services including establishing new charities and not for profit organisations; governance and regulatory; constitutional reviews and amendments; tax, trading and fundraising issues.

Member of the Charity Law Association and writes regularly on charity law and related matters.

previous organisations

Berwin Leighton Paisner; Farrer & Co; Charles Russell Speechlys LLP

Qualifications

College of Law (Lancaster Gate); LLB Law (Queen Mary University of London)

Francesca Yardley

Senior Consultant

“Jane Smith is exceptional, having a great blend of legal skills and commercial acumen as well as injecting a sense of fun into the business.”

Expertise

Francesca has a background in supporting a range of companies with funding. Throughout her 18 years of experience from her early days at Linklaters to R&R Ice Cream and Hambro Perks, she has advised Boards of companies on buyouts, fundraising, portfolio management and exit strategies. She now focuses on advising start-up and scale-ups on matters including employee incentive schemes (including EMI option and growth share schemes), general employment law and corporate matters.


Outside of the office, Francesca is an accredited mediator and brings those skills to her role as a magistrate in Guildford’s Family Court and is also an avid ice-skater.

previous organisations

FAY Consulting Limited; Hambro Perks Limited; R&R Ice Cream plc; Linklaters LLP

Qualifications

The Lawyer Awards – Hot 100 (2015); Accredited Mediator – Civil and Commercial (2022); Justice of the Peace – Family (2021); Solicitor of Supreme Court of England and Wales – (2007); Legal Practice, BPP Law School, London, 2003-04 (Distinction); BSc Biomedical Science, Kings College London

Mike Hornsey

Senior Consultant

“Jane Smith is exceptional, having a great blend of legal skills and commercial acumen as well as injecting a sense of fun into the business.”

Expertise

Mike has a fundamental belief that business can be a force for good. He trained at a major international law firm where he helped build the firm’s social enterprise training scheme. 

He now advises start-ups on a range of matters from VC funding rounds, to data protection issues and commercial contracts. Mike also spent some time working for Save the Children and loves helping impact driven organisations succeed. He is an ‘expert in residence’ at Imperial Enterprise Lab and mentors on various other impact programs.

previous organisations

Ignition Law, Save the Children International, Hogan Lovells, Acritas Legal Research.

Qualifications

Solicitor’s Practising Certificate (2017 to date); MA (Cantab) English (Cambridge University).

Liz Candey

CFO

“Jane Smith is exceptional, having a great blend of legal skills and commercial acumen as well as injecting a sense of fun into the business.”

Contact

Expertise

A qualified Chartered Accountant, Liz brings a unique blend of small and global organisational experience to her role as Chief Financial Officer. Throughout her career working for the financial services firm Arthur Andersen and the renowned Lawn Tennis Association amongst others, Liz’s strategic analytical skills have meant that she provides expert financial advice and reporting which aids better business decision-making.

Liz’s interests outside of work include practicing Pilates, long walks with her dog and travelling.

previous organisations

Lawn Tennis Association; Arthur Andersen; Willis Group plc; Associated British Foods plc

Qualifications

Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (1997); Association of Accounting Technicians (1994)

Lisa Charles

Compliance Consultant

“Jane Smith is exceptional, having a great blend of legal skills and commercial acumen as well as injecting a sense of fun into the business.”

Expertise

Lisa is our expert on compliance, risk and regulation. A highly-valued member of our team, Lisa helps us ensure that our policies and procedures are up to date. Her knowledge of SRA compliance, Anti-Money laundering and Professional Conduct requirements is vital to the London Law Collective.

Lisa enjoys spending time outdoors and is a keen runner and with a young family, much of her spare time is spent in the park.  She is a supporter of social enterprise and works closely with third sector businesses and promotes the ethos of ‘business for good’. Lisa is a people person and likes nothing more than sitting around a fire pit on a warm evening with a glass or two of wine!

previous organisations

Jonathon Bray Ltd; NewLaw Solicitors; Capital Law; Harrisons Solicitors

Qualifications

Law Society accredited Lexcel Consultant; Solicitor’s Practising Certificate (2005 to 2015); LLB in Law (Aberystwyth University)

Miki Lentin

Communications Consultant

“Jane Smith is exceptional, having a great blend of legal skills and commercial acumen as well as injecting a sense of fun into the business.”

Expertise

Miki has over twenty years’ experience working in communications across the public and private sectors. In that time, he has been Head of Corporate Affairs at the British Library and has led consumer PR campaigns for major global brands. He now runs his own consultancy offering support to cultural, creative and other organisations.

Miki is also a writer, recently released a collection of short stories and is working on his next book. He volunteers with refugees in Greece with the charity FoodKIND, works with the refugee charity Breaking Barriers and is a Governor of Highgate Wood Secondary School.

previous organisations

British Library; Burson-Marsteller; Ketchum PR

Qualifications

MA Creative Writing (Birkbeck, University of London); MA History Hons (University of Edinburgh)

Lyra, Santi & Ollie

Our Gatekeepers

“Jane Smith is exceptional, having a great blend of legal skills and commercial acumen as well as injecting a sense of fun into the business.”

Expertise

Lyra

It has to be said that law is not my strong point – it amazes me how everyone sticks to all those rules. I find them baffling and often transgress without realising or just because I find it too tempting. However, the CEO tells me that people are often the same and that’s why law firms are in demand. It’s nice to know we’re not so very different after all.

Santi

I’m a thoughtful young hound. As Shakespeare said, “The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool”. You know what? In both cases, I think he was talking about my ancestors. I’m happy in any echelon of society, bringing a ‘joie de vivre’ to any situation.

Ollie

While I may not boast a traditional legal education (who needs it when you’ve got my paw-some instincts?), my knack for sniffing out justice is unmatched. Though I must confess, my passion for snacks often leads me astray – a trait my colleagues know all too well! But fear not, for beneath my insatiable appetite lies the heart of a calm and collected legal beagle, always ready to tackle any challenge that comes our way by being the perfect companion in high-stakes negotiations and intense meeting dramas.