The University of Law ‘Law Conference’ (LawCon 2025)
Host Campus: London Moorgate
Venue: Room M- TR401/TR 402/TR 403/TR 404/TR 405/TR406 – LG
 
Conference Agenda: Subject to change*

• 9:15 AM - 9:55 AM: Registration and Coffee Connect
• 10:00 AM - 10:10 AM: Welcome and Opening Speech
  • Speakers: Peter Bolaji/Patrick Johnson (PVC)/Lord David Neuberger (Chancellor, The University of Law)
• 10:10 AM - 10:55 AM: Keynote Talk: Navigating the Future of Law and your career: Bridging Academia, Practice, and Technology
  • Keynote Speaker: Dr Trevor D. Sterling (Hon.Causa)
• 10:55 AM - 11:05 AM: Short Break
• 11:05 AM - 11:50 AM: Panel Discussion I: You and Your Career
  • Moderator: John Watkins
  • Panellists: Dr Trevor D. Sterling (Hon.Causa), Aruna Verma, Jake Schogger, Emma Velkova
• 11:50 AM - 12:25 PM: Talk I: From Law School to Legal Practice: Bridging the Gap and essential skills for success
  • Speaker: Steph Lartey
• 12:25 PM - 13:00 PM: Networking Break/ Bingo Ice Breaker
• 13:00 PM - 13:40 PM: Panel Discussion II: AI and digital transformation in Legal Practice: Opportunities, Challenges and Ethical Considerations
  • Moderator: John Watkins
  • Speaker: Patrick Grant, Jasmine Yu, Maria Victoria Yutse
• 13:40 PM - 14:15 PM: 2 Breakout Sessions/Workshop:
  • Breakout Session 1: Artificial Intelligence and Legal Practice
  • Facilitator 1: Natasha McAllister
  • Breakout Session 2: Evolving Frontiers in Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Facilitator 2: Nishant Singh
• 14: 15 PM – 14:25 PM: Short Break
• 14:25 PM - 14: 40 PM: ADR Talk
• 14:40 PM - 15:25 PM: Panel Discussion III: The future of Law: Emerging Trends and Opportunities
  • Moderator: John Watkins
  • Panellists: Dr Andreas Yiannaros, Ayo Oketunji, Saffron Gilbert, Adanna Ezechukwu
• 15:25 PM - 16:05 PM: Talk II: Balancing your mental health and career
  • Speaker: Hannah Beko
• 16:05 PM – 16:15 PM: Final Remarks/Feedback/Closing
  • Speaker: Peter Bolaji
• 16:15 PM – 17:00 PM: Networking 

 

 

Lord David Neuberger: Chancellor, The University of Law

Lord Neuberger graduated with a degree in natural science from Oxford and worked at a merchant bank until he entered Lincoln's Inn and was called to the English Bar in 1974. He specialised in property law, and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1987 and became a Bencher of Lincoln's Inn in 1993. 
From 1996 to 2004, he served as a Judge of the Chancery Division of the High Court. He was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2004 and a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary in 2007. He became Master of the Rolls in 2009, and in 2012 he was appointed President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. He retired from that post in September 2017. 
He has since been practising as an arbitrator, mediator and legal expert from One Essex Court. He became a Non-Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal in 2009 and a Judge of the Singapore International Commercial Court in 2018, and continues to sit in both courts. 
Lord Neuberger was Treasurer of Lincoln’s Inn in 2017, and was elected an honorary Fellow of the Royal Society the same year. He is an honorary Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He was appointed Chancellor of the University of Law in 2018. He has received honorary doctorates from UCL, Queen Mary London, York, Exeter, and Oxford. He is President of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, and of the Academy of Experts. He is also a trustee of Prisoners Abroad, and of Mental Health Research UK and, a Patron of Sapere.
 

Dr Trevor D. Sterling (Hon.Causa)

Dr 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 CILEX Lawyer before qualifying as a Solicitor. Trevor was elected Senior partner at 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. In 2024 he was awarded two Doctorates of Law, from the University of Law and from the University of Roehampton.

 

Aruna Verma

Aruna Verma is a distinguished lawyer, associate professor, and Campus Dean at The University of Law, Moorgate. With a strong background in legal education and practice, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of legal professionals.
Aruna is known for her contributions to legal scholarship, mentorship, and commitment to advancing diversity in the legal profession. Her leadership ensures that the Moorgate campus remains a hub for aspiring solicitors and barristers.
Aruna also sits as a Chair at The Valuation Tribunal and the Chair of Governors at a local school. Aruna is a trained mediator and online dispute resolution specialist.

 

Dr Andreas Yiannaros

Dr Andreas Yiannaros is an Associate Professor and Programme & Student Lead at The University of Law. He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE), constituency representative of the Society of Legal Scholars (UK) and country-member of the European Commission on Sexual Orientation Law since 2010. He is listed as an external expert to the Council of Europe and the European Union, advising on matters pertaining to equality law, and has assisted various organisations with third party interventions to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Andreas is widely published in peer-reviewed journals on, inter alia, conflict of rights under the ECHR and human rights accountability for multinational corporations.

 

Patrick Grant

Patrick Grant is the University of Law’s first Associate Professor by job role, reflecting his leading work in legal technology and education. A non-practising solicitor with a master’s in law and economics from the Universities of Bologna and Gent, he began his academic career overseas before joining the University of Law’s Leeds Campus in 2017.
Patrick has led a number of major initiatives, including the launch of the University’s Legal and Technology Hub in Leeds, bringing together the legal sector, business, and local government. As Project Director for Legal Tech and Innovation, he has helped shape both curriculum and strategy, developing LLB Tech modules and AI training for staff.
A Fellow of Advance HE, Patrick teaches across several subjects including Criminal Law and Intellectual Property. He regularly speaks at conferences and writes on AI, legal tech, and access to justice.

 

Jake Schogger

Jake Schogger is a best-selling commercial awareness author, ex-Magic Circle lawyer, the founder and CEO of Commercial Law Academy and a career coach, delivering employability and skills presentations at leading universities and law firms nationwide. Jake trained at Freshfields, then spent years at a boutique law firm advising start-ups and scale-ups. Commercial Law Academy is a comprehensive e-learning platform for aspiring commercial lawyers, offering 25 on demand expert-led courses designed to help young professionals ace law applications, interviews and internships; learn about law firms and the role of lawyers; build and apply commercial awareness; and successfully navigate professional environments.

 

Maria Victoria (Mavi) Yuste

Maria Victoria (Mavi) Yuste is a prominent legal tech influencer who also leads Managed Review Services in EMEA for Conduent’s Legal, Compliance, and Analytics group. An experienced eDiscovery strategist, Mavi has a strong track record of delivering innovative solutions and driving the adoption of advanced legal technologies across complex matters.
Mavi began her legal career as a litigation lawyer in Barcelona, working at top-tier firms before moving to New York to complete a Master’s in Conflict and Dispute Resolution at NYU. Her international background and cross-functional expertise make her a trusted leader in the legal tech space.

 

Ayo Oketunji

Ayo is a Managing Associate in the Commercial Litigation department at Stephenson Harwood, which has a market leading disputes practice. She has over 10 years’ experience representing a wide range of clients, including banks, corporates, funds and ultra-high net worth individuals, in disputes which often involve an international element. Her work is varied and covers banking and finance, professional negligence, complex contractual and insolvency litigation. Ayo also has extensive experience in ADR, acting on behalf of clients in mediations and settlement negotiations to achieve commercial resolutions.

 

Steph Lartey

Steph is a lawyer specialising in capital markets and ESG, and a 2021 UK Legal Diversity Awards Finalist. She is the co-founder of Doceo, a social enterprise supporting 14–18-year-olds with post-education success, and the founder of Success With Steph — a platform empowering first-gen professionals, especially introverted Black women, to thrive in corporate spaces. Through affirmations, events, and content, Steph champions intentional living, career clarity, and confidence-building, with a mission to make corporate spaces more accessible, inclusive, and human.

 

Hannah Beko

A practising commercial property lawyer of 20 years, Hannah is passionate about the importance of personal and professional development for legal professionals. After coaching and training thousands of lawyers, industry expert Hannah co-authored Future Proof Your Legal Career: 10 core areas of professional development and published her own bestselling book The Authentic Lawyer in 2022. Hannah is also a podcast host and a keynote speaker on leadership, authenticity, mental health and wellbeing in the legal profession.

 

Adanna Ezechukwu

Adanna is a Barrister, the Director of Access Law Legal Services, a pioneering legal advisor specialising in family law and access to justice. Known for her clear, compassionate approach, she has supported countless individuals navigating complex legal systems with confidence. Beyond her practice, she is a dynamic public speaker, delivering impactful talks on mindset shifts and provides an humane outlook on law.

 

Nishant Nath Singh

Nishant is a Senior Associate in the International Arbitration team at Stewarts. Specialising in international arbitration and commercial litigation, his wide-ranging and varied experience advising clients covers all aspects of dispute resolution and investigation matters. Nishant’s experience covers arbitration proceedings under the major institutional rules as well as arbitration-related litigation. He also works within Stewarts’ India practice, advising and achieving the best outcomes for clients on India-focused matters.
Nishant is active in the London disputes community, with a growing reputation amongst young practitioners, and regularly mentors aspiring solicitors including law students and young practitioners in both the UK and India.

 

Jasmine Yu

Jasmine Yu is a Legal Technology Assistant at Mills & Reeve, specialising in legal process optimisation and innovation. With a strong foundation in project management, she is passionate about delivering practical, user-focused legal technology solutions that improve efficiency and access to justice. Her work spans service design and digital transformation, with a focus on AI and automation. Having studied and worked across the UK, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong, Jasmine offers a global perspective on how technology is reshaping legal systems and driving more inclusive, forward-thinking legal services.

 

Saffron Gilbert

Saffron is Founder and CEO at The Law Chronicle, a regulatory tech company, as well as a UN Ambassador at the United Nations Net Zero Facility Capital Fund. Her legal career spans impactful roles, including working alongside the UK Government and HM Treasury, contributions to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Entrepreneurship, a Forbes 30 under 30 honouree, a guest fellow at the Royal Academy of Engineering, lecturer at Durham University Business School and founding The Corporate Law Journal. She has also frequently appeared on national and international news on platforms such as ITV News’ Good Morning Britain and Bloomberg News.

Natasha McAllister

Natasha McAllister is a seasoned data and privacy professional with over 20 years of experience in Information Management, including a decade in Information Security and eight years in Data Privacy. As Manager of AI and Responsible Data & Privacy Delivery at Cognizant, she leads global projects on AI governance, privacy compliance, and ethical data use. She holds multiple certifications, including CISM, CIPT, CIPM, and CIPP/E, and is currently pursuing an MSc in Cybersecurity. Natasha has advised leading financial, telecom, and retail organizations across the UK, USA, and the Middle East on GDPR, PDPL, and CCPA compliance and AI risk frameworks.