Conference Speakers

Paul Philip, Chief Executive, Solicitors Regulation Authority 

Paul joined the Solicitors Regulation Authority as Chief Executive in 2014. Since then, he has delivered an ambitious programme of reform. This includes the introduction of an up-to-date regulatory model that supports a modern, competitive, legal sector and a full review of how solicitors qualify and enter the profession. He has also developed the SRA role as an anti-money laundering supervisor as well as making significant operational improvements.

Paul has previously held senior roles in the medical, health and legal sectors. 

Sam Townend KC, Chair of the Bar 2024

Sam Townend KC is Chair of the Bar 2024. Sam is a silk at Keating Chambers and practises in domestic and international construction, energy and professional negligence work. He is also a mediator and adjudicator, and a Bencher at Lincoln's Inn. 

Sam was the co-chair of the Bar Council Legal Services Committee in 2022 and has chaired the Bar’s Regulatory Review Working Group. He is a former member of the Young Barristers’ Committee and Treasurer of the Free Representation Unit.

Julian Acratopulo, Head of the International Commercial Litigation Group, Clifford Chance

Julian Acratopulo is the Head of the International Commercial Litigation Group at Clifford Chance. The partnership is a British multinational law firm with headquarters in London, is a member of the Magic Circle and ranks as one of top ten largest law firms in the world.

Julian advises on a wide range of contentious matters including general corporate, commercial and financial litigation and global regulatory investigations. He has also been the President of the London Solicitors Litigation Association and has instructed many expert witnesses in his career.

Haydn Kelly, Consultant Podiatrist and International Expert Witness

Haydn Kelly is a consultant podiatrist and international expert witness experienced in medico-legal and forensic matters. He is Cardiff University Bond Solon (CUBS) accredited expert witness; has a degree in Podiatric Medicine; Fellowships in Podiatric Surgery and a Fellow of the Faculty of Podiatric Medicine at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow.

He is a former elected Dean of Podiatric Surgery (UK) and during his tenure secured access to resources for the further development of podiatry which had not previously been achieved. He is in Guinness World Records, being the first expert witness to give Forensic Gait Analysis evidence in criminal law. His clinical career in Harley Street spans more than three decades and his global consultancy work includes extending the uses of gait analysis and innovation in medical IT and processing capabilities. His textbook on Forensic Gait Analysis was published in 2020.

Katie Gollop KC, Serjeants' Inn

Katie Gollop KC will be speaking at our medico-legal session. Katie took silk in 2016 and has a broadly based healthcare law practice. She is a highly experienced clinical negligence trial advocate, recently acting for the successful claimant in a case that established the standard of care required of professionals measuring child head circumference. She has a public law practice involving challenges to healthcare decisions (e.g. provision of cannabis derived medicinal products, transplant waiting lists, and travel abroad for life-sustaining treatment).

As to ethical work, Katie undertakes complex welfare CoP applications and serious medical treatment cases, many of which attract national news coverage. For example, she represented the NHS Trust in the Charlie Gard case, and Archie Battersbee through his Cafcass Guardian. She represents families and healthcare providers at high profile inquests, including the widow of one of the seven men murdered by Al-Qaeda terrorists at In Amenas, and ‘Spire’ at the inquests touching the deaths of former patients of breast surgeon Ian Paterson. She represented The Haemophilia Society at the Infected Blood Inquiry.

Katie is quick witted, down to earth, tireless and client-focused. The directories have said she is “charming and deadly” as well as “an astonishing talent”. In 2019, she was appointed a Deputy High Court Judge.

Lucinda Orr, Partner, Enyo Law

Lucinda will be speaking at our commercial session. Lucinda is an accomplished commercial disputes lawyer specialising in complex, high-value cross-border litigation. She has represented high net worth individuals and large institutions in significant trials and is recognised by legal directories including Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners.

Lucinda has spearheaded innovative trial settings, including the first trial with an integrated electronic trial bundle system, and the first fully remote trial with simultaneous interpretation. She has expertise in disclosure-heavy cases in foreign languages. She also acts as Privy Council Agent in offshore jurisdiction appeals and holds several leadership roles within the legal profession, and sits on the Management Committee of the Bar Council of England and Wales, and previously sat on the Management Committee on her Inn of Court, where she is a Bencher. Lucinda has also been appointed by the Lord Chancellor as an Examiner of the Court pursuant to CPR 34.15, and by the Culture Secretary to the Treasure Valuation Committee, to advise on the fair market value of declared Treasure finds from England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Nick Deal, Barrister and Bond Solon Trainer

Nick was called to the bar in 1989 and had a common law practice that included dealing with a range of disputes. He has represented clients before all levels of courts in the UK.

Nick is Bond Solon’s lead Expert Witness Trainer. He has over 20 years’ experience of training expert witnesses in all facets of their work, including: report writing, duties and responsibilities, law and procedure, joint meetings and giving evidence. Nick has worked with experts from all profession disciplines, a great many of whom have gone onto complete our Cardiff University Bond Solon (CUBS) and University of Aberdeen Bond Solon (UABS) Expert Witness Certificates.   

This year, Nick will deliver the Expert Witness Legal Update.