Mentor profiles
A list of mentors is available below. You can link to a short profile of each mentor, detailing their experience and what they have to offer. Each has volunteered to be a mentor and is committed to the principles of the programme.
Once you have chosen your mentor, please email Stella Ekkeshis or Jenny Enever and they will approach your first choice and ask whether they would be happy to mentor you.
The mentors will invest in the relationship and as such will only be able to work with a limited number of mentees. If your first choice cannot be accommodated, please consider alternative options.
If you have any questions regarding the Alumni Network Mentoring Programme, or would like to get involved as a mentor, please contact the alumni team.
Lucia Ainsworth (alumnus)
Gareth Ash
Stephen Denyer (alumnus)
Andrew Disley
Sheila Fahy
Cornelius Fischer-Zernin (alumnus)
Richard Grove
Catherine Husted (alumnus)
Jonathan Lawrence (alumnus)
Edward Mackaness
Tony McKenna
Kenneth Okumura (alumnus)
Bob Picken (alumnus)
Mark Slater (alumnus)
Jeremy Thomas (alumnus)
Rich Wyman
Lucia Ainsworth (alumnus)
Former associate, London office
Career History
I spent nearly 9 years in private practice specialising in asset finance (at Clyde & Co, Dentons and latterly Allen & Overy) before moving in-house in May 2000. I spent 5 ½ years at Angel Trains leading a small team supporting the commercial and finance teams buying and leasing trains and sourcing our third party funding before moving to Lloyds Banking Group to help establish the Wholesale Divisional legal team, which I ran for over a year through the height of the recession and the merger with HBOS before setting up and running the new legal team to support the global restructuring business of the Group. I took a career break in 2011-13 to compete in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2011-12 and to travel before returning to asset finance in my current role at DVB Bank SE.
Qualifications and professional bodies
LLB Law from Brunel University. Member of the Law Society of England and Wales.
What I have to offer and why I want to be a mentor
I have always been interested in helping people fulfil their potential and counselling generally (I am a volunteer at Cruse Bereavement Care), have been a mentor (both formally and informally) in the past and believe that with my skills and breadth of experience, I am well placed to offer guidance and support to potential mentees.
Gareth Ash
Chief Information Officer, London
A&O Career
Programme Manager, Head of Service Delivery, CIO
Career History
BUPA, Prudential
What I have to offer and why I want to be a mentor
Through my career, past and present, and my current position as head of IT, I have a wide range of experiences in managing people, budgets, stakeholders, projects and suppliers, and have come across most situations.
I feel I can use these experiences to help others build on their strengths, realise their potential or discover ways to work through difficult situations or decisions.
Stephen Denyer (alumnus)
Former Global Markets partner, Frankfurt office
A&O Career
For over 25 years Stephen has been at the forefront of the globalisation of legal services. With an extensive track record of creating bonds with lawyers and law firms from different jurisdictions and cultures, he has played an instrumental role in the internationalisation of both Allen & Overy and of legal practice. He is also an author, commentator and strategic advisor as well as a respected manager and leader. From 2014 Stephen is now at the Law Society.
Career History
Allen & Overy LLP
- Global Markets Partner, 2009-2014
- International Development Partner, 2007-2009
- Regional Managing Partner for Europe (with responsibility for the firm’s offices in Continental Europe), 1997-2007
- Co-Managing Partner of the Italian offices, 2003-2006
- Managing Partner, Germany, 1998-2000
- Managing Partner, Warsaw, 1995-1997
- Partner in charge of the Central & Eastern European practice with overall responsibility for its offices in Warsaw, Prague, Budapest and Moscow, 1990-1997
- Partner, 1987-present
- Associate, 1980-1987
- Trainee solicitor, 1978-1980
Qualifications and Professional Bodies
Registered European lawyer, Germany, 1998
Freeman of the City of London Solicitors’ Company, 1988
Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 1980
BA, Law, Durham University, 1978
What I have to offer and why I want to be a mentor
I have been mentoring people formally and informally for many years. I enjoy it and am good at it.
Andrew Disley
Executive Director, London
A&O Career
I joined A&O in 2001 and was promoted to Executive Director in 2005. I am responsible for the firm’s taxation affairs and for delivering remuneration to the partners.
Career History
I trained as an auditor and, subsequently, specialised in taxation, spending 14 years working for two of the Big Eight (now four!) accountancy firms.
I subsequently worked for five years as an international tax manager within an insurance company (RSA) and have now been with A&O for over 12 years.
Qualifications and professional bodies
Cambridge University – MA (Natural Sciences)
Warwick University – MBA
Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales – FCA
Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation – CTA
Member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers – MCT
What I have to offer and why I want to be a mentor
I have been at A&O for over 12 years in a relatively senior position. I have been involved in a number of high level and sensitive projects. I am used to working with people in other departments and I have a good understanding of how the firm works.
I am a little long in the tooth and have, therefore, learnt from experience during my career. I am still here, however, so I must have some survival skills. I would be happy to help out in whatever way I can.
Sheila Fahy
PSL Counsel, London
A&O Career
Joined A&O’s employment team in 1997 as one of the country’s first professional support lawyers (PSLs for short but called information officers back then). I am currently PSL Counsel with a particular interest in diversity and equality, and the opportunities that the digital age brings.
Career History
Prior to joining A&O, I worked in the Law Commission’s statute law revision team for two years. Some of my most valuable experience was gained in my pre-lawyer days, where I worked in sectors as diverse as entertainment, oil and fashion.
Qualifications and professional bodies
LLB from University College London.
Called to the Bar 1994.
What I have to offer and why I want to be a mentor
I adore mentoring, particularly women, because (and I know this is a stereotype) they under-sell or don’t see their abilities and skills. There is nothing more beautiful than to see a person blossom, grow in confidence, and rise to the challenge.
As a mentor, I will be honest, sensitive and (sometimes) pushy to get you where you want to be, or where you can be.
I am happy to mentor men too.
Cornelius Fischer-Zernin (alumnus)
Former partner, Hamburg office
A&O Career
Joined A&O in April 2001 to establish the Hamburg office. Practice group: corporate with an emphasis on energy and real estate work. Managing Partner of the German offices from 2002 to 2007. Senior Partner of the German offices from 2007 to 2009. Retired in April 2012 at the age of 62.
Member (chair) of the constitutional committee 2009-2010
Member of the Project Horizon committee 2010-2011
Career History
2012-present CFZ Legal (my own law firm, just me and myself) www.cfz-legal.com
1978-2001 White & Case and its German predecessor firms (partner as of 1983 and managing partner from 1998 to 2000)
1977-1978 In-house counsel at Hamburgische Landesbank – Girozentrale (today HSH Nordbank)
Qualifications and professional bodies
German Rechtsanwalt / Dr. jur.
Member of committees of the German Bar (Bundesrechtsanwaltskammer), first of the committee on deregulation and competition (now continued as a small task force of the president of the German Bar), currently of the committee on professional rules (BRAO – Bundesrechtsanwaltsordnung)
What I have to offer and why I want to be a mentor
When I retired from A&O, setting up my own practice because I felt too young to stop, I continued to stay in touch with my real estate team in Hamburg and this developed into a de facto mentoring scheme with the associates, more with some, less with others. To me it is a real joy to see them develop their practice and their careers. When we meet we discuss topics of mutual interest without a given agenda. I can draw on the wealth of my experience of more than 35 years in the legal profession, acting as a lawyer engaged in client work, performing managing roles and engaging with support staff, associates of all ages and partners on a global level.
I was actively involved in the recruitment work at White & Case and its German predecessor firms as well as at A&O. I have successfully developed associates to partners or assisted associates through their career progression into partnership.
I have a certain insight into the spirit and soul of A&O, having interacted with a large number of A&O partners and having been involved in functions with a certain exposure to many of them. I have immensely enjoyed being a partner in such a great firm, and it would be my pleasure to be able to return some of this joy and enthusiasm to others.
Richard Grove
Director of Marketing & BD, London
A&O Career
Richard is the global Marketing BD and Communications director at A&O. Richard joined A&O in 2007. He is on the Kogan Page Editorial Board (Marketing), speaks at various marketing conferences and provides training to A&O Relationship firms around the world. He also runs marketing workshops for partners, associates and members of the marketing function across many different offices across the A&O network.
Career History
Richard has spent his entire career in marketing, having started in consultancy, developing marketing strategies for the likes of Unilever Plc, PepsiCo and the Welcome Foundation. After six years in private equity and a secondment to the Under Secretary of State for the Department of the Environment, Richard joined Sema Group Plc (now Atos Origin) as Director of Global Marketing. In mid-2002, he joined CMG Plc as Marketing Director and helped realise the Logica–CMG merger, becoming Group Marketing Director of the combined Logica entity (now CGI). Richard joined A&O in 2007.
Qualifications and professional bodies
Richard graduated from Cambridge University with an MA in Law.
What I have to offer and why I want to be a mentor
If any of the following are relevant as areas for support, then I have had some useful experience both prior to joining A&O and as a director of A&O:
- building and selling a business case to partners
- developing team structures
- investing in new offices
- new product/service development
- facilitating global collaboration
- planning and implementing global projects
- building personal profile and networks
- strategic and scenario planning
- internal communications planning
Catherine Husted
Former partner, Hong Kong
Career History
I joined Allen & Overy in March 1990 and qualified into the ICM Department in March 1992. I then spent three more years in the London Office before relocating to the Hong Kong Office in July 1996 and was a made a Partner in May 1998. I retired from the firm at the end of April 2012 and I am now currently working for a range of NGOs, including being a Board Director of Community Business Limited in Hong Kong.
Qualifications and professional bodies
BA Jurisprudence from Oxford University. Member of the Law Society of England and Wales.
What I have to offer and why I want to be a mentor
I have always been interested in helping people fulfill their potential and I see mentoring as a key way of enabling this. I believe that with my skills and breadth of experience (including formulating formal mentoring programmes), I am well placed to offer guidance and support to potential mentees.
Jonathan Lawrence
Former associate, Global Loans
Career history
1995-2000 Trainee & Associate, Hogan Lovells
2000-2005 Associate, Allen & Overy
2005-present Partner, K&L Gates
Qualifications and professional bodies
LLB (Law with French) Birmingham University 1993. Member of the Law Society.
What I have to offer and why I want to be a mentor
I am chair of K&L Gates’ London Diversity Committee and sit on our Global Diversity Committee. I enjoy sponsoring people to develop their careers.
Specific areas where I feel I can offer support
LGBT and other diverse mentees. I am particularly keen to help people use their personal networks for business development.
Edward Mackaness
Associate Director, Business Services, London
A&O Career
Joined as General Manager – Business Services, London in 2008 and promoted to Associate Director in 2012. Principal responsibilities include all real estate leasing for the firm, document production, document checking and creative services, and business services in London.
Career History
Formerly at Ernst & Young as management consultant in business risk services. Clients included Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and HBOS. Previous work includes Director of Corporate Property Services at Prudential plc and North America Portfolio Manager for BT Plc. Prior to that, spent five years in the British Army.
Qualifications and professional bodies
Member of Royal Chartered Institute of Surveyors (MRICS)
What I have to offer and why I want to be a mentor
I have several years of experience of managing large multi-functional teams. To do my job, I have to have a very good understanding of the business director, and the main drivers of change and risks to the firm. I want to be a mentor as I really believe that A&O makes a difference because of the way it looks after its people, and I want to be able to share my experience, the highs and lows, of working successfully in professional services.
Tony McKenna
Global IT Head of Business Solution Management, London
A&O Career
Information Technology – Business Solutions Management
Career History
Joined A&O in 2008 in the role of European Programme Manager, expanded in 2009 to take on global remit across all projects, in 2011 took on my current role as Global Head of BSM – responsible for Global Projects, Global Application development and support, and London relationship management.
Qualifications and professional bodies
I was 24 years in the Utility industry, starting as a Craft Apprentice in Scotland and working up to Head of Business Architecture and Strategy for Edf UK, based in London.
I also spent a year as a Business Development Manager for a small recruitment consultancy in 2000/1.
What I have to offer and why I want to be a mentor
I enjoy helping people to maximise their potential and achieve their career aspirations. Throughout my career I have benefited from learning from many key individuals in the organisations where I have worked (not always in technology) and I feel that I am well placed to provide support and advice from the experience I have gained to date.
Kenneth Okumura
Former associate, London office
Career History
I trained at Lovells (now Hogan Lovells), qualifying in August 2005 into the Private Equity group. In May 2006 I moved to Allen & Overy with a Partner to join C6 as it was then which encompassed the Private Equity department. After three years working at Allen & Overy, I made a move to the Caribbean, working in the British Virgin Islands to start up a Corporate practice for a relatively new law firm – a role that involved a significant amount of business development and marketing. In 2013 I moved back onshore to join SJ Berwin (now King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin) in London in the International Funds team doing a mix of Private Equity transactional work and pure Funds work. I soon decided that I wanted to make a radical change in direction and decided to move into legal recruitment, moving to Robert Walters in July 2013.
Qualifications and professional bodies University College London, LLB Laws, Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales (2005), Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (British Virgin Islands) (2010)
What I have to offer and why I want to be a mentor
I first got a taste for mentoring when I mentored a GCSE student during my time at Lovells. I enjoyed being able to share my experience (and mistakes) with him in order to maybe make his path a little easier. I have a fairly different profile to other Mentors, having made a move out of the law and into recruitment, so I can offer a different viewpoint and experience from career lawyers. I am happy to share my experiences of life as an associate, moving firms, moving jurisdictions and making a complete career change.
Alex Pease (alumnus)
Former partner, London and Tokyo
A&O Career
Joined A&O as an articled clerk in 1979
Qualified into the Banking Department 1981
Associate in Dubai office 1983-1986
Partner Banking Department, London office 1989-1993
Managing Partner, Tokyo Office 1993-1998
Partner Projects Group 1998-2005
Retired 2005
Partner London office and Chairman India Group 2007-2009
Chairman Alumni Network 2005-2015
Career History
Oxford University 1975-1978
Territorial Army 1975-1983
Allen & Overy 1979-2005
Curate, Church of England 2012-present
What I have to offer and why I want to be a mentor
I have experience of life after being a partner at A&O. My wife and I have given talks to new partners on managing committed personal relationships while being a lawyer at A&O. I think I can see a bigger picture now – and hope that that perspective may be of value to serving lawyers. As a CofE priest, one of my roles is to listen to others and sometimes give a bit of guidance.
Former associate, London office
Career History
I joined A&O in 1993 and qualified into the Banking department in 1995. I left in 2001 to join BPP as a lecturer. I am now a director of the Accelerated LPC – a bespoke course for students sponsored by five major City firms. I have trained as an executive coach and coach a small number of students each cohort on confidence issues.
Qualifications and professional bodies
LLB (Hons) with French, Manchester Polytechnic
Law Society Finals, Manchester Polytechnic
Member of the Law Society of England and Wales
What I have to offer and why I want to be a mentor
Mentoring and coaching have always been significant parts of my role at BPP. I have always enjoyed guiding and supporting students both as a personal tutor and laterally as a coach. When I was looking to leave A&O, I was helped by a careers coach, an experience I found particularly rewarding.
Specific areas where I feel I can offer support
My experiences include 5 years of practice in Banking (including 3 client secondments), making a career change and responding to a regular nagging voice that I could be doing more with my life.
Mark Slater (alumnus)
Former senior associate, London
Career History
1990-1998 – Trainee and solicitor in banking department of Allen & Overy
1998-2004 – General counsel of Debt Advisory International, a fund manager and broker
2004-2007 – General counsel of Argo Capital Management, a UK regulated investment manager
2007-2009 – Founding partner and general counsel of Bridge Asset Management, a UK regulated investment manager
2009-2011 – Director of Caledonian Fund Services, a service provider to the hedge fund industry
2011-present – Special counsel and investment manager at Gottex Asset Management (UK) Limited, a regulated and listed fund of hedge fund manager
Qualifications and professional bodies:
LLB Hons from University of Bristol Member of the Law Society of England and Wales
What I have to offer and why I want to be a mentor:
I have worked in many different roles in a legal capacity and with other responsibilities. I have experienced life as a private practice lawyer in a busy City firm. I have worked in house dealing with external advisers and being asked to contribute business focussed advice. I have set up and closed down my own fund management business. The variety of roles I have undertaken in my working life has given me a different perspective to many others who start out as solicitors. I hope I can use this experience to give others a more rounded view to use in examining their own goals.
Specific areas where I feel I can offer support:
My experience lies in financial services and the legal profession. People who want to explore one or both of these areas would gain most from working with me.
Jeremy Thomas (alumnus)
Former partner, London and New York
Career History
Joined A&O in September 1980 and qualified into Corporate in September 1982.
Associate in London office 1982-1986
Associate in Dubai office 1986-1988
Partner 1990
Partner in New York office 1992-1994
Seconded as Deputy Legal Director, BAE Systems 1994-1996
Managing Partner Corporate Department 1998-2001
Qualified Coach and Founder of Outside Insight 2007
Qualifications and professional bodies
MA (Law) Christ’s College, Cambridge
Certificate in Coaching, Henley Business School
What I have to offer and why I want to be a mentor
I was involved in all aspects of people development at A&O and am now a qualified coach.
Rich Wyman
Senior Management, Professional Development, New York
A&O Career
I’ve been at A&O for almost four years in my current role as Senior Manager, Professional Development.
Career History
I practiced law for four and a half years (half as an Employment Lawyer and half on an independent examiner team investigating WorldCom), worked two years at Dale Carnegie Training as a course instructor and consultant, and almost ten years in Attorney Development at law firms including six at K&L Gates and almost four years at A&O.
Qualifications and professional bodies
Cornell University – BS, Human Development
University of Pennsylvania Law School – JD
What I have to offer and why I want to be a mentor
I very much enjoy the counselling and career development role of my job and have worked closely with mentors and mentees. I also have about 14 years’ experience working in law firms so have a good background in many of the issues that often arise, including on the administrative/managerial side.
If you have any questions regarding the Alumni Network Mentoring Programme, or would like to get involved as a mentor, please contact the alumni team.