Centre for Business Law and Practice announces advisory board renewal

The Centre for Business Law and Practice is excited to announce the successful renewal of its Advisory Board for the next three years.

The Advisory Board (AB) is instrumental to the Centre for Business Law and Practice (CBLP)'s mission of advancing knowledge and understanding in key areas of business law, including corporate law, commercial law, competition law, environmental law, financial regulation, insolvency law, and FinTech. It serves as a bridge between academic research and the practical needs of legal professionals, regulators, and businesses, ensuring that the Centre remains responsive to emerging trends and challenges in the field.

Strategic renewal to shape the future of business law

Under the leadership of Professor Duncan Sheehan, Director of CBLP, and Dr Virág Blazsek, Deputy Director of CBLP, and with contributions from the entire CBLP team, the Advisory Board’s renewal represents a step forward in achieving the Centre’s objectives of strategic development, fostering collaboration and research impact.

Continuing expertise and new perspectives

The newly formed AB combines the expertise of long-serving members with fresh insights from highly qualified new members:

Returning members:

Richard Calnan (Partner, Norton Rose, London)

Russell Kelsall (Partner, Walker Morris, Leeds)

New members:

Paul Anderson (Partner, Squire Patton Boggs, Leeds)

David Bearman (Leeds Law alum, Founding Partner, Firefly Capital, London)

Zsuzsa Elek (Solicitor, Financial Conduct Authority, London)

Myrte Thijssen (Legal Officer, UNIDROIT, Rome)

Cristina Volpin (Competition Policy Expert, OECD & European Commission, Brussels)

Role and responsibilities of the advisory board

The Board’s role includes providing strategic advice on the CBLP’s research agenda, events, and broader initiatives, highlighting emerging legal issues and trends to inform and shape the Centre’s focus, and facilitating collaborations between academia and the legal profession, including identifying potential speakers and contributors for conferences, seminars, and workshops.

Building global connections

With representation from prominent legal practitioners, regulators, and policymakers across the UK, Europe, and beyond, the AB renewal strengthens the Centre’s capacity to address the needs of the legal and business communities globally. This diverse and international team will drive innovative approaches and open new avenues for collaboration and research impact with regulators, policymakers, and private practitioners.

Looking ahead

The renewed Advisory Board will meet regularly to guide the CBLP’s direction and ensure it remains a hub of cutting-edge research, impactful events, and meaningful partnerships in business law. Learn more by clicking here.

For more information about the CBLP and its activities, please visit their website by clicking here.