Committees

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Westminster and Holborn Law Society Committee 2021/22

Our Sub-Committees:-

Education and Training: Chair, Nicola Rubbert

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: Co-Chairs, Coral Hill & Catherine Michel

International: Co-Chairs Carolina Marín Pedreño & Jeffrey Forrest

Junior Lawyers Division: Chairs, Keshia Bushay-Ellis & Felicia Munde

Law Reform: Chair, Philip Henson

Litigation: Chair, Isabella Ritchie

Membership: Chair, Joanne Skolnick

CSR & Pro Bono: Chair, Debjani Biswas-Hawkes

Publicity & Social Media: Chair, Beth Balkham

If you are interested in getting involved with one of our committees, please email cwhlawsoc@gmail.com to discuss how you can join us.

Matthew Allan President

Matthew is a solicitor-advocate at Mayfair-based Astraea Group where he specialises in commercial litigation and

international arbitration. He is also the Co-Vice Chair of the Society’s International Committee which develops

professional links with lawyers and their clients throughout Europe and further afield. Matt is looking forward to

helping build the Society’s network of local and international connections over his presidential year. If you or your

firm are interested in hosting or sponsoring one of our events, do get in touch president@whls.org.uk.

Nicola Rubbert Vice President

Nicola is a commercial and employment solicitor. She is the Chair of our Education & Training Committee and is

Council Member of The Law Society of England & Wales, representing the constituency of Westminster. Nicola

is Immediate Past Chair of the London Young Lawyers Group, an organisation which ignited her passion for the

legal community.

Philip Henson Deputy Vice President

Philip Henson is a Partner and the Head of Employment at international law firm EBL Miller Rosenfalck, based in

Farringdon. He also heads the North America desk and the China desk of the firm. He is the Chair of the WHLS

Law Reform Committee. Phil and the committee research and reply to consultations on changes to legislation.

Phil is looking forward to being more involved in the Society as the Deputy Vice President. Phil is involved

in various charities and he is the Editor of City Solicitor magazine (the magazine of the City of London Law

Society). Outside of a busy work and family life, Phil also produces and occasionally writes short films. He has

recently finished a script for a dark comedy called Viking Funeral which he plans to develop in 2022.

Anthony Seymour Honorary Treasurer

Anthony is a Locum Property Solicitor who deals with Commercial Property Landlord and Tenant and residential

conveyancing. He has worked at many firms and was for many years a Partner in the Property Department of a

central London Law firm. He is a member of the Bristol University Alumni Association London branch and holds

a Masters degree in Law from King’s College London University.

Riley Forson Honorary Secretary

Riley Forson is a Trainee Solicitor at Macfarlanes LLP. Riley completed her Undergraduate Degree in Law

at University College London before completing a Masters in Law and Business, as well as a Masters in

International Human Rights Law. Riley takes a particular interest in environmental matters, animal rights and

matters pertaining to ESG.

Sarah Bradd Editor-in-Chief

Sarah is a Paralegal and a Future Trainee at Charles Russell Speechlys working for the Development Sales and

Regeneration Teams. She is currently working towards completing her Fellowship for CILEx having completed

her LLB at the University of Law. She is looking forward to starting her Training Contract in 2023. If you have any

contributions for the next editions of the Central London Lawyer please do get in touch with me on LinkedIn and

it would be great to hear from you.

Paul Sharma Immediate Past President

Paul Sharma is the immediate past President of Westminster and Holborn Law Society and the Council member

for Westminster & Holborn Law Society – the central London law society. Paul is the founder and managing

partner of Sharma Solicitors. Sharma Solicitors is a boutique employment law practice acting for both claimants

and respondents, small and multinational firms. Paul worked as a trade union official before qualifying in a firm

that acts exclusively for the large trade unions for their members. Paul went on to head the employment law

departments of an outer London commercial firm before doing the same for a large city practice.

Our elected Officers and Main Committee act alongside each other to ensure the smooth management of our Society and to deliver a programme of events to meet the needs of our membership.