Sally Penni MBE is Talking Law with Sam Townend KC

Sam is the chairman of the Bar Council and he tells Sally about the diverse roles and responsibilities of the Bar Council, the challenges of his chair year and his journey to becoming a barrister.

You’ll also hear Sam talk about the importance of advocacy experience, and the significance of addressing diversity, equality and inclusion within the legal profession.

Plus, Sam offers his advice on succeeding in the profession for new and progressing barristers.

You can support Talking Law by making a small monthly contribution on Patreon. Click here to find out more.

Presented by Sally Penni MBE, barrister at law at Kenworthy’s Chambers Manchester and founder and chair of Women in the Law UK. Follow Sally on Twitter @SallyPenni1 and Instagram @sjsallypenni

Sally Penni MBE is Talking Law with Nadia Chiesa.

Nadia is a litigator at Stanbrook Prudhoe where she specialises in complex commercial litigation and multi-jurisdictional disputes.

In this interview, Sally and Nadia discuss her journey from studying journalism in Canada to practising law in the Caribbean.

Nadia details her involvement in impactful LGBTQ+ constitutional challenges across the Eastern Caribbean and offers advice for aspiring lawyers.

You’ll also hear why Nadia emphasises the importance of self-advocacy in a male-dominated profession.

This episode is supported by Stanbrook Prudhoe. Find out more about their work here.

Presented by Sally Penni MBE, barrister at law at Kenworthy’s Chambers Manchester and founder and chair of Women in the Law UK. Follow Sally on Twitter @SallyPenni1 and Instagram @sjsallypenni

Sally Penni MBE is talking law with Sam Cottman.

Sam is a Partner and Head of Pro Bono at Travers Smith. He’s also the founder of the Domestic Abuse Response Alliance (DARA) and the Cottman Foundation. 

Sam shares his unconventional path into law, transitioning from studying languages to pursuing a legal career. He discusses his extensive pro bono work, particularly with survivors of domestic abuse and human trafficking, and his role in establishing the Domestic Abuse Response Alliance (DARA).

They also discuss his involvement in racial justice investigations; his approach to leadership and diversity within the legal profession, and the mission of his personal foundation, which supports a wide variety of charitable causes globally.

Additionally, Sam reflects on the importance of mentorship, strategic career decisions, and maintaining a balance between professional and personal life.

In the UK, The National Domestic Abuse Helpline can be contacted on 0808 2000 247. Services outside of the UK can be found here. 

This episode is supported by Salford Business School. Find out more about them here. 

You can support Talking Law by making a small monthly contribution on Patreon. Click here to find out more.

Presented by Sally Penni MBE, barrister at law at Kenworthy’s Chambers Manchester and founder and chair of Women in the Law UK. Follow Sally on X @SallyPenni1 and Instagram @sjsallypenni

Sally Penni MBE is Talking Law with Figen Murray OBE

Figen shares her journey following the tragic loss of her son, Martyn Hett, in the Manchester Arena attack on May 22, 2017.

Figen and Sally discuss her relentless campaign for 'Martyn's Law,' which mandates that venues implement security measures to protect against terrorism.

Figen discusses the challenges she faced in lobbying for legislation and her personal struggles along the way. 

This episode is sponsored by the University of Salford’s Business School, home of the SILKS pro bono law clinic, a free community legal advice service. 

The advice from SILKS is given by qualified lawyers, alongside the University’s Law students, on a range of areas including, housing, family and employment.

 Find out more about them here. 

You can support Talking Law by making a small monthly contribution on Patreon. Click here to find out more.

Presented by Sally Penni MBE, barrister at law at Kenworthy’s Chambers Manchester and founder and chair of Women in the Law UK. Follow Sally on X @SallyPenni1 and Instagram @sjsallypenni

Sally Penni MBE is Talking Law with Natasha Chahal

Natasha is an associate in Addleshaw Goddard's London office. She advises on a range of complex commercial disputes including claims for breach of contract, competition claims and business protection proceedings.

Sally and Natasha discuss the different routes that can be taken into law, including Natasha’s experience with a law conversion course. 

Natasha tells Sally about creating the Ethnic Business Growth Programme at Addleshaw Goddard, which supports businesses that have ethnically diverse owners to receive legal services. 

This episode is supported by Addleshaw Goddard. Find out more about their work here.

You can support Talking Law by making a small monthly contribution on Patreon. Click here to find out more.

Presented by Sally Penni MBE, barrister at law at Kenworthy’s Chambers Manchester and founder and chair of Women in the Law UK. Follow Sally on Twitter @SallyPenni1 and Instagram @sjsallypenni

Sally Penni MBE is Talking Law with Ann Francke OBE

Ann Francke is the CEO of the Chartered Management Institute, the UK's leading professional body for management and leadership.

In this interview, Ann talks about equality in the workplace and how all organisations, including law firms, can do more to promote women to leadership positions. 

Plus, Ann and Sally discuss why a good relationship with your line manager is one of the most important things at work.

You’ll hear some of the well being initiatives that have been implemented at CMI and why they’re crucial for all organisations to foster a healthy working environment.

You can now support Talking Law on Patreon

Presented by Sally Penni MBE, barrister at law at Kenworthy’s Chambers Manchester and founder and chair of Women in the Law UK. Follow Sally on X @SallyPenni1 and Instagram @sjsallypenni

Sally Penni MBE is Talking Law with Joanna Hughes.

Joanna is the creator of Joanna Hughes Solicitor Apprenticeships and Advisor to the City Century career creating collaboration of 50+ City of London law firms which identifies, attracts, recruits, onboards, educates, networks, develops and qualifies significant numbers of talented and committed solicitor apprentices.

Joanna and Sally discuss why Solicitor Apprenticeships are an attractive route into the law for employees and employers alike, and why Joanna is so passionate about them.

Joanna shares insights into ways that the legal profession can be diversified, and the different forms diversity can take. Plus Joanna shares her top tips for those starting out in the legal profession.

This episode is supported by Joanna Hughes Solicitor Apprenticeships. Find out more about their work here. You can also find out more about City Century here.

You can now support Talking Law on Patreon. Donate £3 a month to support the podcast.

Presented by Sally Penni MBE, barrister at law at Kenworthy’s Chambers Manchester and founder and chair of Women in the Law UK. Follow Sally on Twitter @SallyPenni1 and Instagram @sjsallypenni

Sally Penni MBE is Talking Law with The Rt Hon Victoria Prentis.   Victoria has served as Attorney General for England and Wales since 2022.  She is also a Government Minister, and the MP for Banbury.  

Sally and Victoria discuss the day to day role of Attorney General and what that entails.  

Victoria also shares insights into how the crossover between law and politics in her career came about.  They discuss the importance of increasing diversity when it comes to government legal careers; what’s been achieved so far and what more needs to be done. 

Presented by Sally Penni MBE, barrister at law at Kenworthy’s Chambers Manchester and founder and chair of Women in the Law UK. Follow Sally on Twitter @SallyPenni1 and Instagram @sjsallypenni

Sally Penni MBE is Talking Law with Lisa Abrahams & Emma Wilson. 

Lisa and Emma both work in insurance at ARAG, which provides legal insurance products on a global scale. 

Lisa and Emma both discuss how they came to their careers via alternative routes, and stress that it’s never too late to start. They also discuss the improvements they’ve seen in diversity in their roles. 

Emma shares the role that ARAG has played in some high-profile medical negligence cases in the UK.

This episode is supported by ARAG, click here to learn more about their work.

Presented by Sally Penni MBE, barrister at law at Kenworthy’s Chambers Manchester and founder and chair of Women in the Law UK. Follow Sally on Twitter @SallyPenni1 and Instagram @sjsallypenni

Sally Penni MBE is Talking Law with Sarah Foster. 

Sarah is a Partner in Restructuring at Addleshaw Goddard, where she provides advice on all aspects of restructuring; including business support, turnaround and insolvency. 

Sarah shares her journey from studying history and history of art at university, through to taking a conversion course and training in the firm. They also discuss Addleshaw Goddard’s approach to encouraging diversity in their law careers, including their apprenticeships; the Flourish network for female solicitors and their latest initiative, working with young people in schools.  

This episode is supported by Addleshaw Goddard. Find out more about their work here.

Presented by Sally Penni MBE, barrister at law at Kenworthy’s Chambers Manchester and founder and chair of Women in the Law UK. Follow Sally on Twitter @SallyPenni1 and Instagram @sjsallypenni

Sally Penni MBE is Talking Law with Susanna McGibbon

Susanna McGibbon is His Majesty’s Procurator General, the Treasury Solicitor and the Permanent Secretary of the Government Legal Department, or GLD.  She is the most senior civil servant who gives legal advice to the government of the day. 

Susanna and Sally discuss the important distinction that whilst she and the GLD act in their client’s best interests, they are politically impartial.  

They reflect on Susanna’s passion for ensuring that the Government of the day is advised by people who live and work all over the country.  It’s vitally important to Susanna that the Government is advised by people who reflect the society that they serve.  

Susanna also shares with Sally why her most significant case was actually a defeat, when the High Court ruled that MPs must be given a vote on whether to trigger Article 50.
 
Presented by Sally Penni MBE, barrister at law at Kenworthy’s Chambers Manchester and founder and chair of Women in the Law UK. Follow Sally on Twitter @SallyPenni1 and Instagram @sjsallypenni