The People Behind The Programme

This programme brings together academic leadership, advocacy training, and real-world legal insight to reflect how law is actually practised.

Real Practice. Real Cases. Real London.

/ Programme Leadership

Michael Mansfield, Advocacy Advisory International team member, in a light blue suit jacket with white shirt and blue tie, light-colored hair, smiling with a friendly expression against a dark background, professional portrait style.

Michael Mansfield KC

Featured Voice
Barrister, Nexus Chambers | Human Rights and Public Interest Law | Advocate for Mental Health Awareness | Founder of SOS Silence of Suicide

Layla Dean-Verity, Advocacy AI team member, in formal legal attire with white barrister’s wig, black robe, and white collar bands, against a plain neutral background, professional portrait style.

Layla Dean-Verity

Founder, Advocacy Advisory International

Can Eken, Advocacy AI team member, in a dark suit with white shirt and dark tie, wearing glasses, standing outdoors in front of a stone building with classical columns, lantern, and brass handrail, formal professional portrait style.

Professor Can Eken

Head of Academic Programme & Delivery
Assistant Professor, Durham University

/ Advocacy Trainers

Barristers and judges delivering practical advocacy through live exercises, courtroom simulation, and case-based work.

Tahir Khan, Advocacy AI team member, in formal judicial attire with white wig, purple robe, red sash, and white neck band, standing indoors with recessed ceiling lights and framed wall art visible in the background.

His Honour Judge Tahir Khan KC

Crown Court Judge

Brings judicial perspective to advocacy, offering insight into courtroom decision-making and what the bench expects from advocates.

Reza Choudhury, Advocacy AI team member, in a dark suit jacket with light pink shirt and blue tie patterned with small pink dots, wearing glasses, seated on a brown leather couch indoors with framed artworks and wall-mounted light fixture in the background, professional portrait style.

Reza Choudhury

Barrister, St Dunstan’s Chambers

Delivers practical advocacy training focused on oral argument, case analysis, and courtroom technique.

/ Contributors / Practitioners

Legal professionals sharing real-world insight into the pathways, pressures, and realities of legal careers.

From paralegals to partners – understanding how law is actually lived.

Charis Tan, Advocacy AI team member, in a bright blue blazer over a white top, standing in a professional office setting with light walls and glass partition, formal portrait style.

Charis Tan

Partner, Peter & Kim (Singapore)

Provides insight into international legal practice and cross-border work at partner level.

Diona Howard-Nicolas, Advocacy AI team member, in a dark suit jacket with white collared shirt and patterned pocket square, long styled dreadlocks, against a plain gray background, formal portrait style.

Diona Howard-Nicolas

Partner, Bruch Law (United States)

Shares insight into client strategy, case management, and the realities of legal practice.

Assel Upetova, Advocacy AI team member, in a light blazer with patterned black-and-white text scarf, shoulder-length brown hair, standing indoors against a wooden panel and light green wall, professional portrait style.

Assel Utepova

Judge of the District Court of Almaty, Academic Lecturer at Global Case (Kazakhstan)

Shaffaf Shahid Latif, Advocacy AI team member, in a collared shirt and blazer with hair neatly tied back, grayscale portrait against a brick wall background, formal professional style.

Shaffaf Shahid Latif

Academic Contributor, International Legal Education
Assistant Professor, HOD Law, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore (Pakistan)

/ Behind the Programme Team

The programme is supported by a dedicated team working behind the scenes across technology, operations, content, and delivery – ensuring a seamless experience from application through to programme participation.

Bilal Ejaz, Advocacy AI team member, in a black suit with white shirt and dark tie, smiling against a plain light purple background, professional headshot style.

Bilal Ejaz

Director, Technology

Leads the technical infrastructure and systems supporting the programme.

Rahat Shah, Advocacy AI team member, in a dark gray suit with white shirt and black tie against a light purple background

Rahat Shah

Director, Operations & Systems

Leads operational strategy, systems architecture, and delivery infrastructure.

Mehdi Dana, Advocacy AI team member, in a dark blue collared shirt against a plain light background, portrait cropped in a circular frame with black border.

Mehdi Dana

Director, Programme Systems Development

Leads the development and build of programme systems, ensuring scalable and robust delivery.

Anonymous silhouette placeholder for Advocacy AI team member profile, black head-and-shoulders outline against a transparent background.

Naina Hamayoun

Journalist - Content & Editorial

Leads content development and editorial production for the programme, capturing practitioner insight, interviews, and visual storytelling across platforms.

Anonymous silhouette placeholder for Advocacy AI team member profile, black head-and-shoulders outline against a transparent background.

Daniyal Ghorcy

Marketing & Communications

Supports marketing strategy and communications, working across campaigns, content distribution, and audience engagement.

/ Collaborations

Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan emblem, featuring a stylized blue classical building with columns and flag, Lady Justice holding scales and sword inside, with Kazakh text reading 'ЖОҒАРҒЫ СОТ' and 'ҚАЗАҚСТАН РЕСПУБЛИКАСЫНЫҢ ЖОҒАРҒЫ СОТЫ,' symbolizing fairness, law, and judicial authority.

Kazakhastan Government

We collaborate with legal institutions and organisations internationally. This includes prior judicial training initiatives delivered in partnership with the Government of Kazakhstan. These engagements reflect our commitment to cross-border legal practice and professional development.

Logo for The Actualisation Lab featuring a blue circular design with three ascending bar chart shapes and a curved upward arrow, symbolizing growth and progress, alongside the company name in bold capital letters.

Actualisation Lab

Provides psychometric assessment and developmental insight to support participant growth and self-awareness.

A behavioural and performance consultancy providing psychometric insight and development frameworks.

We welcome expressions of interest from practitioners and academics who wish to contribute to the programme and engage with an international network of legal professionals, bringing traditional advocacy into dialogue with emerging technologies and ethical AI, while extending their own practice and professional reach across jurisdictions.