RACE TO THE COMMONWEALTH & BEYOND CONFERENCE AND DINNER

Last month, with over a year of planning, we hosted our two-day “Race to the Commonwealth and Beyond” legal conference and dinner at the University of Birmingham, linking in the Commonwealth and sports, supported by The Commonwealth Lawyers Association. This event was aimed at those in the legal profession, where we explored the experience of members of the Commonwealth on themes of equality and diversity in sport.

More than 150 delegates from across the Commonwealth attended the conference over the two days, hosted by John McKendrick QC, with session topics covering law in sport, child abuse and exploitation, race to the Commonwealth and beyond - looking at legal best practice across the world to end discriminatory practices and what lessons can be learned, access to data, sports events and privacy issues, international arbitration and mediation inside and out of the world of sport, discrimination, gender equality, sports contracts, and ethics and conduct in sporting regulation.

The line-up of speakers included:

● Alice Kinder, Deputy Vice-President, Birmingham Law Society

● Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands

● Brian Speers, President, Commonwealth Lawyers Association

● Carol Couse, Partner, Mills & Reeve

● Caroline McGrory, Chief Legal Officer, Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee

● David Greene, Council Member, Commonwealth Lawyers Association

● David Milton, Partner, Clyde & Co

● Elizabeth Speller, Advocacy Director, It’s a Penalty

● Gemma Pearson, Head of Brand & Marketing, Think Studios

● Hasan Irfan Khan, Senior Partner, Irfan and Irfan

● Hugh Mercer QC, Barrister, Essex Court Chambers

● John Crabtree OBE, Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands

● Dr Lin Sambili, Project Manager, Sport for Development and Peace

● Professor Lisa Webley, Head, Birmingham Law School

● Malcolm Dowden, Partner, Squire Patton Boggs

● Dr Mariela de Amstalden, Lecturer, Birmingham Law School

● Mark Fenhalls QC, Chair, BCEW ●The Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte QC, MP, Minister for Legal & Constitutional Affairs, Jamaica

● Matt Moorhead, Legal Adviser, Commonwealth Secretariat

● Michelle Heeley QC, Leader, The Midland Circuit

● Mohammed Zaman QC, Barrister, No5 Barristers’ Chambers

● Muddasir Hossain, Partner, Hossain & Khan Associates

● Phil Hutchinson, Principle Associate, Mills & Reeve

● Sandra Osborne QC, Chair, International Tennis Federation EthicsCommission

● Stephen Sampson, Partner, Squire Patton Boggs

● Steven Thiru, Vice-President (Australasia), Commonwealth LawyersAssociation

● Tom Price, Parner, Gowling WLG

● Urvasi Naidoo, Compliance and Contracts Manager,Commonwealth Games Federation

Day one ended with a black-tie dinner, hosted in the historic and prestigious Great Hall at the University of Birmingham with ex Olympian, Mark Foster, one of the UK’s most successful competitive swimmers who gavegiving a motivational keynote to round out the evening. At the dinner, we raised over £3,561.77 for our charity partner, It’s a Penalty.

Thank you to our sponsors Cloud Systems, Gowling WLG, No5 Barristers’ Chambers, Cornwall Street Barristers and Tula Medical Experts for their support in helping us put on this event for our members and legal community in Birmingham.

Alice Kinder, Deputy Vice-President, Birmingham Law Society, said “I am delighted that Birmingham Law Society has been able to celebrate the arrival of the Commonwealth Games in our city in such a fantastic way. The conference and dinner allowed us to bring together our friends from across the Commonwealth for a powerful discussion to build what I hope will be productive and longlasting relationships. The Games will provide a significant opportunity to accelerate the development and growth of Birmingham and to change the lives of those who call it home. Birmingham Law Society looks forward to playing its part in that legacy. “