News

They have an amazing panel of speakers: Professor Leslie Thomas KC, Abimbola Johnson, Stephen Levy, and Jessica Inaba!

 LIST OF SPEAKERS

1. Professor Leslie Thomas KC

2. Abimbola Johnson

3. Stephen Levy

4. Jessikah Inaba

 SCHEDULE 

 18:30 pm – Formal start of the event – Emma Hughes (EH = MTYBA Vice President) & Skye Blackshaw (SB = MTSA President) 

18:30-18:34 pm – Introductions of event and panel

18:34-35pm – Speaker 1 Introduction = Professor Leslie Thomas KC

18:35-18:45 pm – Professor Leslie Thomas KC

18:45 pm- 18:48 pm – Speaker 2 Introduction = Abimbola Johnson

18:48 pm – 18:58 pm – Abimbola Johnson

18:58 pm – 19:00 pm – Speaker 3 Introduction = Stephen Levy

19:00 pm – 19:10 pm – Stephen Levy

19:10 – 19:12pm – Speaker 4 Introduction = Jessikah Inaba

19:12pm – 19:22pm – Jessikah Inaba

19:22 pm – 19:35 pm – Q&A – Audience Questions 

19:35 – 19:45 pm – Singing by Tehilah Bicknell 

19:45- 19:50 pm – MTYBA President – Upcoming Event & Sat Singh RF – Highlight programmes.

19:50 – 19:55 pm – Final Comments  

20:00 pm – Event Programme Ends

20:00- 20:30 pm – Food and Networking 

LOCATION

Venue:- The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, Middle Temple Lane, London, EC4Y 9BT 

Main event:- In Middle Temple Hall

Eventbrite Link:- 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/730466142897?aff=oddtdtcreator

Middle Temple Link:-

https://www.middletemple.org.uk/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=41718

 SPEAKER’S PROFILES 

4. 1. 1. 1. Professor Leslie Thomas KC

 Professor Leslie Thomas KC was appointed Gresham College Professor of Law in 2020, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and experience from his illustrious legal career.

Recognised by Chambers and the Legal 500 (2023) as a leading individual, Thomas has consistently demonstrated excellence in his field since earning his QC (now KC) title in 2014. His academic journey, starting from a South London comprehensive, led him to read law at Kingston University.

Specialising in claims against police and public authorities, as well as corporate bodies, Thomas’ expertise spans a wide range of civil wrongs, civil litigation, human rights, data, and privacy claims. His proficiency extends to inquests and public inquiries, where he has tirelessly represented bereaved families and victims, particularly in instances of state or corporate power abuse. He is the joint author of ‘Inquests a Practitioner’s Guide’ published by LAG (3rd edition 2014).

In addition to his casework, Thomas has received numerous awards for his contributions to law, and his legal acumen is recognised globally, leading to his call to the Bar in several international jurisdictions.

Before joining Gresham College, Thomas served as a joint Head of Chambers at Garden Court Chambers and continues to be an active Bencher to the Inner Temple, where he is a Master of equality, diversity, and inclusivity (EDI). He holds positions on the board of the Bar Standards Board, the bar’s regulatory body, and is a member of the King’s Counsel Appointments selection panel. He spent many years on the management committee of Liberty and is the former Chair of the Central London Law Centre.

Beyond Gresham College, Thomas also imparts his knowledge as a Visiting Professor of Law at Goldsmiths Law School, University of London. Professor Thomas’ life and work are candidly chronicled in his autobiography, “Do Right and Fear No One” (Simon & Schuster, April 2022), offering a glimpse into his journey and the values that guide him.

 Professor Thomas KC’s Gresham Lectures are a must-watch!

4. 1. 1. 1. Abimbola Johnson

 Abimbola Johnson is an award-winning human rights barrister who practises at Doughty Street Chambers. She was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple in 2011. She chairs the Independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board, which is tasked with monitoring the progress of the National Police Race Action Plan, which exists to eradicate anti-Black racism in policing.

 She has been featured in The Guardian, Elle magazine, Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters, Channel 4 News, The Metro, and Sky News. Her writing appears on the reading list for the LSE’s LLB(Hons) course, and she delivers an annual lecture at Oxford University on hate crime and discrimination.

 Abimbola sits on a number of other boards and advisory panels: She is a legal trustee for The Advocacy Academy, an editorial board member of the Criminal Law Review, a management committee member of the Black Barristers’ Network, and a member of the “Art not Evidence” group which seeks to challenge the racialised use of rap and drill music in criminal prosecutions.

Abimbola graduated from St Peter’s College, University of Oxford, with a degree in Law (Jurisprudence) in 2009.

Her board’s annual report on the Race Action Plan can be downloaded here: https://www.policeisob.co.uk/annualreport

4. 1. 1. 1. Stephen Levy

Stephen is an accomplished creative professional with over two decades of experience. His abilities range from video production graphic design to motion graphics and storytelling, and they have paved the way for his success. His distinct blend of business expertise and artistic vision has led to collaborations with major corporations such as KPMG, HSBC, Vodafone, Coca-Cola, and the NHS.

He has not only created and directed acclaimed short films that have won multiple awards worldwide, but he also won best overall film at the Birmingham Film Festival in the United Kingdom and best director at the International Christian Film Festival in the United States for his film ‘Epiphany’.

He has taken the lead in cutting-edge digital advertising campaigns that truly engage audiences, thanks to his talent for leading creative operations such as video and digital content production. His approach, which is full of charm and originality, has earned him national and international recognition. His ability to connect with others has also aided him in forming solid relationships and partnerships. These connections have played very important roles in shaping his design thinking and providing valuable guidance for creative projects.

Throughout his journey, he has developed a strong understanding of people management. He has established design studios, managed small boutique agencies, and mentored and coached others, fostering their growth and success.

In a world where creativity knows no bounds, his story is one of continuous growth, expertise, and a passion for helping others succeed through skills as a life coach and corporate social responsibility. He has volunteered for numerous charities over the years and is now a board adviser for digital communications for the Renaissance Foundation.

4. 1. 1. 1. Jessikah Inaba

Jessikah Inaba has made history by becoming the UK’s first blind and black female barrister in November 2022. Inaba has bilateral microphthalmia, which affects her vision. 

She attended local schools and a secondary in Surrey, both of which provided programmes to assist students with vision impairment.

In September 2017, Inaba began studying law before starting a Master’s two years later and a professional development course.

Jessikah completed her law degree from Surrey and prepared her Braille materials from lecture notes or friends who read books to her. Braille can be read on a special screen that usually gives one line at a time or from specially printed books. However, she experienced significant delays at times in accessing the correct materials. 

Quote:- I know I can do this job well, and the more people like me who go through training, the easier it will become. I know I’m giving hope to others in similar situations.”