Best brains in ...

Efficient and effective procurement, commercial risk and financial viability

Highlight of your career so far?

I have been fortunate enough to work on some of the largest and most challenging regeneration projects in the UK. As a lawyer and a consultant, I have worked across the legal, financial and property disciplines, taking projects from inception to delivery. A large number of these schemes are under development or completed, delivering new and sustainable places for people to live, work and play.

There have been many highlights but the Canning Town Regeneration in East London and Ealing Council's high priority housing schemes stand out because they have been taken forward during challenging times during which there have been substantial constraints on both public and private finances. The projects will bring about a significant change in the quality of housing, the built environment and community and social infrastructure.

Most challenging job you've ever done?

Advising on the first regeneration project in the UK to be procured through the competitive dialogue regime. At the time, this was a brand new process, so there were no precedents and the terms of engagement were open to interpretation. We had to innovate and work closely with the bidders' advisers to ensure successful delivery. The project is now under development with new family homes and a primary school to be built.

What about outside the UK?

Previously self-employed, I know just how hard you have to work to win clients and keep hold of them. The business only succeeds if you deliver the highest quality of work quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively. Understanding how clients operate, and then adopting projects as your own, means that successful implementation becomes the real measure of success.

How do you get under the skin of a client business?

Working for local authorities, housing associations and developers/contractors has demanded an in-depth understanding of how organisations operate and how they work towards fulfilling corporate objectives. This experience means I can help ensure that public sector clients will promote opportunities that are structured in a commercially attractive way. On the other side, the team can support private sector bidding consortia and help them to understand the public sector's approach to achieving its goals and evaluating bids.

What's your single greatest contribution to Wragge & Co's corporate responsibility?

I am always up for a sponsored challenge, be it the Three Peaks or London's Great River race, provided I can go at my own pace!

What's been written or said about you that you're most proud of?

A QC once said that I was the most competent expert witness he had examined on affordable housing and development viability - it's great to be recognised for what you do.