MEET THE TEAM
Our team combines deep legal-sector expertise with learning and development experience to help firms build confident, commercially aware and practice-ready lawyers through practical, SRA-informed programmes and effective supervision.
MARIE DILLON
Director & Co-founder
Marie leads the business strategy, growth and market direction of Leading Minds, ensuring the business continues to evolve in line with the changing needs of law firms and their Early Talent and L&D teams.
With an extensive background in business development, marketing strategy and senior management, she plays a key role in shaping the content and direction of Leading Minds’ programmes. Marie works across the business to identify emerging client needs, develop new areas of focus and ensure every programme is practical, relevant and commercially grounded.
Her experience includes leading national campaigns, developing an SRA-informed culture programme for The Law Society, and shaping bespoke learning and development solutions for leading UK, US and Irish law firms
CLAIRE WILLIAMSON
Director & Co-founder
Claire leads client partnerships at Leading Minds and is a specialist in early talent development within the legal sector.
Having begun her career at a Magic Circle law firm, Claire has developed extensive insight into the legal profession and the challenges facing those working in the profession. Working closely with leading UK, US and Irish law firms, she plays a key role in shaping Leading Minds' early talent programmes.
Claire works closely with the Client Services team and Leading Minds' trainers to ensure training programmes are delivered successfully and provide a positive and impactful experience for both clients and attendees. Her expertise helps firms strengthen performance, engagement and development across the early talent lifecycle.
KAY TOMAN
Head of Client Services
Kay partners with our leading law firm clients to oversee, shape and deliver commercial, evidence-based training solutions that strengthen culture, retention and performance.
With over 20 years’ experience in HR, talent development and organisation development, she has held senior roles at international and UK law firms and professional services
organisations, supporting leaders to build resilient, inclusive and high-performing teams.
An executive coach and Insights® Discovery Practitioner, Kay combines her commercial acumen with a people-centred approach. She has a particular passion for equality,
diversity and inclusion, with a strong focus on supporting neurodiverse talent. Kay enjoys designing solutions that enable legal professionals to thrive and that are impactful, practical and embedded within the organisations she supports.
PARTH MEHTA
Client Services Coordinator
Parth provides client coordination and operational support across our client services team, helping to ensure that clients receive a seamless and professional experience throughout their journey with Leading Minds. He plays a key role in coordinating training programmes, managing client communications, supporting trainer scheduling, preparing client-facing materials and assisting with the successful delivery of our learning solutions.
With a background spanning multiple client-facing and coordination roles, across client servicing, stakeholder management and business operations, Parth understands the importance of building strong relationships and maintaining high standards of service. Working closely with clients, trainers and colleagues, he enjoys supporting the smooth delivery of programmes and contributing to positive outcomes for clients.
REBECCA GRINDLE
Executive Assistant
Rebecca provides executive and operational support within the client coordination team, helping to ensure that our clients receive a professional and high-quality experience at every stage of their journey.
Drawing on extensive experience in administration and business support roles, Rebecca understands the importance of delivering a responsive and personalised experience for our clients. Rebecca plays a key role in coordinating trainers, managing client communications, developing client-facing materials and supporting the delivery of our training programmes and sessions.
HANNAH BEKO
Executive Leadership Coach & Trainer
A practising commercial property lawyer of 17 years, Hannah is passionate about the importance of personal and professional development for legal professionals.
After coaching and training thousands of lawyers, industry expert Hannah co-authored Future Proof Your Legal Career: 10 core areas of professional development (published by Globe Law and Business 2021). Hannah published her own bestselling book The Authentic Lawyer in 2022, is also a keynote speaker on leadership, authenticity, mental health and wellbeing in the legal profession.
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LISA BOYD
Executive Leadership Coach & Trainer
Lisa is a former solicitor and an award winning EMCC accredited executive coach with extensive experience developing professionals in the legal sector.
Lisa helps clients achieve challenging goals, build resilience, manage relationships and conflict, problem solve and plan for change using EQ, NLP and Systemic approaches.
Lisa’s practice is built on her commercial experience including working as a solicitor for ten years, specialising in Intellectual Property and Commercial Litigation both in private practice and in-house. This has given her deep insights into the pressures of working in a legal environment.
MAX WILSON
Senior Coach & Trainer
Max is a qualified barrister, an ICF Certified Coach (ACC), and an experienced trainer.
After a successful career at the Bar, managing a civil practice at a leading London set, he moved into higher education as a senior lecturer at a highly regarded university. Max delivered lectures and workshops to aspiring lawyers, provided professional skills training to trainee solicitors, and coached and mentored learners to achieve their goals. Driven by his passion for supporting others' growth, he subsequently retrained as a professional coach and now uses his diverse background and expertise to help lawyers excel both personally and professionally.
MICHELLE LAWTON
Senior Coach & Trainer
Michelle is an accredited executive coach with over ten years’ experience in leading teams of lawyers in the legal sector.
Michelle has extensive commercial experience with a background in finance and law, having specialised in Commercial Litigation and Regulatory Law, working in both private practice and in-house. Michelle progressed into leadership roles where she developed a passion for team development, gaining first-hand experience of challenges facing lawyers in the legal sector.
Michelle collaborates with clients to unlock their strengths, enabling them to drive performance improvements and achieve professional growth.
BETHAN WATTS
Senior Content Developer & Trainer
Bethan is a qualified solicitor and experienced trainer with a background in commercial litigation and private client work. She specialises in developing and delivering thoughtful, practical training for legal professionals at every stage of their careers.
Drawing on her experience across a wide range of firms, both large and small, Bethan understands the realities of legal practice and the time pressures that come with it. Her sessions are interactive, grounded in everyday challenges, and focused on providing clear, usable strategies that genuinely support people in their roles.
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NICOLA ZOUMIDOU
Senior Coach & Trainer
Nicola is an experienced solicitor, trainer and coach with a background in both private practice and in-house legal roles.
She has extensive experience supporting lawyers at every stage of their careers, from aspiring solicitors and trainees through to newly qualified lawyers, senior associates and partners. Having worked with lawyers across all levels of seniority, Nicola brings valuable insight into the skills, behaviours and expectations required to succeed and progress within the legal profession.
Nicola has delivered training and coaching for leading law firms and legal education providers across the UK, helping lawyers develop their professional effectiveness, resilience, commercial awareness and workplace performance. She is also an experienced coach and mentor, having supported the development of future lawyers through award-winning pro bono legal clinics in England and Scotland.
