Law firm launches specialist programme for in-house lawyers and business leaders

UK & Ireland law firm Browne Jacobson has re-imagined its successful in-house lawyers programme with the launch of Ascensus, a brand new resource and connectivity programme that offers in-house lawyers and business leaders a more holistic forum to network and develop in.

The Ascensus programme which launched at Browne Jacobson 's Birmingham office last week is aimed at in-house lawyers and business leaders, and focuses on the needs of general counsel, data protection officers and business owners.

It builds on Browne Jacobson 's in-house offering but now fully endorses its official partnership with the O Shaped, an innovative movement with a mission to drive positive change within the legal sector, spearheaded by former Network Rail General Counsel (GC) Dan Kayne.

Ascensus also gives clients access to industry aligned experts and qualified Executive Coaches from the firm 's Space + Time offering, which is ran in partnership with consultancy firm 10Eighty.

The programme is designed to support, educate and connect its members across the UK and international professional services sector.

It provides day to day support, coaching and mentoring around leadership and key decision making, career development and informs its members of important legal updates and changes in working practices and leadership trends through physical, hybrid and online workshops, seminars and events which will focus on a different theme such as digital disruption.

Partner and in-house lawyer specialist Richard Nicholas who founded the firm 's in-house lawyers forum in 2006 said: “In the 17 years since we launched the in-house lawyers forum, by asking (and working with) our clients, we have learned what GCs truly value and that is, having a team they can tap into that is an extension of them, having access to up to date, legal information relevant to the diverse sectors they operate in, having the opportunity to learn more about what their peers are doing and career development support, particularly when it comes to leadership. This is what the Ascensus programme offers.

“I am proud we have been able to strengthen our in-house lawyer 's model for our clients and to have developed something that is now very unique in the market. Ascensus will put our in-house lawyer clients in the best possible position to successfully do their job ”.

Partner Declan Cushley, who leads the firm 's strategy for the corporate sector added:
“There are now over 2,000 participants on the current in-house lawyers programme and that 's a huge network of GC experience, knowledge and expertise to utilise and I believe the new strands available under Ascensus offer the in-house lawyer and GC community real added value which will just elevate and support our ambitions to grow this already brilliant network.

“Ascensus will focus on things that the in-house lawyer community would find beneficial. O shaped is about opportunity and sharing best practice, whilst the executive coaching service is a powerful tool that promotes time and space so business leaders can be creative in decision making. ”

Pictured from left to right: Partners Declan Cushley and Richard Nicholas