Director in the Dock
In this unique and interactive session, we’ll explore key governance, leadership and legal issues facing directors today. But this won’t be your typical panel talk.
Through live courtroom-style scenes, real-life scenarios will be acted out — with directors “in the dock” and members of the audience playing judge and jury. Expect thought-provoking challenges, sharp insights, and a few laughs along the way.
Whether you’re an experienced director or just stepping into governance roles, this is your chance to explore what should happen when things go wrong — and how you can ensure they don’t.
Speakers
Anne Miller
Partner
Thorntons
Anne is a Partner based in our Dundee office, with over 15 years experience in dispute resolution in the Sheriff Court, Court of Session and regulatory tribunals. She has broad experience of property, contract, professional negligence, landlord and tenant and education disputes, for both pursuers and defenders. Anne has particular experience in acting for insurers and is well versed in policy issues arising, both for policy holders and insurers. Anne also acts in the Lands Tribunal for land owners in telecoms disputes.
Anne acts for a wide variety of clients from Universities, SME’s, family businesses, land owners, individuals, corporate creditors, and insolvency practitioners. Clients appreciate Anne’s personable manner, quick and reliable advice and her ability to translate difficult legal issues into understandable relatable problems to be solved.
Anne’s approach is based on dispute resolution, with a focus on strategic risk management and reputation management. Anne also routinely carries out much of her own advocacy and also has a broad network of advocates when matters require to be brought to a determination. Anne has experience in all types of civil procedure, including judicial review but focusses on commercial procedure and alternative dispute resolution procedures.
In the last five years Anne has a specialised focus on issues arising in insolvency and acting for insolvency practitioners, as well as directors and creditors as part of our restructuring and insolvency team. In 2020 Anne took her Certificate of Proficiency in Insolvency recognised by the Insolvency Practitioners Association.
She is an accredited mediator and has experience of both acting as a mediator and representing clients at commercial mediations.
Jennifer Young
Partner
Thorntons
Jennifer has more than 25 years of specialist expertise in construction law. Accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a Construction Law Specialist, she is convenor of its Construction Law Accreditation Panel and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of Architects in Scotland (RIAS). A former chair of the CBI Scotland Council, Jennifer is widely recognised for her leadership and deep sector knowledge.
Jennifer advises on both non-contentious and contentious matters from project start to finish, including contract reviews, negotiation, and complex dispute resolution. She regularly acts on high-value contractual claims, offering strategic guidance to clients across the construction and engineering industry as well as supporting the energy sector supply chain. She also presents training for clients and professional advisors focusing on commercial awareness and transfer of risk in commercial contracts.
Sarah Stuart
Partner
Thorntons
Sarah is a dual-qualified solicitor in English and Scots Law with extensive experience advising construction and engineering companies and energy sector businesses. Sarah also advises public and statutory bodies, including local councils and port authorities, as well as educational institutions such as schools and, historically, universities.
She specialises in commercial contracts, including supply and framework agreements, development agreements, collateral warranties, and performance guarantees. Sarah is highly skilled in advising on projects that involve standard forms such as SBCC/JCT, LOGIC, NEC, ICE/CECA, and SFT/HUB, as well as bespoke forms.
With a strong background in litigation, adjudication and mediation, Sarah also represents clients in high-value commercial disputes. She also draws on this experience when advising on contract forms.
Sarah is a committee member and past chair of the Northern Chapter of the Scottish branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), reflecting her commitment to excellence in dispute resolution. She is also treasurer of the Aberdeen Association of Construction Professionals and a trustee of the Open Space Trust, a charity redeveloping the former East Kirk of St Nicholas Kirk in Aberdeen city centre.
Stephanie Carr
Partner
Thorntons
Stephanie is a Partner and Head of our Dispute Resolution team. She advises clients on a wide range of commercial litigation, debt recovery and dispute resolution matters. She also has a wealth of experience in dealing with also deals with contentious personal and corporate insolvency cases.
Stephanie has over 25 years of experience in her field and regularly represents clients in a number of Courts and Tribunals across Scotland. She acts for both individuals and companies including creditors, insolvency practitioners, Directors and debtors. She is also experienced in advising and representing financial institutions, landlords, tenants and governmental agencies.
Stephanie is accredited as a specialist in Insolvency Law by the Law Society of Scotland, having been re-accredited on two occasions. She is well known by her clients for being personable and providing sound advice whilst being commercially focussed.
She is an accredited mediator and has experience of both acting as a mediator and representing clients at commercial mediations.
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