Women Who Will 2025 report

Dina White

General Counsel, Zodia Markets

Dina White is General Counsel at Zodia Markets, the institution-first digital asset trading platform backed by Standard Chartered and OSL. A trusted legal leader at the cutting edge of financial innovation, Dina has built a career around navigating complexity; whether in volatile markets, evolving regulation, or the frontier technologies redefining global finance.

Dina trained at Clifford Chance in London, spending the first years of her career in the firm’s debt and equity capital markets group. From the fallout of the global financial crisis, to the dismantling of LIBOR, to tackling airline defaults during COVID-19, Dina has been involved in some of the most defining legal and financial issues of the past two decades. During her time as Mergers and Acquisitions Counsel at BNY Mellon, she led the legal work on the post-Brexit restructuring of the firm’s Investment Management business and advised on the bank’s corporate investments and strategic partnerships across the EMEA region.

It was in 2016, while advising on an initiative designed to enable instantaneous settlement of financial transactions through digital assets backed by central bank money, that Dina recognised the transformative potential of blockchain technology. She joined U.S. Bank to advise on collateralised loan obligations and other structured finance instruments, and then on to her current role, bridging the gap between traditional and digital finance.

Today, at Zodia Markets, Dina steers the firm’s legal and regulatory strategy across cryptoassets, stablecoins, and other tokenised assets. She leads the internal legal team with a strong emphasis on legal clarity, collaboration, and personal development.

Dina is also deeply committed to inclusion and mentorship. Throughout her career, she has championed the advancement of women in law. A longstanding commitment to pro-bono work has included a secondment to Law For All, and regular advice sessions at Toynbee Hall’s Free Legal Advice Centre and Community Links Legal Advice Clinic.

A frequent contributor to panels and publications, she is an influential voice in the digital finance community, helping shape the regulatory path ahead. In 2025, Dina was recognised in The Lawyer Hot 100, shortlisted for General Counsel of the Year at The Lawyer Awards and named in Innovate Finance’s Women in FinTech Powerlist, affirming her position as a leading force in legal innovation at the intersection of finance and technology.

Lisa Ardley-Price

Managing Legal Counsel, NatWest Group

Lisa is a senior Financial Services lawyer with over 15 years’ experience in the Legal and Banking industries who is currently a Managing Legal Counsel at NatWest, having started her career in international law firms Dentons and Norton Rose Fulbright. Lisa is a recognised expert on Trade and Supply Chain Finance who has spoken about and delivered training on legal and regulatory developments in the industry and the digitisation of Trade as well as championing for increased diversity within the industry to drive change and innovation. Alongside her legal role, Lisa is Global Co-Chair of NatWest’s Gender Network and deeply committed to leading a network of 9k members and 300+ volunteers to create a workplace where everyone can thrive irrespective of gender.

Lisa is a certified coach who mentors and coaches students, professionals and entrepreneurs on high performance and leadership, a Lean In Circle Leader and an #IAmRemarkable Facilitator who empowers people to own and celebrate their accomplishments and be unapologetically ambitious. Lisa is a wellbeing and inclusion champion who advocates the fundamental importance of self-care and wellbeing for success. Lisa is passionate about supporting the growth of new businesses, particularly led by those from underrepresented backgrounds. She is Women in Business accredited and mentors and trains founders and small business leaders through her work with Digital Boost, Hatch, Dechomai and the NatWest Accelerator, demonstrating that a lawyer’s contribution and impact is not limited to their technical legal skills.

Within the profession, Lisa has cofounded Hera alongside long-time friend and fractional GC Natalie Salunke. Hera is a community which creates a safe space for women of all roles, levels and backgrounds in the Legal profession to share and be vulnerable, to celebrate successes and to uplift and inspire one another through storytelling and shared experiences. The community provides networking opportunities and events designed to foster inclusion and connection.

Alongside her legal career Lisa has also been building a coaching practice and this year launched Channel Your Serenity, running group coaching workshops, programmes and retreats alongside coaching partner Dr Laureen Jacquet.

Lisa was listed as one of the Involve x YouTubes HERoes Future Leaders 2024, in the Kindness & Leadership 50 Leading Lights 2024 and won the Judges’ Award in the Women in Banking and Finance Awards 2024 for her contribution to the Financia Services industry. Lisa was also listed as one of Brummell Magazine’s Ones to Watch 2022 and won In-House Lawyer of the Year in Women and Diversity in Law Awards 2023.

Outside the office you’ll find Lisa training for and running marathons (she’s done over 30), exploring the outdoors with her young children, practising yoga (she’s also a certified vinyasa and yin yoga teacher) or seeking out new experiences.

Nanna Hepke

Legal Deputy Director, Ofgem

Nanna Hepke is a senior government and regulatory lawyer, currently serving as Deputy Director at the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), the UK’s energy regulator. With a career that bridges financial journalism and public sector law, Nanna brings a unique perspective to the intersection of regulation, policy, and legal oversight.

Before transitioning into law, Nanna worked as a financial journalist, a background that honed her analytical skills and deepened her understanding of economic and market dynamics.

This experience has informed her legal career, where she has developed extensive expertise in leading legal teams within government and regulatory environments.

At Ofgem, Nanna plays a pivotal role in overseeing legal aspects of energy regulation, contributing to the development and implementation of policies that ensure fair and effective energy markets. Her leadership supports Ofgem’s mission to protect the interests of current and future energy consumers, particularly as the sector navigates the complexities of decarbonisation and technological innovation.

Nanna’s career exemplifies the impact of interdisciplinary experience in public service. Her trajectory from journalism to highlevel legal leadership underscores the value of diverse skill sets in shaping responsive and informed regulatory frameworks. As a senior woman in the legal profession, she serves as a role model for those aspiring to influence policy and regulation through legal expertise.

Sara Geramipoor

Legal Director and Associate General Counsel at KPMG

Sara is a highly regarded lawyer serving as Director and Associate General Counsel at KPMG LLP.

In her current role, Sara manages a team of technology lawyers focusing on complex technology client contracts. Sara leads on significant deals, navigating complex legal issues and providing strategic insight. Her exceptional legal knowledge coupled with her pragmatic, commercial approach have earned her the respect of colleagues and clients. She has also been nominated for a number of prestigious awards, including Women of the Future.

A significant aspect of Sara’s leadership is her pioneering role in KPMG’s internal use of, and governance around, AI. Her role involves driving improved knowledge and practices, hosting regular multidisciplinary meetings and fostering collaboration across KPMG’s global network.

Sara’s leadership extends beyond her legal expertise. Sara is a highly effective people manager with strongly developed insight and empathy. She is a passionate advocate for inclusion, diversity and equity. As an IDE Ambassador in KPMG, she has driven initiatives to improve the firm’s IDE declaration rates, focusing on the experiences of underrepresented colleagues.

Additionally, Sara coached a team who wanted to raise awareness and enhance support for those affected by domestic abuse. The team were crowned winners of KPMG’s, “Innovation Challenge” and Sara was instrumental in implementing the proposal and creating KPMG’s Safety Champion Network.

Having read law at King’s College London, she was called to the Bar (2006) and gained experience at two top law firms before requalifying as a solicitor (2009). In her first in-house role she acted as Group Legal Counsel and Company Secretary for Hampden. She then moved into the Big 4 working for Deloitte and then finding her home at KPMG.

Overall, Sara’s career exemplifies grit, ambition and excellence. As a “Woman Who Will,” she is committed to inspiring and paving the way for future generations of legal professionals from all backgrounds.

Chelsea Brooke-Ward

Barrister, Park Square Barristers

“I came to the Bar as a young mum and a little naïve—true Elle Woods moment, ‘What, like it’s hard?’ It is. But so is motherhood. So is life. So is showing up when no one believes you can do it. I’ve fought hard to build a place at the Bar, not just for me, but for everyone who wants it, especially those who have been told they don’t belong here. I’m here to hold the door open.”

Chelsea Brooke-Ward is an award-winning employment barrister, two-time author, and founder of Diary of a Barrister—a podcast and platform dedicated to demystifying life at the Bar and empowering the next generation of legal professionals. As Head of the Employment Team at Park Square Barristers, Chelsea acts for both Claimants and Respondents in complex discrimination, whistleblowing, and dismissal claims. She is ranked in Chambers and Partners and is a Tier 2 Leading Junior in Legal 500. Her practice is known for its meticulous preparation, fearless advocacy, and fierce commitment to access to justice.

Chelsea’s journey into law was unconventional. She attended a council school where academic ambition wasn’t always the norm, and she didn’t consider a career in law until after becoming a mother. Her lived experience shapes her work, driving her passion for dismantling barriers within the profession and championing diversity at every level. Chelsea is open about living with ADHD and the impact this has had on her and her career—turning what was once seen as a challenge into a superpower that fuels her creativity and tenacity.

Through Diary of a Barrister and the soon to be released Pupillage Programme (a digital course supporting aspiring barristers with practical insights, application guidance, and community), Chelsea has created a supportive and transparent space for aspiring barristers (lawyers) to access honest insights into the profession. A portion of all proceeds from these initiatives will be donated to a scholarship fund. Her work is a testament to the belief that success in law should be based on potential, not privilege. Whether in court or online, Chelsea’s mission is clear: to make the Bar more human, more honest, and more inclusive.

Kathleen Harris

Managing Partner, Arnold and Porter

Kathleen Harris heads the London office of Arnold and Porter. She is widely recognised as a leader in the field of financial crime, regulatory enforcement and investigations, and has built a market-leading practice in this area. She helps to steer the firm’s global Anti-Corruption practice. She is regularly instructed by FTSE 100 companies and their senior executives to deal with the most complex and high-profile law enforcement and regulatory investigations. Her representations include GSK, Hewlett Packard and News International. Her wealth of experience, ability to clearly define issues and robust advocacy of her clients’ position have led to successful outcomes and earned her the trust and respect of those she acts for.

Kathleen is routinely called upon to offer practical advice on the increasingly important area of international sanctions. She also maintains an active caseload of pro bono cases.

Chambers and Partners ranks Kathleen as a leading individual in her field and The Legal 500 recognises her “very keen intellect”.

Before joining private practice, Kathleen had a varied and successful career in government. As a senior civil servant, she served as Head of the Fraud Business Unit at the UK Serious Fraud Office where she also spent time heading the Policy Unit. She was a senior policy adviser in the Attorney General’s Office and retains her understanding of the intricate workings of law enforcement and regulatory authorities.

“Delighted to be included in this list. As we continue to overcome challenges, we should be proud of all we have achieved and ensure we leave a legacy which embraces all the many positive impacts that many people make every day.”

Sobashni De Silva

Partner, JMW Solicitors LLP

Sobashni De Silva is a distinguished commercial litigator and Partner at JMW Solicitors LLP, based in the firm’s London office. With a legal career spanning two decades, she has built a formidable reputation for managing complex, highvalue disputes across multiple jurisdictions. Her expertise covers a broad range of litigation, including contractual disputes, banking and finance litigation, civil fraud, professional negligence, and debt recovery.

Admitted as a solicitor in 2005, Sobashni is known for her legal acumen, strategic insight, and ability to handle intricate, highstakes cases. Her practice includes acting in significant litigation such as multi-jurisdictional fraud proceedings and high-value intentional tort claims, and she is also active in the fast-evolving area of crypto-related disputes.

Sobashni’s work has been widely recognised within the profession. She has been ranked as a Next Generation Partner in the field of Dispute Resolution and is consistently recommended for her work in commercial litigation, professional negligence, and debt recovery. Clients value her as a shrewd adviser with a strong grasp of commercial outcomes, and colleagues praise her leadership and ability to guide her team with clarity and confidence.

In addition to her litigation practice, Sobashni plays an active role in the wider legal community. She is a member of several professional networks, including the Law Society’s International Panel and the Professional Negligence Lawyers’ Association, demonstrating her commitment to collaboration, continuous learning, and the broader advancement of the legal profession.

Sobashni’s career is a powerful example of female leadership in a traditionally male-dominated field. Her trajectory reflects not only technical excellence and resilience but also the importance of visibility and representation in commercial law. As a senior woman in private practice, she continues to inspire the next generation of lawyers by showing what is possible through determination, expertise, and a client-centred approach to litigation.

Shruti Trivedi

Managing Director, Devello Group

Shruti is a highly experienced legal professional with a distinguished career spanning almost two decades within the niche area of planning law, but more importantly is the very definition of a trailblazer and a “woman who will”.

Shruti grew up in Kenya, of Indian descent, and moved to Britain on her own as a teenager to study law. On graduation, Shruti secured a prestigious training contract with Eversheds and qualified into their planning team. Shruti quickly rose up the ranks, being responsible for a number of significant planning and infrastructure projects. After nearly 10 years at Eversheds, Shruti progressed through the partnership and equity ranks at other significant national law firms, latterly setting up and successfully established an entirely new planning legal team.

Shruti has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence and innovation and so, frustrated with the constraints of “big law” and wanting better for herself, her team and her clients, co-founded Devello in 2024 with the aim of doing law differently. Devello is largely Shruti’s vision, alongside her colleague and business partner; a refusal to accept “the way things have always been done” and to try and demonstrate that law can be provided in a more ethical, responsible manner, investing strongly in clients and team members instead of profits at all costs.

Shruti’s leadership extends to mentoring future legal professionals, guiding law students and young professionals, offering legal interview coaching and career development support, both as a University of Bristol alumni, and through organisations such as Women in Planning. Her mentorship has been pivotal in helping aspiring solicitors navigate the competitive legal landscape, emphasising the importance of resilience and continuous growth.

Shruti has also somehow found time to become a published author in her spare time!

Amy Rose

Global Director of Litigation, Governance & Legal Services, ClientEarth

Amy Rose is a seasoned legal professional and global leader in climate and environmental litigation. As Global Director of Litigation, Governance & Legal Services at ClientEarth, Amy sits at the intersection of strategic legal action and organizational governance. She leads the department responsible for governance, risk, compliance, and legal operations across ClientEarth’s global entities— ensuring ethical integrity and legal accountability at every level of the organisation.

A core member of the Global Leadership Group, Amy also plays a pivotal role in guiding the organisation’s legal strategy. She oversees an ambitious and growing portfolio of litigation that advances climate justice and environmental protection worldwide. From European courts to international legal forums, Amy helps support multidisciplinary teams as they pursue impactful cases designed to hold governments and corporations accountable for environmental harm.

With degrees in political science and international relations from Boston College and a juris doctorate from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law (now UC San Francisco), Amy is admitted to the bars of California and Oregon and is also a Member of the Roll of Irish Solicitors. Her transatlantic legal experience has shaped a deep understanding of comparative legal systems, and she has become a respected voice on the role of litigation as a tool for systemic change.

Being named to the Women Who Will Class of 2025 is an honour that underscores Amy’s dedication not only to the practice of law, but to its evolution. She is proud to stand alongside a cohort of women shaping the future of the profession—women who lead, act, and inspire.

Claire Waxman

Victims Commissioner, Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime

Claire Waxman has spent over two decades championing the rights of victims and survivors, using her lived experience to drive systemic change across the criminal justice landscape. Appointed as London’s inaugural Victims Commissioner in 2017, Claire has brought a bold and unwavering voice to one of the most challenging and often overlooked areas of public policy. In this high-profile role, she serves as a powerful advocate for victims, working to ensure that their rights are respected, their voices are heard, and their needs are prioritised at every stage of the justice process.

Claire’s appointment marked a significant shift in how victims’ experiences are represented at a strategic level. Drawing on her own experience as a victim of prolonged stalking, she has spearheaded a number of landmark initiatives to reform how victims of crime are treated. Her personal insight, combined with deep policy expertise, gives her a rare authority in a space too often defined by bureaucracy over humanity. Claire has worked closely with the Metropolitan Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Ministry of Justice and thirdsector organisations to improve outcomes and support for victims, particularly in cases involving serious violence, domestic abuse, and sexual offences.

Under her leadership, the MOPAC Victims Programme has expanded to provide more accessible and inclusive services, with a focus on intersectional needs. Claire’s work consistently champions the voices of marginalised groups— recognising that not all victims experience the system equally, and that a one-size-fits-all model fails those who are most vulnerable. She has also been a vocal critic of the attrition rates in rape and sexual assault prosecutions and has called for urgent action to rebuild trust and transparency in the system.

Claire Waxman’s leadership is defined by empathy, tenacity, and a deep commitment to fairness. In a system where victims can feel invisible, she has made it her mission to ensure they are not only seen and heard, but also empowered. As Victims Commissioner, she continues to redefine what it means to lead with purpose—turning personal adversity into public impact and setting new standards for justice and accountability.

Helen Croft

General Counsel, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

Helen Croft is the General Counsel at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), where she leads a global legal, risk, and compliance team supporting operations in over 45 countries. With a clear-eyed focus on enabling mission delivery, Helen plays a pivotal role in helping the Institute navigate the legal and regulatory complexities of working across diverse jurisdictions, from fragile states to fast-growing economies. TBI is a not-for-profit organisation committed to building inclusive, tech-enabled, and prosperous societies, working directly with political leaders to turn bold ideas into reality.

Since joining TBI nearly six years ago, Helen has been at the heart of its transformation. She has driven the development of scalable legal and compliance frameworks to support TBI’s exponential growth— from operating in 18 countries in 2021 to over 45 today, with a workforce that has expanded to more than 850 employees. Her leadership has enabled the Institute to sustain rapid, mission-critical delivery while navigating the risks and demands of complex funding, and regulatory environments.

A core member of the Institute’s Senior Leadership Team, Helen is a trusted partner to the CEO and Managing Directors. She is deeply embedded TBI’s leadership, Helen provides expert counsel on a breadth of matters ranging from international governance and compliance to operational expansion and organisational risk management. Her approach is pragmatic, commercial, and impact-oriented.

Helen has also been instrumental in building systems that not only manage risk but enable innovation and agility. She leads a high performing global team known for its responsiveness, expertise, and commitment to excellence in service of the Institute’s mission.

Before joining TBI, Helen served as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel at a global communications agency, where she gained firsthand experience of operational leadership and legal oversight in a fast-paced, commercial environment. Earlier in her career, she spent over 16 years at Mishcon de Reya, culminating in her role as a Partner in the Employment Team. Having trained and qualified at the firm, Helen developed a broad practice in both contentious and non-contentious employment law. Her clients included SMEs, pharmaceutical and retail businesses, financial services organisations, FTSE100 and 250 board members, and high-net-worth individuals.

Across all her roles, Helen has earned a reputation as a sharp, commercially astute, and trusted advisor who brings clarity to complexity and consistently delivers results. She is passionate about mentoring the next generation of legal and operational leaders.

Outside of work, Helen is a proud mother of two and attributes much of her success to the support of her “very patient” husband. She also serves as a Trustee for Arms Around the Child, a global charity focused on supporting children living in extreme adversity— including those who are orphaned, abandoned, or at risk of abuse.