ILFM Conference 2026

We will be holding our ILFM Conference on Wednesday 23 September 2026 at the Law Society, Chancery Lane, London. 

Registration + tea & coffee is from 9.00 for a prompt 10.00 start. The Conference ends at 17.00.

Exceptional speakers, delicious refreshments (including lunch), together with opportunities to learn and network with your colleagues in legal finance, law firm management and compliance.

Up to 6 hours of CPD training applicable.

Who is it for?

Legal cashiers, COFAs, operations and practice managers, sole practitioners, law firm directors and financial controllers.

Please note there are NO supplier tickets - delegates MUST be legal finance professionals responsible for financial support, management, governance & compliance within the legal profession.

Speakers & Agenda TBC

Guest speakers (TBC):

Chris Handford, Director of Regulatory Policy

As Director of Regulatory Policy, Chris is responsible for leading the SRA’s policy work aimed at driving trust and confidence in legal services. This includes delivering high professional standards in a way that is fair, proportionate and robust. And supporting innovation and technology that improves the delivery of legal services and access to them. With more than 20 years’ experience in the legal service sector, Chris was previously Head of Research and Development at the Legal Services Board.

Mike Shields, Head of FI & Intelligence

Mike is head of the SRA’s Forensic Investigation team. The team carries out on-site investigations into solicitors and law firms across England and Wales. With over 25 years’ experience in the legal sector compliance field, Mike has led teams involved in complex, high-risk investigations. Before joining the SRA, Mike held management roles with the Legal Services Commission and ScottishPower plc.

Ian Johnson, Partner at Hazlewoods LLP, ILFM Council Member & Past Chair

“Law Firm Compliance”

Join Ian as he leads an insightful session on navigating financial compliance in today’s legal landscape. Drawing on his experience as a Partner and Reporting Accountant at Hazlewoods and his long-standing involvement with the ILFM Council, including serving as its past Chair, Ian brings a uniquely practical and strategic perspective to the regulatory challenges faced by law firms.

With a proven track record supporting COFAs, managing partners, and finance leaders, Ian will share his practical and pragmatic view on how firms should be navigating the ever changing world of legal finance compliance.

Emma Dimbylow, COO, Teal Compliance

 "Economic Crime Update"

•   The AML Supervision changes, FCA v SRA, and what it means in practice.
•   Client money and client account consultation - what are the proposals.
•   Managing sanctions expectations - what firms need to do to ensure compliance.
•   A reminder of the new Failure to Prevent Fraud Offence.

Kirsty Pappin, Aries Legal Practice Management

“Shaking and Making Projects with the Three Cs” 

Making any operational or business change in a law firm will always come with challenges. In SME firms, it is usually the practice manager or similar, who must ride the roller coaster of project management through to the end. With this mind, this is going to be an energy driven session, bringing you some key pointers to break and shake project operations with ‘Communication, Change and Courage’.

Hannah Beko, Authentically Speaking

"Staying Human Under Pressure: Authentic Leadership & Psychological Safety in Legal Practice” 

In high-performing legal environments, pressure is often worn as a badge of honour.

But beneath the surface, sustained cognitive load, constant responsiveness, and unspoken expectations can quietly impact decision-making, communication, and team stability.

This session explores what it really means to stay authentic and human in a profession built on high standards.

Drawing on real-world experience within law firms, Hannah will introduce practical ways leaders and business support professionals can:

• recognise early signs of hidden pressure in themselves and others
• create environments where people can speak up, contribute, and perform at their best
• balance high performance with human sustainability, without lowering standards

This is not about reducing expectations.  It’s about strengthening the conditions that allow people to meet them consistently.

Claire Worrall, Commercial Lead (UK) at Efimis

"From Back Office to Boardroom"

Finance teams sit at the centre of a firm’s financial truth – but aren’t always positioned to act on it. Too often, they’re asked to validate, report, and react, working around fragmented systems while the rest of the firm moves ahead.

In this session, Claire explores why finance is still treated as an afterthought, what’s driving change, and how better visibility and connected data can help finance step forward – from back-office support to a more influential role at the centre of the business.

Keynote: Simon Paisley Day

"VAT of Stagnant Emotion"

Simon Paisley Day joins the ILFM Annual Conference with a candid and comic exploration of the financial chaos behind his thirty‑five‑year acting career. Best known for Born a King, Brexit: The Uncivil War, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and This England, where he played Dominic Cummings, Simon brings VAT of Stagnant Emotion to the stage with characteristic wit. He recalls the moment V A & T stopped describing his own “vat of stagnant emotion” and started involving real tax returns, accounting software and the perils of self‑employment. A career built on uncertainty and non‑financial rewards — and would he do it all again? Abso‑bloomin‑lutely.

For further detail please visit our conference website page

https://www.ilfm.org.uk/site/training-and-events/ilfm-conference/