Lee Castleton: The Post Office Bankrupted Me

Join Ben White as he interviews Daniel Whitehead, Global Head of Issuer Services Legal at Citi, in this engaging episode. Discover Daniel's remarkable career journey and his volunteer work with Medical Lifelines Ukraine. Gain insights into navigating change, proactive problem-solving, and fostering a positive workplace culture. Learn about the importance of achieving balance in high-pressure roles and how Daniel's dedication to both his professional responsibilities and humanitarian efforts provides a unique perspective on leadership and making a meaningful impact. Don't miss this opportunity to hear about Daniel's experiences and the incredible initiatives he's involved in!

Taking a look inside the career of an in-house lawyer with Adam Hirschovits!Tune in to the latest episode of the Insight In-house Legal podcast where Ben White sits down to chat with with Adam Hirschovits, Senior Commercial and Legal Director at The Roald Dahl Story Company.Adam and Ben dive into exploring Adam’s career journey so far. Discussing the opportunities and challenges of being a sole in-house lawyer, navigating the recent acquisition by Netflix, and the intricacies of managing intellectual property rights in the entertainment world.It's a must-listen for in-house legal professionals!

In this special bonus episode of The Crafty Show, we’ve pulled together some of the words of wisdom our various in-house lawyer interviewees shared during our conversations. We asked them whether there was any advice they had been given that they still use to this day, and we received a range of fascinating (and, of course, helpful!) insights.So, whether you're just starting out or are a seasoned in-house counsel, this episode is packed with relatable stories and actionable advice to help you navigate the ups and downs of your legal career.Join the Crafty Counsel Community to discover a space where in-house legal professionals can find joy, insight, and connection. Register for the Crafty Counsel Community for free.

James Smither, co-founder of the Neurodiversity Network, sits down with in-house lawyer Connagh McCormick, and private practice lawyer Jessie Smith to discuss the importance of understanding and embracing neurodiversity in the legal field.During their conversation, they share personal experiences and perspectives, highlighting the need for organisations to support neurodiverse individuals.They also emphasise the various ways lawyers can take small steps to break the stigma often associated with neurodiversity, offering examples of different strategies legal professionals can use to disclose it in the workplace.Join the Crafty Counsel Community to discover a space where in-house legal professionals can find joy, insight, and connection. Register for the Crafty Counsel Community for free.

Lee Castleton purchased a Post Office in Bridlington, Yorkshire, in 2003. When the Post Office management discovered a loss of £25,000 in the computer system, they blamed Lee, who argued that the Horizon IT system was at fault. The Post Office sued him, won the case, and pursued legal costs amounting to £321,000, which led to Lee's bankruptcy. To this day, he is still awaiting compensation.Lee graciously shared his story at Crafty Fest 2024 in a fireside chat with Ben White, founder of Crafty Counsel. He provided a unique perspective on the best and worst aspects of the legal profession. 

In this episode of The Crafty Show, Lucie Cruz, Content Producer at Crafty Counsel, is joined by Harriet Dedman, Counsel at Tiny, journalist, photographer, and filmmaker.Beginning her career at Hogan Lovells in 2008, Harriet spent a decade exploring various legal roles. In 2014, she transitioned into freelance journalism and filmmaking while continuing her corporate law work.In 2015, she left corporate law to cover the European refugee crisis in Greece as a freelancer. Her talent eventually secured her a full-time role as a Staff Producer/Director at VICE News.After a career in media spanning Europe, Hong Kong, and the U.S., collaborating with outlets such as BBC News, HBO, The Guardian, and CNN, and earning two Emmy nominations, Harriet returned to the legal field in October 2018.Join the Crafty Counsel Community to discover a space where in-house legal professionals can find joy, insight, and connection. Register for the Crafty Counsel Community for free.

In this episode of The Crafty Show, Ben White, founder of Crafty Counsel, sits down with Karl Wilson, a seasoned lawyer turned legal consultant with over two decades of experience and, since 2015, also a professional actor.During the course of their conversation, Karl speaks candidly about the significant upsides as well as the hurdles he's encountered while juggling both legal consultancy and acting. He offers valuable insights and guidance for fellow in-house lawyers looking to pursue interests beyond the legal realm.This episode was kindly sponsored by Re:link - the flexible legal resourcing platform from Linklaters.Join the Crafty Counsel Community to discover a space where in-house legal professionals can find joy, insight, and connection. Register for the Crafty Counsel Community for free.

In this episode, Lucie Cruz, Content Producer at Crafty Counsel, is joined by Richard Barnett, General Counsel at The National Gallery.Responsible for advising The Gallery on all regulatory and commercial matters, Richard has played a crucial role in facilitating the acquisition of Thomas Lawrence’s “Red Boy” through a private treaty sale, as well as procuring works by Veronese, Pissarro, Poussin, and others.In this episode, Richard opens up about the considerations and negotiations involved in acquiring artworks. He also shares his work for The National Gallery's Bicentenary - celebrating 200 years of bringing people and paintings together.Join the Crafty Counsel Community to discover a space where in-house legal professionals can find joy, insight, and connection. Register for the Crafty Counsel Community for free.

In this episode of The Crafty Show, Toby Hornett, Head of Community at Crafty Counsel, sits down with Mel Nebhrajani CB, Director General for Litigation with Justice and Security at GLD.Mel, who previously served as Legal Director at the Department for Health and Social Care, led the department's legal response to the pandemic while also navigating EU Exit challenges. She is now Director General for Litigation with Justice and Security at GLD In this episode, Mel shares insights from her experiences so far, as well as the lessons she has learned from her role in both the response and inquiry.Join the Crafty Counsel Community to discover a space where in-house legal professionals can find joy, insight, and connection. Register for the Crafty Counsel Community for free.

In this episode of The Crafty Show, Ben White, founder of Crafty Counsel, speaks with Natalie Salunke, an experienced GC from the Tech and other sectors who recently started her practice as a Fractional General Counsel, and Shrina Shah, formerly the Group General Counsel & Company Secretary at Puregym. In addition to their roles as in-house counsel, Natalie and Shrina have both taken on the additional responsibility of serving as Trustees. Shrina ventured into her first Trustee role in 2018 and presently holds the position of Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Kiln Theatre. Natalie occupies a dual trustee role, contributing her expertise to both Kent Union and the Young Urban Arts Foundation.In this episode, they explore their daily responsibilities, discuss why GCs are well-suited for these roles, and offer insights on balancing extracurricular commitments with professional responsibilities.This episode was kindly sponsored by Taylor Root, a global legal, risk and compliance search and recruitment consultancy.Join the Crafty Counsel Community to discover a space where in-house legal professionals can find joy, insight, and connection. Register for the Crafty Counsel Community for free.