Introducing the BSG Committee 2024:
Christie Nelson
Co-Chair
Christie is a Solicitor specialising in Corporate law at Wilkes. She went to university in Manchester and came to Birmingham to train and qualify. Christie took an alternative route to qualification by doing the LPC, three months of a training contract then the SQE2. Christie was previously on the committee as Events Officer with Kristian Campbell-Drummond who now shares the Chair role with Christie. As Co-Chair, Christie leads the committee and will continue to help raise the profile of the organisation in the region. In 2023, Christie won the Insider Media ‘Young Lawyer of the Year’ award. She is passionate about guiding the next generation of young lawyers and has been a mentor for a trainee solicitor as part of the Future Faces mentoring scheme.
On a weekend, Christie likes getting out of the city for a hike, going to a live music gig and trying out the independent restaurant and bar scene in Birmingham. Christie also enjoys running and the occasional spin class on a Saturday morning.
Kristian Campbell-Drummond
Co-Chair
Kristian is a Solicitor specialising in Employment and HR law at Weightmans LLP, having qualified with the firm in 2022. After previously sitting on the committee as Co-Events Officer, Kristian will now lead the committee alongside Christie as they seek to take the organisation to new heights in the Midlands legal industry. Keen on encouraging and promoting diversity and inclusivity within the profession, in his spare time Kristian is enrolled as a mentor to students and legal juniors across various schemes in London and the Midlands. In 2023 Kristian was a finalist for Birmingham Black Lawyer’s Excellence Awards in the Junior Legal Professional of the Year category.
Kristian played competitive rugby throughout his studies, representing Walsall RFC, Staffordshire County and Leicester EPDG. In addition to rugby, he enjoys watching Formula 1, boxing and football (only when Arsenal are winning). He also finds the energy to go to the gym at 5am to ‘beat the traffic’.
Imran Manzoor
Secretary
Imran is a passionate and highly motivated aspiring solicitor, who graduated from Law at Keele in July 2023. During his time at university, he served as General Secretary of the Islamic Society (ISoc) from 2020-2021 and as President from 2021-2022 after the pandemic, helping revive a ‘home away from home’ for Muslim students at university. Imran had also been involved in the Law school’s Commercial Legal Clinic as a Student Legal Advisor from 2022-2023, providing legal support to small businesses. Alongside this, he helped with the Citizens Advice Bureau as a Student Advisor, providing confidential advice to members of the public from diverse backgrounds.
Outside of university, Imran is Chair of the Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS) spearheading the academic growth and community development of Muslim and BAME students across university ISocs.
As Secretary, Imran maintains the BSG’s administration and the smooth functioning of the organisation.
In his free time, Imran loves to travel, read poetry and remains avidly competitive in sports, particularly cricket.
Neamh Towers
CSR
Neamh is a second-year trainee solicitor at Mills & Reeve and is currently sat in the employment team. Neamh studied law at Queen’s University, Belfast and her LPC at the University of Law, Birmingham before joining Mills & Reeve in September 2022.
Neamh works alongside Ines as joint CSR officers, both having huge aspirations for raising as much money as possible for the BSG’s chosen charities. Neamh has actively participated in charity work in the past, including hiking Snowdon for NICE charity, volunteering at Myton Hospice in Coventry and Let’s Feed Brum and being the Birmingham trainee representative for Mills & Reeve’s annual Charity Challenge weekend in which she raised money for The Hygiene Bank.
In her spare time, Neamh loves travelling and recently returned from a three-week trip travelling the East Coast of Australia over Christmas and New Year 2023. Neamh is also an avid fitness enthusiast and loves spin classes, running, reformer Pilates and trying new independent fitness classes. Neamh will be combining her love for fitness with her role as CSR officer in organising a BSG run club with all donations going to our chosen charities – watch this space!
Ines Ouadah
CSR
Ines is a solicitor specialising in Corporate law. She went to university in Oxford and studied History and Politics, and then came back to Birmingham to train and qualify. Ines qualified as a solicitor in October 2023, having completed her training contract at FBC Manby Bowdler LLP.
Ines was previously on the Wolverhampton and Black Country Junior Lawyers Division committee as the Social Secretary and had both planned and co-planned a number of successful events, for junior lawyers in the local area.
As one of this year’s CSR Officers Ines will be responsible for running and supporting the BSG’s charitable pursuits, along with fundraising and assisting the Events Officers with event planning. Ines is passionate about inclusion, diversity and has been a mentor for multiple aspiring solicitors, which started when she co- ran a number of workshops and talks at multiple secondary schools. Ines has also been personally invited to speak at the University of Birmingham, Coventry University and the University of Wolverhampton as a result of her contributions.
On a weekend, Ines likes getting out of the hustle and bustle of the city and attend yoga classes, going for long walks in the countryside and chasing after her two kittens (one of whom, thinks that he is an actual puppy!)
Kate Marrs
PR
Kate is a solicitor specialising in intellectual property at Potter Clarkson LLP. She studied Law at the University of Sheffield and came to Birmingham to train and qualify at Pinsent Masons LLP, where she qualified into Litigation and Regulatory, before moving to DLA Piper UK LLP where she worked on complex commercial and public law disputes. Kate is also passionate about Pro Bono, and has experience advising environmental organisations and displaced persons. Kate also enjoys design, and is studying a part-time PgCert in Digital Marketing, positioning her well for the role of PR officer!
In her spare time, Kate enjoys fashion, live music and festivals, cooking, exploring independent bars and restaurants, travelling, and curling up in front of a good TV drama with her ragdoll cat, Martin.
Oluwatobi (Tobi) Akinwande
PR
Tobi is a Solicitor specialising in Family and Childcare law at Duncan Lewis Solicitors. Tobi completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Liverpool and her LPC LLM at the University of Law in Liverpool. Tobi began her role at Duncan Lewis Solicitor as a Caseworker, she undertook her training contract within 18 months as she received ‘time to count’ and qualified in December 2022. Tobi was previously on the committee as a PR Officer with Kate Marrs and she continues in the same role with Kate this year.
Tobi is a part of a mentoring scheme where she provides advice and assistance to aspiring young lawyers. Tobi has also dedicated her legal page to creating insights into her life as a family and childcare solicitor.
During her spare time, Tobi enjoys going to the gym, reading legal novels (especially those written by John Grisham) and creating content for her legal page – ‘ xlegal_eaglex’. She is also currently learning how to play the keyboard.
Misbah Rahman
EDI
Misbah is a Paralegal with a history of working in commercial environments, and in-house regulatory organisations from Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and currently at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) supporting nurses who work on the front-line.
Graduated from UOB and passionate about EDI she has worked as a Project Manager at the Chambers of Commerce delivering the diversity and equality pledge. She has mentored students and also delivered exciting initiatives to support the next generation of professionals from co-founding an initiative at UoB that also expanded to Manchester, to now sitting on various boards and volunteer positions. She loves the diversity of the city and often gets involved in local initiatives. Misbah has joined Birmingham Solicitors Group (BSG) to be an advocate for mentoring, collaboration, accessibility and support for the profession. Taking an alternative career path herself she wants to celebrate and provide a platform for the different journeys legal professionals have taken.
She is also a professional photographer and enjoys all things fitness, and grass-root community projects. Her favourite music is anything that gets her up and dancing, especially Zumba. You can often find Misbah enjoying the simple things in life.
Kim Strachan
EDI
Kim is a Solicitor specialising in Corporate law at Gateley Plc. Born and raised in Birmingham, Kim’s career was shaped by her 2-year accelerated law degree, followed by her LPC MSc in Law, Business and Management at the University of Law, Birmingham. Kim went on to complete her training contract at a regional corporate firm before joining Gateley plc in January 2023. Kim joins the committee this year as one of our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion officers. As EDI officer, Kim is particularly passionate about accessibility to the legal profession for individuals from all backgrounds. Alongside her co-EDI officer, Kim is excited about the opportunities to champion inclusivity within our events, socials and schemes throughout the year.
Outside of work, Kim is a dog enthusiast, spending weekends as a trusted dog walker and sitter around the West Midlands. Kim is rarely without the company of her four pawed pups, and you can catch glimpses of her delightful adventures with her cherished “puppy pack” on social media.
Liberty Green
Events
Liberty is a Paralegal specialising in Employment and HR law at Weightmans LLP having joined the firm in 2019. In 2023, Liberty was awarded Paralegal of the year by Birmingham Law society. Liberty is passionate about supporting local charities in Birmingham having previously chaired Weightmans’ Birmingham CSR committee and is keen to raise their profiles in the legal sector of our region.
Having a background in hospitality Liberty is looking forward to organising some exciting events and creating memorable networking experiences. Looking forward to seeing you at our next event!
Viney Jalley
Events
Viney is an Associate in the Commercial Team (health specialism) at Browne Jacobson and has a particular focus on commercial contracts, projects and procurement. Viney completed his training contract at Weightmans and qualified in 2022.
Viney is passionate about diversity and inclusion and currently sits on the Steering Group for REACH at Browne Jacobson. This involves assisting with D&I Strategy for the organisation and arranging events nationally. Having grown up in Birmingham, he is keen on giving back to the community and encouraging the talented individuals within the legal profession.
During his spare time, Viney enjoys watching and playing football. However, most of his weekends are spent running around his 4-year-old son!
Adele Akers
Barrister Representative
Adele is a barrister at St Philips Chambers, specialising in Employment law. Adele is reprising her role of Barrister Representative for the second year running alongside her colleague, Chevan IIangaratne, and is excited to continue her work forging stronger links between the bar and the wider legal professions. Adele is passionate about encouraging diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and is a mentor for aspiring lawyers from secondary school students to junior legal professionals that come from non-traditional backgrounds.
Outside of law, Adele enjoys weightlifting and strength training, and religiously gets in 12k steps a day. Adele also enjoys the theatre, and checking out the many restaurants Birmingham has to offer. Adele’s guilty pleasure is reality television – Married at First Sight Australia anyone??
Chevan Ilangaratne
Barrister Representative
Chevan is a Barrister specialising in Employment Law & Personal Injury/Clinical Negligence Law at St Philips Chambers, Birmingham.
Before coming to the Bar, Chevan worked for a number of human rights charities and law firms which saw him work as far afield as Canada and Hungary. Chevan moved to Birmingham in 2021, and despite being a proud Yorkshireman, has been embracing life in the West Midlands in all its glory ever since.
In his spare time, Chevan loves going to watch the football and cricket. He is also partial to a good long walk in the countryside (as long as there is a nice warm pub at the end of it)!
Chevan looks forward to spending his second year on the BSG Committee as a Barrister Representative.
Alice Jeavons
Junior Representative
Alice is a Paralegal specialising in Will, Trust & Estate Disputes at Irwin Mitchell LLP. She attended the University of Liverpool to study Law and graduated in 2018, followed by a 6-month period of volunteering in Greece. Alice obtained her first Paralegal job in family law in 2019 and has since moved on to working in the contentious probate world. She successfully obtained a Training Contract with Irwin Mitchell last year and will be starting her first seat in August.
This is Alice’s second year on the committee as a Junior Rep. She is passionate about encouraging students and aspiring lawyers to get involved with networking events within the local community, to grow their own contact base as well as developing their confidence and communication skills for the future.
In her spare time, Alice loves cooking and baking – you can find all of her homecooked treats as well as some ‘career updates’ on her Instagram ‘bake.the.law’.
Kate Woodhouse
Junior Representative
Kate is a Trainee Solicitor at Higgs LLP. After graduating with a first class honours in Law from the University of Birmingham, Kate went on to achieve a distinction in her LPC at the University of Law (Bristol). Throughout University, Kate held various voluntary positions including acting as a mental health crisis support worker for Shout UK, a child contact volunteer for Birmingham Child Contact Centre and as a women’s refuge caseworker for Anawim. Kate is delighted to have joined the BSG and looks forward to engaging with junior lawyers in and around Birmingham!
Outside of work, Kate enjoys cooking, traveling and socialising with friends/family!
Nicky Tattal
Junior Representative
Nicky is a second year Trainee Solicitor at Irwin Mitchell LLP, currently in the Medical Negligence team. Nicky studied law at the University of Liverpool and then completed the LPC LLM at the University of Law in Birmingham. After graduating, she secured a paralegal position in the Commercial Real Estate team at Eversheds Sutherland. Whilst working, Nicky obtained a training contract offer from Irwin Mitchell LLP after completing their Legal Work Placement.
Nicky did not have any connections in the legal industry when starting out on her legal journey and her aim is to try and help other junior legal professionals and students. She is a mentor for Aspiring Solicitors, and she continues her role as a Junior Representative on the committee for a second year running. Outside of work, Nicky enjoys yoga, travelling, going to the cinema and most importantly she is a massive foodie and enjoys going out to eat.
Gurpreet Chaggar
Junior Representative
Gurpreet is a Final Year Law Student at Aston University. He was the President of the Student Law Society at Aston for the 2022/23 Academic Year. During his time in office, the Society won the ‘Best Social Event’ award from LawCareers.Net and the Aston Students’ Union Award for ‘Most Improved Society of the Year.’ As Junior Rep, Gurpreet hopes to continue the work done by previous committees to better combine the student and professional communities in the Midlands legal sector. In 2023, Gurpreet won the Birmingham Law Society Spoken Word Competition. He is passionate about giving back to the community and actively participates in the Aston University Mentoring Scheme, as well as volunteering at his local place of worship.
In his spare time, Gurpreet enjoys watching football, going to the gym, and spending time with family. He also likes to travel, with a preference for ‘anywhere warmer than here.’
Birmingham Solicitors' Group 