Essential legal insight for leaders navigating complex change

Join Marsh and the Russam Team on Monday 20 April for a 30-minute, high-level briefing designed to bring clarity to one of the most complex areas of corporate governance, followed by networking drinks, canapés, and the opportunity to engage directly with the speakers. It is an important even for anyone who takes on a role as director / shadow director and needs to be careful when things get difficult. Interims and turnaround directors can find themselves in situations that become tricky.  There is no sin in being on the board of a company that fails and goes into an insolvency process. What does sometimes get sanctioned, however, is behaviour by a director that fails to demonstrate they took every reasonable step to prevent matters getting worse.   This meeting gives a chance to hear from a judge who  has heard many disqualification cases.  For balance the evening will also hear from a leading defence lawyer who has quite a lot of comfort to offer. The Chair on the evening John Pennie has over 40 years’ experience in this field and he has embraced offering guidance to directors for many years.

Timings:

• 6:00pm – 6:15pm: Arrival and refreshments
• 6:15pm – 6:30pm: Welcome & Opening Remarks: Marsh & Russam
• 6:30pm – 7:00pm: Presentation: Stephen Baister, Deputy ICC Judge of the High Court, alongside Richard Mendoza, Senior Litigator at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, and John Pennie, Vice President at Marsh 
• 7:00pm – 8:00pm: Networking: Connect with turnaround specialists, transformation leaders, and interim board members over drinks and canapés

Key Session Topics:

• Understanding where advice ends and legal responsibility begins in interim and fractional roles
• Common pitfalls when stepping into distressed or rapidly changing environments
• How the High Court interprets directors’ duties in real-world scenarios
• Practical defence strategies when facing scrutiny or disqualification risk
• Navigating the blurred line between strategic oversight and operational accountability

This session offers a rare “view from the Bench”, providing practical insight into how directors’ duties are applied when decisions are made under pressure. You will leave with a clearer understanding of your responsibilities, how to mitigate risk, and how to operate with confidence in high-stakes, short-term roles.

REGISTER HERE

Location: 6th Floor, 1 Tower Place West, Tower Place, London EC3R 5BU
Enjoy views of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge

Attendance is limited. Please respond early to secure your place. Once capacity is reached, a waitlist will open and places will be offered in order of registration.

Date: Monday 20th April 2026

Time: 6pm-8pm

Location: 6th Floor, 1 Tower Place West, Tower Place, London EC3R 5BU