TOTUM PARTNERS
Our Judging Panel
Meet our Judging Panel.
Our judges for Totum’s Rising Star Awards represents the very best in business services expertise from across the professional services sector. They will assess the shortlist, making the final decision before we announce our Rising Star Award winner on 13th February 2024.
Adam Soames
Global Head of Business Development & Strategy
Alessandra Almeida Jones
Global Director - Marketing & Communications
Adam has long been the Marketing & BD leader Hogan Lovells calls upon to lead its major strategic transformation projects – innovating the way the firm engages with clients and markets. He has most recently led the development and roll-out of the firm’s award winning Sales Transformation Programme, which sits at the heart of the firm’s strategic priorities, and previously built the firm’s market-leading global clients and industries program. During his time with the firm Adam has led the business development teams globally for practices, clients and industries, as well a pitch & pursuits, strategy and business intelligence. He has also worked with the firm’s leadership team on the development and implementation of the firm’s strategy.
Alessandra Almeida Jones is Global Director of Marketing & Communications at BCLP and an experienced professional services marketer with a proven track-record in building corporate profile and driving client demand through an innovative approach to marketing, communications and engagement initiatives. A passionate diversity and inclusion advocate, she is an advisory board member at the Black Business Institute, a BAME mentor and active participant in a number of women networks. Currently a Further Education Governor, Alessandra has held senior positions at organisations such as Linklaters, KWM and ABN AMRO.
Richard Crook
Marketing & BD Director
Tom Lavin
Director of Marketing Operations
Richard is Marketing and Business Development Director for Saffery Champness in the London office. He is an experienced marketing and business development professional with over 25 years’ experience leading global teams in the accountancy, real estate and legal sectors. He joined the firm in 2022, having previously held the role of Global Head of Business Development at Charles Russell Speechlys. Richard works with senior leaders to set business strategy and to ensure the firm’s marketing and business development approach delivers profitable growth. He is highly skilled in strategy and execution, digital and social marketing, business development and coaching.
Tom Lavin is Director, Marketing Operations at White & Case LLP. Having been there close to a decade, he has over 15 years of experience in professional services. Tom is responsible for a global team that focus on supporting the global business development team, driving the marketing technology strategy and leading on operational excellence/change. One of Tom’s proudest achievements at White & case has been to build a global team of junior business development professionals. Through this team he has seen many a rising star come up and progress to greater things, so is a perfect candidate to judge these awards.
Yasemin Baird
Marketing Director
As Marketing Director for UK based planning and development consultancy firm Montagu Evans, Yasemin has overall responsibility for the firm’s marketing and business development activities, having built and transformed the approach and team from joining in 2017. Prior to Montagu Evans Yasemin had 10 years’ experience within legal and financial services across a variety of marketing and business strategy roles. Yasemin is responsible for creating and developing the partnership brand and has a passion for supporting a collaborative people-focused approach. She is responsible for the communications, sector strategy and strategic client service and key account programme in addition to influencing the business direction overall. Yasemin is an active member of the firm’s Management Board, Charity Committee and Net Zero Committee.
Adam Soames
Global Head of Business Development & Strategy
Adam has long been the Marketing & BD leader Hogan Lovells calls upon to lead its major strategic transformation projects – innovating the way the firm engages with clients and markets. He has most recently led the development and roll-out of the firm’s award winning Sales Transformation Programme, which sits at the heart of the firm’s strategic priorities, and previously built the firm’s market-leading global clients and industries program. During his time with the firm Adam has led the business development teams globally for practices, clients and industries, as well a pitch & pursuits, strategy and business intelligence. He has also worked with the firm’s leadership team on the development and implementation of the firm’s strategy.
Alessandra Almeida Jones
Director of Global Marketing and Stakeholder Engagement
Alessandra Almeida Jones is Director of Global Marketing and Stakeholder Engagement at Baker McKenzie. She is an experienced professional services marketer with a proven track-record in building corporate profile and driving client demand through an innovative approach to marketing, communications and engagement initiatives.
A passionate diversity and inclusion advocate, she is an advisory board member at the Black Business Institute, a BAME mentor and active participant in a number of women networks.
Currently Director of Marketing and Engagement at Baker McKenzie and a Further Education Governor, Alessandra has held senior positions at organisations such as Linklaters, KWM and ABN AMRO.
Richard Crook
Marketing & BD Director
Tom Lavin
Director of Marketing Operations
Richard is Marketing and Business Development Director for Saffery Champness in the London office. He is an experienced marketing and business development professional with over 25 years’ experience leading global teams in the accountancy, real estate and legal sectors. He joined the firm in 2022, having previously held the role of Global Head of Business Development at Charles Russell Speechlys. Richard works with senior leaders to set business strategy and to ensure the firm’s marketing and business development approach delivers profitable growth. He is highly skilled in strategy and execution, digital and social marketing, business development and coaching.
Tom Lavin
Director of Marketing Operations
Tom Lavin is Director, Marketing Operations at White & Case LLP. Having been there close to a decade, he has over 15 years of experience in professional services. Tom is responsible for a global team that focus on supporting the global business development team, driving the marketing technology strategy and leading on operational excellence/change. One of Tom’s proudest achievements at White & case has been to build a global team of junior business development professionals. Through this team he has seen many a rising star come up and progress to greater things, so is a perfect candidate to judge these awards.
Yasemin Baird
Marketing Director
As Marketing Director for UK based planning and development consultancy firm Montagu Evans, Yasemin has overall responsibility for the firm’s marketing and business development activities, having built and transformed the approach and team from joining in 2017. Prior to Montagu Evans Yasemin had 10 years’ experience within legal and financial services across a variety of marketing and business strategy roles. Yasemin is responsible for creating and developing the partnership brand and has a passion for supporting a collaborative people-focused approach. She is responsible for the communications, sector strategy and strategic client service and key account programme in addition to influencing the business direction overall. Yasemin is an active member of the firm’s Management Board, Charity Committee and Net Zero Committee.
