About us
Since 2006 Legal Support Network (LSN) has been building a community for people in law firm management throughout the UK.
LSN brings the legal business services community together online through our website, our events, publications and social media channels. To support our online activities, LSN hosts a number of networking events annually across the UK, which provide the community a tangible platform to meet, establish and collaborate with peers. LSN also produces Briefing, a monthly digital magazine aimed at delivering thought-leadership content to the community and Legal Practice Management magazine, the only magazine for law firm managers. In 2011, LSN introduced a conference arm to the business with a view to delivering delegate conferences, seminars and workshops, these are: Briefing Operational Leaders In Legal conference, Briefing Business Transformation conference and the Legal Practice Management conference.
Who works in a firm like this?
Directors
David Sparkes
Founder/managing director
David Sparkes has worked in the legal industry since 1992. He started out at Thomas Eggar Verrall Bowles, later moving to HCL Hanne & Co. In 1997 he joined Adept Recruitment, a legal recruitment consultancy.
In 2006 he set up legalsupportnetwork. The rest, as they say, is history...
David's icebreakers:
Golf, cycling, Chile and triathlon.
Contact David:
0870 112 5058
07958 655 288
davids@burlingtonmedia.co.uk
uk.linkedin.com/in/david-sparkes
Sarah Cox
Client services director
Sarah Cox spent six years working for TFB (now TikitTFB), eventually managing the company's marketing department. Sarah joined LSN in 2009. She's responsible for keeping all LSN's clients happy and making sure everything client-related runs like clockwork.
Sarah's icebreakers:
Exploring the sights of London, running and horoscopes. Trainee domestic goddess.
Contact Sarah:
0870 112 5058
sarahc@burlingtonmedia.co.uk
uk.linkedin.com/in/sarah-cox
Rupert Collins-White
Head of content and community
Rupert Collins-White has been in legal publishing since 2005. He spent nearly five years at the Law Society Gazette, rising to features and commissioning editor, and de facto head of web. Rupert trained post-grad in journalism and has worked for IT Week, PC Advisor and SC Magazine, among others.
Rupert's icebreakers:
Can tend a small vineyard, if required. And I studied Star Trek at university. No, really, I did.
Contact Rupert:
0870 112 5058
07824 645 406
rupertw@burlingtonmedia.co.uk
uk.linkedin.com/in/rupert-white
Content and production
Richard Brent
Editor, Briefing magazine
Richard has had a varied career in business journalism and publishing, with particular experience covering the legal sector. He was the editor of Managing Partner magazine for top 100 law firms from 2006 to 2010 - but has also written for organisations as diverse as the Confederation of British Industry, the Institute of Administrative Management and the National Pharmacy Association.
Richard's icebreakers:
Has been found moonlighting on stage, but is now more often found watching from the cheap seats.
Contact Richard:
0870 112 5058
07824 645 406
richardb@briefing.co.uk
uk.linkedin.com/in/richard-brent
Patrick Wingrove
Editor, LPM magazine
Patrick studied modern history at King’s College London, and afterwards snuck into publishing by hiding in the offices of the Illustrated London News. He joined the amazing team at LSN in 2016 and is loving the fascinating world of legal.
Patrick's icebreakers:
Scuba diving, film, travel, and Portugal
Contact Patrick:
0870 112 5058
patrickw@lpmmag.co.uk
uk.linkedin.com/in/patrick-wingrove
Kayli Olson
Assistant editor – Briefng and LPM
A recent Film Studies and Journalism graduate from Kingston University, she hails from the rocky mountains of Colorado to join the LSN team on Briefing and LPM magazines. On her breaks you can find her studying Japanese or reading science articles.
Kayli's icebreakers:
Science fiction, horror, and B movies or anything related to Asia
Contact Kayli:
0870 112 5058
kaylio@burlingtonmedia.co.uk
uk.linkedin.com/in/kayli-olson
Declan Spinks
Digital marketing and content executive
Declan is an English graduate with more than three years experience in digital marketing. He started working at Burlington Media in October 2016 and has a wide reaching role that covers website management, social media, email marketing and SEO across all three of the brands covered under Burlington Media Group
Declan’s icebreakers:
Music, travel, cycling, science, exploring London and beer!
Contact Declan:
0870 112 5058
declans@burlingtonmedia.co.uk
uk.linkedin.com/in/declan-spinks
Client services
Duncan McKenzie
Client services team leader – Briefing and LPM
Duncan started his career in IT back in 96’ spending 10 years working for “well known” computer brands. Needing a change, he entered the media arena in 2006, spending 4 years at Yell before moving into B2B publishing within the automotive and then maritime industries. He entered the legal sector in 2015 with Wilmington PLC and then heard his calling and started at LSN in October 2016.
Duncan’s icebreakers:
Country hikes, cycling, tennis. He is alos a connoisseur of good Whiskey and a budding Thai chef.
Contact Duncan:
07818 116 320
duncanm@burlingtonmedia.co.uk
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/duncan-mckenzie
Tom has been working in recruitment marketing for the best part of 10 years and joined the Burlington Media team in 2015. His role involves developing the HR and recruitment community for Legal Support Network and in particular focusing on ways to make legal recruitment better.
Holly McDaid
Client services manager – Briefing
Holly studied media arts at Royal Holloway, University of London and upon graduating, set herself the mission to see as much of the world as possible (just don’t ask her about Morocco!). Now as part of the LSN team she really feels that she has found her calling! Claim to fame – her parents were on an episode of Homes Under the Hammer.
Holly’s icebreakers:
Cats, Las Vegas, handbags and baking.
Contact Holly:
0870 112 5058
hollym@briefing.co.uk
uk.linkedin.com/in/holly-mcdaid
Emily Nash
Client services manager – LPM
Emily Nash comes from a BD background in music education. Having been responsible for development in both her own business and a large music education exam board, it is now her position to manage all things LPM – conferences, the magazine and its supplements – as well as ensuring all LPM clients are happy and well looked after. Emily is also a semi-professional musician and her claim to fame is that her previous landlady was a well-known regular pro dancer on Strictly!
Emily’s icebreakers:
Acoustic nights, travelling and quirky city adventures.
Contact Emily:
0870 112 5058
emilyn@lpmmag.co.uk
uk.linkedin.com/in/emily-nash
Ellen Togher
Client services assistant – Legal Support Network
Ellen achieved a degree in film studies at Kingston University. Upon graduating she worked in retail sales for a short while before joining the LSN team in April 2016.
Ellen’s icebreakers:
Rugby, films, cooking and surfing.
Contact Ellen:
0870 112 5058
ellent@lsn.co.uk
uk.linkedin.com/in/ellen-tougher
Events
Samantha Irvine
Head of events – Briefing and LPM
Sam has over 15 years’ experience in the research and production of successful B2B events and has worked in the legal industry since 2004. She joined LSN in 2010 and now heads up Briefing and Legal Practice Management events.
Samantha’s icebreakers:
Holidays, good food/wine; and my kids!
Contact Samantha:
0870 112 5058
0790 550 534
sami@burlingtonmedia.co.uk
uk.linkedin.com/in/samirvine
Jacqui Dabell
Conference producer – Briefing
Jacqui studied law at BPP, Linguistics at UCL, and Eng Lit at Birmingham University until finally deciding to opt out of student-hood. She then spent 6 years as head of events, PR and marketing at the Expert Witness Institute which is her most recent employment before joining LSN in April 2016 as Briefing’s conference producer. Jacqui has also worked in the music industry, as a chef and stints as an opera singer.
Jacqui’s icebreakers:
Cooking, music, travel, opera, dance, film.
Contact Jacqui:
0870 112 5058
jacquid@burlingtonmedia.co.uk
uk.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-dabell
Accounts
Tina (aka Evil Accounts Lady) has been working as a bookkeeper for the past 8 years, but has a background in HR and hotels, the latter of which can bring a plethora of ‘interesting’ celeb/guest stories. .
Tina icebreakers:
Tina enjoys travelling, watching sport (especially football and rugby) and pubs.
Other
Whilst Mike is not a direct employee of LSN we still consider him part of the team. Mike has been integrally involved in the design and creation of the LSN brand from day one. We are always keen to acknowledge his creative input and amazing efforts into the LSN brand and all our media information. Basically, he's in this list because we love him. We love ya, Mike.
To find out more about Mike's work, get in touch: mike@simpkinsdesign.co.uk
Here's what Mike had to say...
It's not hard to see why Dave and the team are so successful at what they do. Complete dedication and an infectious enthusiasm for providing an unrivaled level of service.
Mike's icebreaker:
Stronger in the arts department. Enjoy tickling the occasional guitar string.
