Event Details

A panel of Cheltonian Society barristers and solicitors will provide a short overview of their career journey, followed by time for all guests to share insight, expertise and advice in small group and one-to-one settings.

Scroll down for details of panel speakers.

Francis Taylor Building, Inner Temple, London EC4Y 7BY

Tickets
£10 per person
£5 per person currently in education

Each Cheltonian Society member can book one ticket for themselves only.
This event is not open to under 18s or current College pupils.

Speakers

Saira Kabir Sheikh KC (current parent)
Saira is a barrister at Francis Taylor Building, Temple who practices in planning, environmental, local government and protest law. She was called to the Bar of England and Wales by the Inner Temple in 2000.  She was appointed Queen’s Counsel (QC) in 2014 and is now King’s Counsel.  

Saira acts for developers, local planning authorities and third parties in matters relating to all types of development including housing schemes, infrastructure, hotels, transport and planning enforcement. 

She regularly appears at planning inquiries and in the High Court and Court of Appeal. 

She is ranked in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 and is one of the highest rated planning barristers by Planning Magazine. She has also been recognised as a Woman of Influence by the Planner in 2021 and 2023.   

Luke Barnes (Leconfield, 1986)
Luke works as Deputy Head of Chambers in a leading family law chambers at 3 DJB in London, where he has worked since being called to the Bar in 1996. He was ranked for the quality of his work in the Legal 500 from 2019 to 2025.

After a Classics degree at New College, Oxford, he started his career in financial remedies work, where the court divides matrimonial assets between divorcing spouses according to their respective needs and resources.

He went on to specialise in cases of trusts and property law (often referred to as chancery or TOLATA work) within a family context: typically when unmarried cohabitants separate and dispute their assets, or when third parties, parents and siblings stake a claim to matrimonial assets seemingly owned by the spouses disputing them in the family court.

He has written and presented numerous articles and seminars on topics of interest arising in the TOLATA field and is widely regarded as a sought-after specialist in this area.

Rosa Schofield (Ashmead, 2014)
Rosa is a family law solicitor at The International Family Law Group LLP in London, covering all family law issues including divorce, financial separation, pre-nuptial/post-nuptial agreements, and private law children matters. She specialises in cases involving international elements including cross-border children cases, complex allegations of domestic abuse, and child abduction. 

Rosa has a First Class LLB Law Degree from Exeter University and achieved a Distinction for the Legal Practice Course [LPC] at BPP University. She was awarded multiple academic accolades and undertook her training contract at a top family law firm in London, qualifying as a solicitor in 2020. 

Rosa has been instructed on numerous reported cases, and she is regularly instructed in High Court matters. Rosa has recently represented the lead appellant in a significant Court of Appeal case dealing with the law on parental responsibility. 

Rosa was ranked as a ‘Rising Star’ in the Legal 500 2024; a ‘Leading Associate’ in both the Legal 500 2025 and 2026 Guides; an ‘Associate to Watch’ in the latest Chambers and Partners Guide 2026 and recently won a Silver award for Family Law Associate of the Year (City Wealth Future Leaders Awards). 

Rosa is a volunteer Legal Advisor at Rights of Women, where she provides pro-bono family law advice to women who have experienced domestic abuse.  

She also writes regularly for legal publications. 

Paul Mourton (Southwood, 1996 & current parent)
Paul Mourton is an OC and former Head of Southwood who left College in 1996 and has been the Managing Partner of Lodders Solicitors since 2018.

At the time of his appointment, at 39, Paul was the youngest managing partner of a regional law firm in the country. Since then Lodders has more then doubled in size, employs over 200 people across four offices in the Midlands and is regarded as one of the premier regional private wealth law firms in the UK.

Paul continues to retain a close relationship with College as the parent of two current Cheltonians and is the Chair of CET (the Cheltonian Endowment Trust).

Ceri Parker-Carruthers (née Blower) (Queen's, 2009)
Ceri is a lawyer and Family Law Clinic Manager for Dads House, an award-winning pro bono family law clinic. Ceri is part of an amazing team - including founder William McGranaghan MBE and Legal Director Simon Bruce - which provides £1,375,962.75 per annum of pro bono advice. This advice is for both dads and mums in private child proceedings.

Their family law clinic is the future of family law as clients are advised by not only caring and leading family law lawyers, but also supported with kindness from an emotional support coach, mediators and the practical support of the team’s law students. All round one table. 

Ceri and the teams’ contributions to family law include an upcoming reported case on parental alienation and establishing a law student training programme. 

Ceri is the winner of the Unsung Hero at the British Legal Awards 2024. Nominated for the Champion of the Year for the Inspirational Women in Law Awards 2024, she was also a shortlisted finalist for Champion of the Year in the Family Law Awards 2024 and 2025.  

Ceri’s work in the field of access for justice was recognised as she was invited to become a member of the Bar Council’s Pro Bono and Social Responsibility Committee. 

Cancellations
Tickets can be cancelled for a refund until the end of Monday 23 February. After this date, cancellations can only be refunded if the event is fully booked and the place is sold to another booker.

Photography
There will be a College photographer at this event. If you do not wish to be photographed, please let a member of staff know on arrival.