Event Speakers: Day One
Head of Legal, Transport
Lloyds Banking Group
Kelly Shields
Kelly Shields is Head of Legal for the Transport business at Lloyds Banking Group and has more than 15 years’ experience in the financial services sector across both private practice and in-house legal roles.
Kelly joined Lloyds Banking Group following the acquisition of MBNA in 2017 and has held a variety of roles within the Consumer Legal division. After more than five years as a Senior Lawyer in Transport Legal, she was appointed Head of Legal in January 2026, following a successful secondment leading the Group’s response to the motor commission issue.
Kelly leads the legal team supporting the Transport business, including Black Horse, Lex Autolease and Tusker. She is a trusted strategic adviser on major business initiatives, product development, commercial partnerships and complex regulatory matters. Passionate about innovation, legal technology and new ways of working, Kelly leads a legal team that combines deep legal expertise with collaboration, good customer outcomes and effective risk management to support the long-term success of the Transport business.
Head of Market Analysis, Policy and Strategy,
Financial Conduct Authority
John Wightman
John Wightman is Head of Market Analysis and Policy at the Financial Conduct Authority. His department has delivered a number of key policy initiatives across the Consumer Finance sector, including final rules for Deferred Payment Credit (also known as Buy Now Pay Later – PS 26/1), Strengthening Protections for Borrowers in Financial Difficulty (PS 24/2), and Product Sales Data Reporting (PS 24/3).
His team recently published consultations on the Credit Information Market Study (CP 26/7) and the Financial Promotions Rules (CP 26/15). Before joining the Financial Conduct Authority in February 2023, John spent ten years at the Financial Ombudsman Service, where he was Head of Practice for Consumer Credit.
Managing Director of Technology Solutions
Square 4 Partners Ltd
Matthew Drage
Matthew Drage is Managing Director of Technology Solutions at Square 4 Partners, he helps firms navigate the evolving technology landscape by identifying and implementing innovative AI and digital solutions that drive efficiency, strengthen governance and create competitive advantage. He works closely with clients to design tailored strategies that integrate advanced technologies into their operations, risk frameworks and customer propositions in a practical and commercially effective way. As Co-Founder of Square 4 Partners, he plays a key role in shaping the firm’s technology and innovation strategy.
Matthew specialises in regulatory risk, conduct regulation and the intersection of financial services and emerging technology. He is a Fellow of the International Compliance Association (ICA) and a member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI).
Head of Outcomes Testing
Square 4 Partners Ltd
Daniel Sawyer
As the Head of Outcomes Testing, Dan leads Square 4’s outcomes testing engagements and the ongoing development of the Assure 4 AI-powered outcomes testing platform. He is responsible for managing end-to-end engagements, leading testing teams, translating analysis into clear insights for clients, and helping clients meet regulatory expectations through innovative, technology enabled solutions. He will also support with the delivery of advisory engagements, leveraging his extensive experience of conduct regulation and customer outcomes across the Financial Services sector. Dan has supported a wide range of clients on key regulatory compliance matters, including Consumer Duty implementation, outcomes testing and monitoring framework development, and numerous regulator-led reviews and s.166 Skilled Person reviews across the end-to-end customer lifecycle.
Prior to joining Square 4, Dan spent over 10 years providing risk and regulatory advisory services at a ‘Big 4’ firm. This included leading their retail lending proposition, focusing on regulatory compliance reviews and investigations. He also has experience leading reviews in other regulated markets, including utilities, telecoms and online gaming.
Partner
Walker Morris LLP
Russell Kelsall
Russell is a Partner and Head of Consumer & Motor Finance at Walker Morris LLP, where he leads the firm’s award-winning practice advising on both contentious and non-contentious issues.
He has extensive experience across retail financial products regulated by the FCA, particularly consumer, motor and asset finance, mortgages, and payment services. Russell regularly advises on complex and high-risk issues including compliance, post-contractual documents, remediation, responsible lending, unfairness, commission arrangements, and unenforceability. His clients include leading banks, building societies, debt purchasers, and motor, asset and consumer finance firms.
Russell is retained by the Finance & Leasing Association and UK Finance to provide training to members, and serves as a Council Member of the Consumer Credit Trade Association. Recognised by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, he has been described as “an expert in the industry” with “in-depth knowledge of the Consumer Credit Act” and “shockingly clever” expertise.
He is the author of Consumer Credit: Law, Practice & Procedure and contributes as editor to leading texts, including Goode: Consumer Credit Law and Practice and Butterworths Financial Regulation Service.
Partner
Pinsent Masons LLP
Joanne Owens
Jo Owens is a Partner in the Financial Regulation team at Pinsent Masons and leads the firm’s Consumer Finance practice. She is a recognised specialist in retail financial services regulation, advising banks, building societies, motor finance providers, card issuers and retailers on consumer credit, mortgage, payment services and e-money regulation.
Jo is known for providing pragmatic, commercial advice on complex regulatory issues and regularly supports clients on product development, distribution, regulatory change and compliance matters. She has extensive experience in the consumer finance sector and is currently advising firms on the implications of the FCA’s proposed motor finance commission redress scheme as well as the proposals for CCA reform.
Event Speakers: Day Two
Interim Ombudsman Managing Director
Financial Ombudsman Service
Rachel Lam
Rachel is responsible for the Financial Ombudsman Service’s casework function, working with Ombudsman Directors across the organisation.
She joined the Financial Ombudsman Service in 2013 as Head of Casework and has since held a number of senior roles. She spent eight years working across insurance and, more recently, led a directorate of Ombudsman Leaders, Ombudsman Managers and Investigators responsible for handling investment and pensions complaints.
Before joining the Financial Ombudsman Service, Rachel held a range of policy roles across government, including at the Home Office, Department for Education and Department for Work and Pensions
Partner
Osborne Clarke LLP
Nikki Worden
Nikki is a Partner in Osborne Clarke’s Financial Institutions Group and international lead for its Financial Services sector. She specialises in FinTech and the regulation of financial services provided to consumers and small businesses, with particular expertise in consumer credit and FCA regulation.
She advises clients ranging from major lenders, retail banks and asset finance providers to technology businesses and new market entrants. Her work includes advising on the scope of FCA regulation and authorisation, as well as helping firms structure and launch new products and services.
Nikki also advises on the full range of conduct requirements, including financial promotions and customer journeys, creditworthiness and affordability, forbearance and collections.
Of Counsel
CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP
Stephen Dawson
Stephen has worked as a lawyer in consumer finance for over 25 years and is a nationally recognised specialist in his field. In addition to his current role as specialist consumer finance counsel at CMS, he has also held other senior management, general counsel and managing director roles directly within the financial services industry.
His experience includes consumer finance (regulation and compliance), motor finance, debt sale / purchase, and small and medium ticket asset finance.
Stephen has worked with a very broad range of household names over the years, together with more niche clients in specialist markets. Clients typically include domestic and international banks, credit card providers, motor finance houses, premium finance providers and other specialist retail and point of sale lenders. Stephen has a particular reputation in acting for new market entrants and in regulated product design.
Partner
Shoosmiths
Wayne Gibbard
Wayne is a partner at Shoosmiths and is the Head of the Financial Services Sector.
Prior to joining Shoosmiths, Wayne spent 25 years working in-house in senior and executive roles at international, blue chip financial services and automotive businesses including: Volkswagen Financial Services; GMAC; NatWest (including Lombard and Invoice Finance); Cisco; and Santander Consumer UK.
Wayne has extensive experience of scoping, leading and implementing domestic and international projects, particularly focussed on strategically important restructuring and regulatory change.
Wayne specialises in regulated and unregulated asset finance, consumer credit and retail finance, with a depth of experience in motor finance.