Paul is responsible for the global management of Linklaters and chairs the firm’s Executive Committee, and sits on the Partnership Board. Before this role, Paul was Global Practice Head for the firm’s Finance Division, encompassing its Banking, Capital Markets, Energy & Infrastructure, Financial Regulatory, Investment funds, Real Estate, and Restructuring and Insolvency practices.
Prior to this role, Paul was a capital markets partner and Global Co-head of Innovation for Linklaters; advising on a range of fintech matters. Paul was at the forefront of Linklaters’ distributed ledger technology and smart contract initiatives and the lead author of the joint ISDA and Linklaters paper on smart contracts, “Smart Contracts and Distributed Ledger – A Legal Perspective”.
Paul is a solicitor of England and Wales, qualifying in 1999. He graduated with first-class honours in law from Oxford University and holds a Master’s in Finance from London Business School. He was a board member at Linklaters from 2013 to 2016 and a member of the Advisory Board of the Oxford University MSc in Law and Finance from 2011 to 2017. He is a member of the Linklaters’ Executive Committee.
In May 2019, Paul was appointed to lead the Finance division at Linklaters, which encompasses the Firm’s Banking, Capital Markets, Energy & Infrastructure, Financial Regulatory, Investment Fund, Real Estate and Restructuring and Insolvency practices. In that role, he sits on the ExCom of Linklaters.
Paul leading The King’s Seeing is Believing Newport visit in 2023
Some of the UK’s leading businesses visited Newport on a Seeing is Believing visit in 2023 led by Paul Lewis, and ambassador for The King’s Seeing is Believing programme. At the visit, they came together to understand the complexity and interconnectivity of issues that contribute to multiple deprivation, and explore some of the ways in which business can intervene and take action to mitigate the impact this has in Newport and Pillgwenlly.
At the visit, they met with community organisations including Kidcare4u, an organisation that supports families, predominantly from ethnic minority communities across Newport and Pillgwenlly, to acquire the skills and confidence they need to turn their potential into success at school, the workplace, and beyond. They also visited Pill Mill Community Centre, Eden Gate Newport, and Operasonic.
Pride of Place Programme in Newport
The Pride of Place programme helps Places across the UK take ownership of their futures and tackle their most pressing challenges. In this programme, we bring businesses, the voluntary sector and the local community together and work with them to build and deliver a vision for their future that serves everyone, with input from everyone. In addition to leading The King’s Seeing is Believing visit to Newport and being an ambassador for that programme, Paul also drives change as a member of the Newport Pride of Place board.
In Newport and we’ve put a huge amount of effort in there. We’ve been able to support this wonderful organisation that combats homelessness and addiction, which are two particularly prevalent issues in the area. We focus on is an area of Newport called Hill. We’ve funded the renovation of a community centre for the Newport Yemini Community Association. When we first went there, it was a building site. Now when we go back to Newport, we have our meetings there. We’ve also beentalking to some of their 16-18 year olds about their careers and offering mentoring.I think the beauty of being on the ground in these place-based programmes is you do see that impact that you have.
Paul Lewis
Paul on The Lens
Linklaters and Triift Africa: Putting business at the heart of communities
Every month, The Lens: UK Responsible Business Podcast brings together a global business leader and an emerging future leader for an open and unscripted conversation. It will challenge the way you think about responsible business.
In this episode, our host Sarah Travers is joined Paul Lewis, Firmwide Managing Partner at Linklaters – one of the world’s leading law firms and Yemisi Isidi, Co-Founder, Strategy and Finance Lead, Triift Africa – an organisation that is making it easier for underserved communities and businesses to access the services they need to succeed. Together, Sarah, Paul and Yemisi discuss how businesses can get into the hearts of communities, make an impact and become part of the fabric in places across the UK.
Listen now and follow The Lens on Acast, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred podcast provider.
Paul Lewis on working with Business in the Community
Our annual Responsible Business Live event brings together thought leaders, experts, and practitioners to explore the latest trends and innovations in responsible business practices.
In this video, Paul Lewis discusses how BITC’s network allows his organisation, Linklaters LLP, to serve a purpose and drive change.
We want to give something back and support underserved and underrepresented communities wherever we’re based. We do that through charitable initiatives, volunteering and strategic partnerships. 47% of our people last year actively participated in some form of volunteering activities; 75,000 hours in different communities around the world. We donated around £24 million in cash and donations. Personally, this has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my role. It’s something really close to my heart and it’s been a really big focus for me since I became a managing partner. BITC is something I passionately believe in. I’m an ambassador for The King’s Seeing is Believing programme and I’m on the Newport Pride of Place board with BITC. I’m also a trustee of another charity called the Social Mobility Business Partnership. I think they are really valuable ways of being able to give back.
Paul Lewis