A Cambridge graduate called to the Bar of England & Wales in 1979 and later admitted to the Paris Bar in 1991, Carolena has over 35 years practice experience in commercial law. Until 2001 she was head of Chambers, Middle Temple. As a senior barrister she was involved in some of the most exciting commercial cases. Since 2001, she has been legal consultant to a number of high net worth individuals; international companies and banks (in the USA, the UK / EU), giving hard-nosed, top quality, commercial advice. She has worked in Brussels for the EU; held teaching posts, in the UK; posts at Paris Universities (Assas Paris II; and Pantheon Paris I), teaching to postgraduate level; taught at the Institute of Political Science, Paris (Science Po); the American University. She is highly experienced in all aspects of commercial law. She speaks English, French, Spanish and German.

Since the late 80s she is amongst one of first practicing barristers, who seriously looked at, and took clients towards successful Arbitration and ADR settlements, in multi-million pounds commercial disputes; representing and advising clients in the USA AAA (The American Arbitration Association) and Europe, in settlement agreements and in dispute resolution. She’s key in dealing with the difficult psychological aspect of dispute settlement and an excellent communicator; working with top firms and experts, she is first class at negotiating tough settlement agreements. Her view is that since 2008, corporate accountability, and good corporate governance has strengthened and advanced the case for ADR and Arbitration; apart from shareholder demands being bolder, there are also privacy issues, which lead more and more to huge commercial disputes (private and corporate) to be sorted in the twilight of ADR/Arbitration, rather than under the paparazzi lights of costly litigation.

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She is the founding director of Excel Legal Education Ltd. (Master Law Tutors); passionate about teaching the law, with a distinctive approach, emphasizing legal skills and methods, preparing young lawyers to succeed, in the highly competitive legal world.

 

Interested in helping the homeless persons in her Borough of London. Very outdoor and plays most outdoor sports. A tennis player; loves music of all kinds; opera, dance and theatre; reading poetry, philosophy and writes novels under a nom de plume. Good-humoured and friendly, yet extremely professional, rounded and approachable.