IFSEA Newsletter - Edition 1
Welcome to the first edition of the IFSEA Newsletter.
In each edition, we'll share insights, commentary, and updates from across the IFSEA community on the issues shaping leadership today.
We hope you enjoy this first edition.
Clare Murray, Chair, IFSEA and Managing Partner, CM Murray LLP
IFSEA Community Insights
Drawing on the experience of members of the IFSEA network, this section brings together practical insights and commentary from advisers working with senior executives, founders, and boards.
The top three things CEOs need, most Mondays
Ciarán Fenton, Leadership Consultant, Ciarán Fenton Limited (UK)
Ciarán Fenton is a leadership consultant and CEO adviser who survived Stage 4 cancer in 2022. What chemotherapy forced him to confront - mortality, acceptance, what actually matters - turned out to be exactly what he says the CEOs he works with need to do, voluntarily, to find peace & joy in their work, before a diagnosis, or other life changing event, makes it compulsory. Read the full article here.
Expanding into the U.S.? Here's What Your Leadership Team Needs to Know
Megan Mathias, Partner, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP (Chicago, USA)
For European companies eyeing U.S. growth, the path from ambition to execution is shaped by a web of legal, tax, employment, and regulatory decisions that differ fundamentally from the EU landscape. Megan Mathias tackles the questions C-suite leaders are asking most - from choosing the right entity structure and managing transfer pricing, to building compliant hiring practices and navigating state-by-state regulatory complexity. Whether you're planning your first U.S. subsidiary or scaling an existing footprint, these insights offer a practical, business-first roadmap for entering the market with confidence. Read the full article here.
Behind a Million-Dollar Pay Package
Michele Bignami, Partner, Advant Nctm (Italy)
Michele Bignami examines the legal complexities behind the headline-grabbing executive compensation packages announced by Apple in September 2026 for Executive Chair Tim Cook and new CEO John Ternus. While public commentary focused on the combined target value approaching $100 million, these figures represent contingent targets - not guaranteed payouts - dependent on performance metrics such as relative total shareholder return and multiyear service conditions. The article explores seven key dimensions of executive pay structuring, and the applicability of these principles to companies of all sizes. Read the full article here.
Labour Law Proposed Change
Danny Kaufer, Senior Counsel, Borden Ladner Gervais (Montreal, Canada)
The UK Labour Government's proposed reforms to employment and labour law have prompted significant debate and several revisions to the original proposals. Danny Kaufer examines proposed new rights of trade union access to workplaces and considers what these changes could mean for organisations, their leadership teams and those advising them. Read the full article here.
Beyond the Frontman: The Real Secret of Lasting Success
Paul Steggall, Partner, Manchester Square Partners (UK)
Paul Steggall, trusted coach and adviser to Chief Executives, draws on examples from music, sport, and business to explore what sits behind lasting organisational success. Using the role played by Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts as a starting point, it reflects on the importance of complementary skills, strong teams and succession planning, and why sustained success depends on much more than individual talent. Read the full article here.
Recent IFSEA Recordings
The Glass Cliff Podcast: Are Women and Minority Ethnic Group Leaders Held to a Higher Standard and, if so, Why Does it Matter?
This podcast explores the concept of the Glass Cliff in more depth. Drawing on research, lived experience and practical insight, Emma Sangeelee (Partner, CM Murray LLP) is joined by Sophie Williams (Author of The Glass Cliff and former global executive at Netflix), Jennifer Millins (Partner, Mishcon de Reya LLP) and Kevin Hogarth (Partner, PSFI LLP and Board Adviser, Executive Coach and NED) unpack how and why underrepresented leaders can find themselves stepping into the most challenging leadership roles - and what can be done to change that trajectory. Watch the discussion here.
PR and the Hidden Circles of Power and Influence
Progress has been made in opening up access to senior roles, but the pathways to influence are still shaped by long‑standing networks, notions of “fit,” and the power of reputation. Even in a more transparent world, who gets noticed and who gets recommended continues to depend on visibility, trust and the judgments of a relatively small group of decision‑makers. In this podcast, Jenny Afia (Schillings), Emma Bartlett (CM Murray LLP), Katrina Cheverton (Savannah Group), Jason Nisse (The Nisse Consultancy) and Matt Nixon (Stork & May) explore how people reach the top, why others struggle to get onto the radar and what organisations can do to build leadership teams that genuinely reflect modern society. Watch the discussion here.
Upcoming IFSEA Events
The Uncapped Era: Senior Executive Dismissals After the Cap
Tuesday 29 September 2026 6.00 pm - 7.15 pm, followed by drinks and networking (Registration from 5.30 pm)
Irwin Mitchell LLP, The Northcliffe, 28 Tudor Street, Temple, London EC4Y 0AY
From 1 January 2027, the planned repeal of the statutory cap on unfair dismissal compensation, combined with a reduction in the qualifying period to six months, is expected to transform the economics of senior executive exits.
At this IFSEA evening event, an expert panel comprising Deshpal Panesar KC (Old Square Chambers), Shah Qureshi (Irwin Mitchell LLP), Andrea Finn (Simmons & Simmons), Peter Gouw (BDO) and Emma Sangeelee (CM Murray LLP) will explore the key legal, financial and strategic battlegrounds likely to emerge for executives, employers and their advisers. The discussion will be followed by networking drinks.
Register your place by emailing registration@ifseanetwork.com.
IFSEA Conference 2027 – 14/15 June 2027 – Save the Date!
We are delighted to confirm that the next IFSEA Conference will take place on 14 and 15 June 2027. Further details, including this year's themes and speaker programme, will be announced in due course.
Highlights from the IFSEA Conference 2026
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the 7th Annual IFSEA Conference in June. You can see more photos from the day here and view the full conference programme and speaker line-up here.
Meet the Advisory Board
The IFSEA Advisory Board plays an important role in shaping our events, discussions and thought leadership. Learn more about the Board here.
Become an IFSEA Member
Come and join the discussion on all things Senior Executive and Founder related.
IFSEA Membership is open to UK and overseas professional advisers to Senior Executives, Founders, and their Advisers. To find out more about membership benefits and to apply, click here.
Subscribe and share
Subscribe to receive future editions of the IFSEA newsletter and be the first to hear about upcoming events, webinars, and thought leadership from across the network.
If you enjoyed this edition, please feel free to share it with others in your professional network who may find it of interest.
You can also follow IFSEA on LinkedIn.