Ascensus Leadership Programme for general counsel and senior in-house leaders
Following the success of our 2024 and 2025 cohorts, we are delighted to invite you to the 2026 Ascensus Leadership Programme for general counsel and senior in-house lawyers.
Developed in partnership with O Shaped, the Ascensus Leadership Programme has been shaped by consultation with in-house leaders to identify the capabilities that truly differentiate successful General Counsel. Drawing on this insight, alongside leadership consultancy expertise and wider market data, the programme has been purpose-built for senior in-house lawyers preparing for their next leadership role.
Ascensus offers a rare opportunity to step back from day-to-day demands and focus on how you lead. Grounded in the O Shaped mindset and behaviours, the programme supports participants to deepen self-awareness, refine their personal leadership style, and expand their influence at the most senior levels of their organisation.
Delivered in three one-day modules in 2026 (agenda below), this exceptional programme will change how you think and how you lead and is facilitated by a world class faculty at O Shaped – Dan Kayne and Carrie Fletcher – to support those ready to move to the next level of their careers.
The programme will take place in-person in central London or at our London office.
This is our flagship value-added event, delivered at no cost as an exclusive benefit for our key clients, however, places are limited.
Please note: You will need to be available for all dates in order to take part in the programme.
Executive coaching
We are also delighted to introduce executive coaching to the programme for the first time this year.
We have a panel of qualified executive coaches with senior leadership, governance and HR experience across a range of roles and sectors, including in-house, from Browne Jacobson and 10Eighty.
The programme includes three one-hour online 1:1 sessions: an initial meeting to connect with your coach, an introduction to executive coaching and establish your personal objectives, followed by two 1:1 executive coaching sessions timed to take place through the programme, giving you the time and space to focus on what is important to you in an entirely confidential and supportive setting.
Agenda
This year's theme is 'Me myself and me as leader'.
Day 1 - Leading self, Wednesday 24 June 2026
10am - 4pm: Understanding who you are as a leader - and how to lead with clarity, resilience and intent.
Followed by a networking dinner.
Day 2 - Leading teams, Thursday 17 June 2026
10am - 4pm: Creating motivated, engaged teams by leading across difference, change and complexity.
Day 3 - Leading others, Thursday 19 November 2026
10am - 4pm: Joined in the afternoon by our 2024 and 2025 cohorts: Influencing beyond your function - building credibility, trust and impact at the highest levels.
Followed by a networking reception, also joined by our 2024 and 2025 cohorts.
The programme
Our world-class faculty, who will be delivering the programme, is comprised of renowned leadership experts, including Carrie Fletcher, leadership consultant and Affiliate Instructor at Harvard Law School,
Dan Kayne, founder of O Shaped and former Network Rail GC, and Cath Bishop, leadership coach and author of “The Long Win” – an FT Top 10 Business Book.
Our programme is designed to provide an interactive and engaging platform for senior leaders to share their experiences, learnings, and ideas.
We encourage participants to consider the impact they want to make in their organisations and the legacy they want to create for the next generation of legal leaders.
We believe in the power of forging long-term connections, and we strive to provide our participants with an extensive network of expertise they can rely on for years to come. As a participant, you will also gain access to our active alumni community, allowing you to stay connected with other in-house leaders and continue to expand your professional network.
By joining our programme, you will become part of a growing community of in-house leaders who are equipping themselves with the skills and knowledge to plan and shape their future as General Counsel.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Ascensus Leadership Programme.
Underpinned by the O Shaped mindset and behaviours, this programme will allow you to explore and develop your personal leadership style to expand your influence within your organisation. You can expect sessions that cover a range of topics, including:
Leadership style
We will explore common cognitive tendencies - and conflicts - in how people tend to gather information, make decisions, communicate with others, and manage their workflow. We will then develop actionable, practical strategies for effectively leading across these differences.
Stakeholder management
We will help you learn to build more sustainable stakeholder relationships across your organisation by learning strategies that help you better understand the needs of your stakeholders. Our focus will be on how you can achieve impact and create value in your organisation through client and stakeholder centricity.
Board engagement
We will delve into practical advice and strategies to navigate and effectively engage with your board, building the crucial leadership skill of understanding what your board needs.
Learn from world-class leadership development experts with extensive General Counsel experience, including:
Dan Kayne
Former General Counsel at Network Rail, founder and CEO of O Shaped; the purpose-led organisation that aims to improve the legal profession by putting people at the forefront of its vision for change, Dan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. He is passionate about giving leaders the necessary tools to succeed and creating a better legal profession for those who use it, are entering it, and buy services from it.
Carrie Fletcher
Leadership and strategy consultant, former practising attorney, and Global Head of the O Shaped Faculty. Carrie is an Affiliate Instructor at Harvard Law School, specialising in tailored leadership programmes for law firms and legal departments.
Our world-class faculty, who will be delivering the programme, is comprised of renowned leadership experts, including Carrie Fletcher, leadership consultant and Affiliate Instructor at Harvard Law School,
Dan Kayne, founder of O Shaped and former Network Rail GC, and Cath Bishop, leadership coach and author of “The Long Win” – an FT Top 10 Business Book.
Our programme is designed to provide an interactive and engaging platform for senior leaders to share their experiences, learnings, and ideas.
We encourage participants to consider the impact they want to make in their organisations and the legacy they want to create for the next generation of legal leaders.
We believe in the power of forging long-term connections, and we strive to provide our participants with an extensive network of expertise they can rely on for years to come. As a participant, you will also gain access to our active alumni community, allowing you to stay connected with other in-house leaders and continue to expand your professional network.
By joining our programme, you will become part of a growing community of in-house leaders who are equipping themselves with the skills and knowledge to plan and shape their future as General Counsel.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Ascensus Leadership Programme.
Underpinned by the O Shaped mindset and behaviours, this programme will allow you to explore and develop your personal leadership style to expand your influence within your organisation. You can expect sessions that cover a range of topics, including:
Leadership style
We will explore common cognitive tendencies - and conflicts - in how people tend to gather information, make decisions, communicate with others, and manage their workflow. We will then develop actionable, practical strategies for effectively leading across these differences.
Stakeholder management
We will help you learn to build more sustainable stakeholder relationships across your organisation by learning strategies that help you better understand the needs of your stakeholders. Our focus will be on how you can achieve impact and create value in your organisation through client and stakeholder centricity.
Board engagement
We will delve into practical advice and strategies to navigate and effectively engage with your board, building the crucial leadership skill of understanding what your board needs.
Learn from world-class leadership development experts with extensive General Counsel experience, including:
Dan Kayne
Former General Counsel at Network Rail, founder and CEO of O Shaped; the purpose-led organisation that aims to improve the legal profession by putting people at the forefront of its vision for change, Dan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. He is passionate about giving leaders the necessary tools to succeed and creating a better legal profession for those who use it, are entering it, and buy services from it.
Carrie Fletcher
Leadership and strategy consultant, former practising attorney, and Global Head of the O Shaped Faculty. Carrie is an Affiliate Instructor at Harvard Law School, specialising in tailored leadership programmes for law firms and legal departments.
Our in-person and online events are designed exclusively for clients and targets. As such, we reserve the right to cancel bookings. If you’d like to speak to a member of the team regarding your attendance, please contact us.
Key contacts
Declan Cushley
Partner
Declan is the head of Browne Jacobson’s London office and leads the firm’s Commercial group nationally. He has over twenty-five years of experience with intellectual property law and is widely renowned as an expert on trade marks. Declan advises some of the most recognisable names in British business including Mace, the National Trust, Aston Martin, PZ Cussons Beauty, and Iconic London.
declan.cushley@brownejacobson.com
+44 (0)20 7965 3991
Iain Blatherwick
Partner
Iain focuses on Governance and Leadership, in particular executive leadership coaching support for clients; business structures – corporates, family companies, reorganisations, LLPs and partnerships, and private client – wills, trusts and estate planning.
iain.blatherwick@brownejacobson.com
+44 (0)115 976 6183
Nicola Adams
Value-Add Manager
Nicola acts as a dedicated resource for clients, ensuring they have access to a rich and well-organised programme of training, events and added-value initiatives tailored to their frameworks. From webinars and off-site conferences to newsletters and roadshows, Nicola manages every detail on the client's behalf – providing clear reporting and feedback at every stage.
nicola.adams@brownejacobson.com
+44 (0)330 045 2241