Public Sector Tech Conference – Maximising Opportunity and Mitigating Risks of Technology and Innovation across the public sector

Event Details

  • Date: Thursday 24 April, 2025
  • Time:
  • Price: £240.00 (Member price)
  • Venue: Addleshaw Goddard

We are absolutely delighted to announce that Tom McSorley General Counsel, NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) will be delivering the Opening Keynote at this year’s Conference.

Tom McSorley is General Counsel of NATO DIANA where he is responsible for developing DIANA’s legal strategy and managing the organisation’s legal risk. He partners with DIANA’s commercial, challenge programme, and accelerator delivery teams to ensure cohesion in DIANA’s efforts between the demands and realities for innovative businesses seeking to operate in highly regulated environments, the requirements and expectations of the investor community, and the processes and structures of public sector and defence organisations.

Tom McSorley also oversees the organisation’s security function and collaborates cross- functionally in setting DIANA’s approach to IT systems and services.

Prior to DIANA, Tom McSorley spent his legal career in both private practice and in house. He was previously a senior associate in the global law firm Arnold & Porter’s Government Contracts and National Security practice, Counsel at SpaceX, and most recently Deputy General Counsel of Rebellion Defence, a startup focused on software for defence applications. Tom McSorley is an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center and a fellow in the law center’s Center on National Security. He holds an A.B. in Government from Harvard University, an M.A. in Education from American University, and a J.D. from Georgetown.


Join us for our inaugural Public Sector Tech Conference, a full-day event dedicated to the use of developing technologies within the Public Sector.

As opportunities for efficiencies and innovation abound, how can the Public Sector make the best use of the technologies on offer? How can it properly identify and mitigate the associated risks, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory obligations, whilst achieving value for money and retaining public trust?

This full day conference will grapple with some of the key issues facing the public sector and look at the huge benefits that can be found for those organisations willing to focus on technology and driving strategy through innovation.

This is a must-attend event for professionals working in or with the public sector, particularly those with a focus on or interest in the power of utilising developing technology.

Special rate for those working in the public sector: Those working in the public sector qualify for a discounted ticket price of just £100 + VAT. To apply for this discounted rate, please email us at hello@scl.org to secure your spot.


Chair:
Mark O’Conor, Partner and Managing Director for Sectors, DLA Piper (UK) LLP; SCL Vice President; Co-Chair, SCL Public Sector Tech Group

Keynote Speaker:
Tom McSorley,
General Counsel, NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA)

Speakers:
Amanda Chaboryk, Head of Legal Data and Systems within Operate, PwC
Roch Glowacki, Managing Associate in the Digital, Commerce & Creative team, Lewis Silkin
Nick de Lacy-Brown, Legal Director, DLA Piper (UK) LLP; Co-Chair, SCL Public Sector Tech Group
Charlotte Clayson, Partner, Trowers & Hamlins LLP
Selen Alkan, SCL Public Sector Tech Group Committee Member
Amardeep Gill, Partner, Trowers & Hamlins LLP
Eman Al-Hillawi, CEO, Entec Si
Charlotte Smith, Partner, Sharpe Pritchard
Gemma Townley, Partner, TLT
Raechel Slattery, Partner, Sharpe Pritchard
Richard Bonnar, Consultant, Addleshaw Goddard
Maksuda Nightingale, Senior Lawyer and Team Leader Commercial (Digital and Technology) Legal Advisors, HMRC Legal Group

Sessions (full descriptions to follow):

Session 1: AI in the Public Sector

Session 2: Cybersecurity and Data

Session 3: Digital Transformation

Session 4: Model Services Contract

A panel discussion on the use of the model services contract (MSC) for public sector outsourcing. We will discuss the use of the MSC under the new Procurement Act 2023, using the MSC to procure AI solutions and common points of negotiation.

Session 5: Public Procurement and the emerging tech landscape

Why this event is important:
With a range of curated sessions focussing on key issues facing the sector, the conference will deep-dive into a range of opportunities and risks for the public sector as it grapples with embedding technology into the heart of government and beyond. The conference will cover topics from AI and cyber security, to the overlap between technology and procurement, the role of the model services contracts and the highs and lows of digital transformation.

With diverse speakers and fantastic opportunities to network with peers, the conference is designed to allow all those involved in the intersection between technology and the public sector to come together, inform themselves on the opportunities and risks and open discussions with like-minded colleagues.

Who is this event for:

  • In-house legal teams within the public sector
  • Public sector professionals specialising in digital transformation, innovation or technology
  • Tech sector professionals who work closely with the public sector
  • Anyone interested in public sector technology

This event is hosted and sponsored by Addleshaw Goddard and organised by the SCL Public Sector Tech Group


Administration notes: 

Fees:
£200 + VAT (£240) for SCL members
£400 + VAT (£480) for non-members

To enquire about SCL membership and receive the discounted fee, please email hello@scl.org.

Special rate for those working in the public sector: Those working in the public sector qualify for a discounted ticket price of just £100 + VAT. To apply for this discounted rate, please email us at hello@scl.org to secure your spot.

Booking terms and conditions:
Please refer to SCL’s full event terms and conditions here.

Venue address:
Addleshaw Goddard
Milton Gate
60 Chiswell Street
London
EC1Y 4AG.

Registration and attendee arrival: 
Registration for this event begins at 09:30am. We kindly ask that you arrive on time to ensure a prompt start.

Dietary requirements:
There will be a lunch served during this event – please let us know by Wednesday 16 April if you have any special dietary requirements.

Joining details:
You will receive joining details within 24 hours of the event.

Event Booking Form for Your Internal Use
If you require internal sign-off in order to attend events and training, please go to our Internal Booking Form page to download your form.
The form contains essential information about the event, including speakers and content, why you should attend and the intended learning outcomes.

Non-members wishing to join the Society are entitled to membership of the Society valid for 12 months from the date of payment including full access to the content of the SCL website www.scl.org, access to all online content of “Computers & Law” plus notification of future SCL events. The cost of an annual SCL membership is £170.00. If you have any queries about SCL membership please contact the SCL office on Tel: 07948 517049 or Email: hello@scl.org

Free membership for trainee lawyers and UK students:
SCL provides free membership for trainee lawyers until qualification and for UK students in full-time education with a valid ac.uk email address. Student members are eligible to attend SCL events at concessionary rates where a fee is applicable. Trainee members are entitled to attend SCL events at the standard members’ rate (the concessionary rate for UK students in full-time education does not apply). Trainees and UK students in full-time education can apply to join SCL for free by emailing hello@scl.org

SCL – Tech Law for Everyone The leading educational charity for the tech law community

Society for Computers and Law A company limited by guarantee 01133537 Registered Charity No. 266331 VAT Registration No. 115 4840 85 Registered in England and Wales Registered office: Unit 4.5, Paintworks, Arnos Vale, Bristol, BS4 3EH, UK.