Carolena Spencer

Personal Bio

Job Title: Barrister (Non Practicing) Founding Director

Areas of Expertise:

Carolena Ashley Spencer, BA (Cantab), BA Law & German (Hons) Kent, LLM DEA Commercial Law (Paris), Degree of the Utter Bar Barrister 1979 Middle Temple Consultant /Arbitrator and ADR advisor Assoc. Member of the CIArb. A Cambridge graduate, called to the Bar of England & Wales in 1979 and later admitted to the Paris Bar in 1991.
Carolena has over 40 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 2002, she has been legal consultant to several 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; Years-Teaching law in the UK ; posts at Paris Universities ( Paris II; Pantheon Paris I), teaching to postgraduate level; taught at the Institute of Political Science, Paris (Science Po); the American University. Very experienced in all aspects of commercial law. She speaks English, fluent French, Spanish and working German.
Since the late 80s she is amongst one of first practicing commercial 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: Mediation and Arbitration.
She’s key in dealing with the difficult psychological aspect of dispute resolution 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 ; apart from shareholder demands being bolder, there are also privacy issues, which lead more and more to huge commercial disputes (private and corporate) being sorted in the twilight of ADR/Arbitration, rather than under the paparazzi lights of costly litigation.
She is the founding director of Excel Legal Education Ltd, A boutique law school.( TA 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, grounded, and approachable.