Interviews
Christina Thakor-Rankin:
Principal Consultant at 1710 Gaming Ltd
Christina has over 25 years’ experience in the betting, and gambling industry. Starting out in the pre-dotcom era, she has a career spanning land, internet and mobile, covering all aspects of gaming operations, holding senior roles with some of the world’s best known brands (including William Hill and Virgin) responsible for managing multiple business disciplines, functions and teams across a range of channels, products and customers, including regulatory compliance and money laundering.
She is currently Principal Consultant at 1710 Gaming Ltd working with start-ups, investors, established operators, regulators, law enforcement and industry groups across the world, advising on all aspects of the gaming and gambling cycle – from market research and analysis, to licensing and compliance, products and marketing, project management and business strategy, to full operational set-up and customer engagement.
She remains an active Compliance Officer and MLRO, non-Executive Director and Board member, and regularly contributes to industry publications and events. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law and Politics, and a Master’s degree in Classics.
Ardi Kolah:
Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Data Protection & Privacy
Programme Co-Director of GDPR Transition Programme at Henley Business School
Recognised by FT Europe as one of the leading data protection practitioners in Europe, Ardi has provided advice to Shadow Minister for Digital Economy and Senior Civil Servants and Special Advisors to Scotland’s First Minister on the impact of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). He’s the founder of GO DPO® and the GDPR Transition Programme at Henley Business School that has attracted international interest and is the only executive education programme for senior managers offered by a leading business school in Europe. Ardi is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Data Protection and Privacy, and has Cabinet Office and Ministerial-level consultancy experience, formerly a senior manager at Accenture.
David Clifton:
Director at Clifton Davies Consultancy Limited
David is a founding director of Clifton Davies Consultancy Limited (having formerly been a senior partner in London law firm Joelson Wilson for 30 years).
Renowned for his depth of experience in all aspects of licensing and gambling law, in which he has specialized for nearly 35 years, he advises a broad range of gambling industry clients both throughout the UK and overseas and has been a contributing editor for leading textbooks on the subject of gambling law..
Whilst practising as a solicitor, he was for many years top-ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners Guide to the Legal Profession, where he was "singled out for his advocacy skills" and described as "a genuine expert in the field, fantastically dedicated and client-oriented".
With Suzanne Davies, David set up Clifton Davies Consultancy Limited in 2013 to provide practical compliance, regulatory, licensing and gambling law advice to both online and land-based sectors of the gambling industry.
He is a very highly-regarded commentator on the gambling industry, both nationally within the UK and internationally, and is a much sought after speaker at conferences worldwide.
James Harrison:
Principal Consultant at Casa Compliance
James is a multi-skilled executive with a 15 year pedigree within the online gambling sector. He has occupied a number of c-level operations and compliance roles in both early stage and more established online gambling businesses, particularly but not exclusively, in the online casino and bingo verticals.
James is the holder of a Personal Management Licence issued by UK Gambling Commission and has been a key individual with a number of other gambling regulators including the Alderney Gambling Control Commission and the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
Principal Consultant at Casa Compliance
James is a multi-skilled executive with a 15 year pedigree within the online gambling sector. He has occupied a number of c-level operations and compliance roles in both early stage and more established online gambling businesses, particularly but not exclusively, in the online casino and bingo verticals.
James is the holder of a Personal Management Licence issued by UK Gambling Commission and has been a key individual with a number of other gambling regulators including the Alderney Gambling Control Commission and the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
Andrew Tait:
Partner at Gordon Dadds
Andrew is a UK and Irish qualified solicitor and partner in Gordon Dadds’ regulatory solutions team. His key specialisms include AML policies and procedures, data protection and privacy, governance and risk management, gambling law and regulation. Andrew is also a member of the International Compliance Association and former Chief Compliance Officer, General Counsel and MLRO for ten years in a large Online Gaming Company.
Andrew has a technology and intellectual property background practising as legal counsel in software licensing, telecommunications, entertainment and media sectors across Europe.
Partner at Gordon Dadds
Andrew is a UK and Irish qualified solicitor and partner in Gordon Dadds’ regulatory solutions team. His key specialisms include AML policies and procedures, data protection and privacy, governance and risk management, gambling law and regulation. Andrew is also a member of the International Compliance Association and former Chief Compliance Officer, General Counsel and MLRO for ten years in a large Online Gaming Company.
Andrew has a technology and intellectual property background practising as legal counsel in software licensing, telecommunications, entertainment and media sectors across Europe.
Emma Burns:
Partner, Head of Employment and HR Services Group - Hugh James
Emma Burns (Partner and Head of the Employment Law Team) has 18 years’ experience of advising businesses on how to comply with data protection requirements in the UK. She qualified as a solicitor in 1999 and so was ideally placed to help businesses understand and implement the requirements contained in the Data Protection Act 1998 which came into force in March 2000.
Her wealth of experience working with a range of businesses of different sizes and from different sectors means that she is ideally placed to assist with the implementation of GDPR. Her expertise expands well beyond employment matters. She has advised on numerous subject access requests and drafted countless privacy notices and data processing and sharing agreements as well as helped businesses develop data protection policies and deal with complaints to the ICO.
Partner, Head of Employment and HR Services Group - Hugh James
Emma Burns (Partner and Head of the Employment Law Team) has 18 years’ experience of advising businesses on how to comply with data protection requirements in the UK. She qualified as a solicitor in 1999 and so was ideally placed to help businesses understand and implement the requirements contained in the Data Protection Act 1998 which came into force in March 2000.
Her wealth of experience working with a range of businesses of different sizes and from different sectors means that she is ideally placed to assist with the implementation of GDPR. Her expertise expands well beyond employment matters. She has advised on numerous subject access requests and drafted countless privacy notices and data processing and sharing agreements as well as helped businesses develop data protection policies and deal with complaints to the ICO.
Gabriel Voisin:
Partner, Bird & Bird
Gabriel is a Partner in an international Privacy & Data Protection practice, based in London.
Gabriel advises on a range of international data compliance projects, including the implementation of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) strategies, international data transfers and local data compliance. His practice also frequently involves counselling clients on various aspects of technology law, including e-commerce, PCI compliance and online marketing.
Gabriel is a regular speaker at events .He also contributes to a range of publications including IAPP, Expertises (French publication) and BNA’s Privacy & Security Law Report. Gabriel is a member of the French Association of Data Protection Officers (AFCDP).
Partner, Bird & Bird
Gabriel is a Partner in an international Privacy & Data Protection practice, based in London.
Gabriel advises on a range of international data compliance projects, including the implementation of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) strategies, international data transfers and local data compliance. His practice also frequently involves counselling clients on various aspects of technology law, including e-commerce, PCI compliance and online marketing.
Gabriel is a regular speaker at events .He also contributes to a range of publications including IAPP, Expertises (French publication) and BNA’s Privacy & Security Law Report. Gabriel is a member of the French Association of Data Protection Officers (AFCDP).
Kevin Plumpton:
Director, Diligex
Dr. Kevin Plumpton is an advocate by profession specialising in Compliance and AML/CFT legislation. He graduated as Bachelor of Psychology and Management following which, he resumed his studies and graduated as Bachelor of Laws and three years later as Doctor of Laws from the University of Malta. Kevin’s areas of expertise is the implementation of the Anti-Money Laundering Regulations and the Countering of Funding of Terrorism, more specifically assisting clients in adhering to their AML/CFT regulatory obligations in accordance with all relative legislation and ensuring compliance with all Implementing Procedures and guidelines issued by Regulatory Authorities.
He is one of the two co-founders of Diligex Limited, a highly specialised firm focusing exclusively on providing AML compliance and due-diligence services. Within the company. Kevin is responsible for the Legal issues arising from time to time within the field of AML and compliance, whilst supervising the overall business development of the company and providing assistance and support to local and international clients seeking to ensure ongoing compliance with their regulatory obligations.
Director, Diligex
Dr. Kevin Plumpton is an advocate by profession specialising in Compliance and AML/CFT legislation. He graduated as Bachelor of Psychology and Management following which, he resumed his studies and graduated as Bachelor of Laws and three years later as Doctor of Laws from the University of Malta. Kevin’s areas of expertise is the implementation of the Anti-Money Laundering Regulations and the Countering of Funding of Terrorism, more specifically assisting clients in adhering to their AML/CFT regulatory obligations in accordance with all relative legislation and ensuring compliance with all Implementing Procedures and guidelines issued by Regulatory Authorities.
He is one of the two co-founders of Diligex Limited, a highly specialised firm focusing exclusively on providing AML compliance and due-diligence services. Within the company. Kevin is responsible for the Legal issues arising from time to time within the field of AML and compliance, whilst supervising the overall business development of the company and providing assistance and support to local and international clients seeking to ensure ongoing compliance with their regulatory obligations.
