About us
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Co-Founders and Principals are David Gold and Simon Collins – both with decades of experience of advising and leading major businesses.
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Their backgrounds are complementary:
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​David is a lawyer and was senior partner of Herbert Smith
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Simon is a Chartered Accountant and was senior partner of KPMG, having been an investment banker for many years
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They each spent five years running these large international professional services firms.
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Together at Gold Collins they have:
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“Who’s who” credentials, not all in the public domain, skewed towards major corporates (F500/FTSE)
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Strong credibility with governments, regulators, bankers and other stakeholders. Skills and experience enable direct, practical counsel to leaders
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Clients that are typically FTSE 100 or major international companies. Usually working at C-Suite level of those businesses, but also working for leaders in the public sector and NGOs
David Gold
David is a lawyer, who was Senior Partner of Herbert Smith from 2005 to 2010. Having graduated from LSE, he qualified at the firm in 1975 and became its Head of the Litigation Division in 2003.
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After leaving the firm, he set up David Gold & Associates providing strategic and tactical advice especially relating to disputes, senior counsel to a number of corporates and leaders, notably in relation to governance and compliance. He was U.S. Department of Justice monitor of BAE Systems and has assisted a number of international companies secure deferred prosecution agreements.
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In 2018, he joined forces with Simon to create Gold Collins Associates and he is also an investor and adviser to Balance Legal Capital.
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David is a Governor of the LSE and Chairman of ESCP Europe Business School London.
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He is a Conservative working Peer, having entered the House of Lords in February 2011, and sits on the International Agreements Sub-Committee.
Simon is a chairman and leader with 30 years’ experience. A boardroom adviser, especially in exit planning, scaling, financial matters, governance and change, he challenges the status quo and inspires and develops individuals and teams.
Simon is a chartered accountant and graduated from The University of Manchester. After 12 years in banking at SG Warburg & Co and NatWest, Simon joined KPMG in 1998. He became UK Chairman and Senior Partner from 2012 to 2017, establishing a reputation as a leading champion for responsible business.
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Simon is also a senior adviser to BNP Paribas and a chairman and advisor to various companies including Big Technologies plc, the Kubrick Group and Quantexa.
Simon holds a number of not-for-profit positions, including a NED at the Royal Air Force, Chairman of Resilience First, alongside roles with Cancer Research UK and Manchester University.
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