Who We Are
We recognised the growing demand for UK legal expertise among overseas legal professionals. As globalisation drives businesses and people across borders, the need for specialised knowledge of UK law has never been more critical. Legal practitioners are now expected to advise international clients on complex matters, and law students aiming for international careers are eager for exposure to the UK’s legal systems. That’s why we’ve created tailored programmes to meet this need, providing the training and expertise that legal professionals around the world are seeking.
Meet the Team
Meet the professionals who are dedicated to enhancing your legal expertise:
Layla Dean-Verity
Layla Dean-Verity is the founder of Saint Dunstan International and a barrister with almost 30 years’ experience in both the legal and non-profit sectors, conducting commercial civil mediation and international arbitration. A dedicated human rights activist and NGO leader, Layla excels at creating far-reaching networks that guarantee access at the uppermost levels of international governance and NGO administration. She has extensive experience working with partners at a governmental level, directing strategic meetings, and conducting conflict resolution. Formerly the CEO and founder of Basic Human Rights, Layla is a fierce advocate for the rights of women and children, sitting down with key policy makers and strategic partners. This is complemented by her experience in criminal and family law, which has given her the framework to approach the collection and preservation of evidence in a manner that first and foremost treats the witness as a human being deserving of dignity and grace. Layla is a sometimes- visiting lecturer at the University of Westminster, and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (ClArb), UK. She has travelled throughout many of the world’s most unstable regions, including Haiti, Lebanon, Libya, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Uganda, Pakistan and the Easter Hom of Africa. Layla prides herself on an awareness of the current political and cultural climate in any country she works in, and is dedicated to instigating meaningful dialogues with community and thought leaders in some of the most culturally, politically and geographically challenging regions on the planet.
Reza A. B. Choudhury
Reza Choudhury is a barrister with two decades’ experience, and co-founder of Saint Dunstan International.
Called to the English Bar in 2003, Reza practices in all aspects of commercial and civil litigation. He has experience of trial and appellate work, as well as applications and injunctive relief. He regularly appears at all levels of the Court and Tribunal hierarchy at all locations.
Reza’s work also focuses on data protection & privacy (EU, UK, and Global), and information security and cybercrime. Reza has experience of negotiating and drafting complex commercial contracts as well as appearing before courts in such disputes. Reza’s GDPR work is varied and appears in Tribunal/Courts in data disputes.
In addition to his advisory and litigation work, Reza undertakes mediation and arbitration work in all of the above dispute areas. He is an accredited civil and commercial Mediator and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), UK. He undertakes cross jurisdictional work in Europe, Middle East, South East Asia, and Africa.
Reza delivers in-house training to companies, education providers, and NGOs. He is an advocacy, ethics, diversity & inclusion trainer for the Bar and an international advocacy trainer. He sits as a part time Chair of Education Appeal Panel. He is Chair of a local authority Standards Advisory Committee dealing with code of conduct matters for elected public representatives and ethics/standards in public life.
Assel Utepova
Assel Utepova is a highly respected legal professional with an impressive career spanning judicial roles and academia. As a current Judge at the Almaty Specialized Interdistrict Juvenile Court, Assel handles complex family law cases, including divorce, child custody, and property disputes. With over a decade of judicial experience, she previously served as a Judge at the Auezov District Court, where she managed a wide array of civil cases, demonstrating her deep expertise in dispute resolution.
Assel’s legal background is complemented by her international qualifications, including a Graduate Diploma in Law from BPP Law University in London. She holds an LLM from the Institute of Justice, Kazakhstan, and is a certified international civil-commerce mediator, awarded by ADR-ODR International, London.
Her career is further enriched by her experience as a legal expert for Kazakhstan’s Supreme Court and a lawyer at KOR Oil Company, where she honed her skills in contract drafting, negotiations, and procurement. In addition to her legal practice, Assel has also contributed to legal education as a tutor, shaping the next generation of legal professionals.
Your Next Step Towards Legal Excellence
Get in touch to discover how our training programmes offer an experience like no other in the legal world. If you’re looking to deepen your expertise in UK law or expand your professional network, Saint Dunstan International is here to help.
