Building the team: Fiona is currently recruiting talented lawyers to join this exciting new practice. If you're interested in exploring opportunities, please email her at fiona.phillips@marks-clerk.com to find out more.

Fiona Phillips leads Marks & Clerk's AI & Cyber Security legal advisory practice, which she joined in December 2025. Fiona advises clients on the full spectrum of legal issues arising from AI deployment and cyber security challenges. Her practice encompasses AI governance and ethics, responsible AI frameworks, regulatory compliance with AI-specific legislation, AI vendor contracts and liability matters, cyber incident response and cyber security governance and compliance with data protection law and regulation.

With 15 years' experience as a senior in-house General Counsel at major international banks including HSBC and UBS, Fiona has worked across the UK, Middle East and Asia, advising Boards and senior executives on complex regulatory risk, cyber security, data and AI issues. She is recognised for her ability to translate emerging technology risks into practical, commercial advice that enables businesses to innovate confidently while managing their legal and regulatory obligations.

Fiona trained at Freshfields and has won numerous awards for innovation, including multiple Financial Times Innovative Lawyer Awards. She brings with her an extensive network of in-house clients and a deep understanding of the technology challenges facing businesses today.

Beyond her practice, Fiona is actively engaged in shaping AI and cyber security policy and law. She serves as Chairwoman of the Legal & Compliance Working Group at UKAI and Chairwoman of the Cybersecurity and Law Committee at SCL (Society for Computers and Law). She is also an Elected Member of the Christ Church Association at Oxford.

Recognition 

• FT Innovative Lawyer Awards – recognised for School of Life programme and experiential cyber war game project (2024)
• Commended – in-house legal team of the year, The Lawyer (2023)
• Law.com – Winner, Innovative In-house Leader (2022)
• FT Innovative Lawyer Awards, Winner Legal Design Award (2021)
• FT Innovative Lawyer Awards, 2nd most innovative in-house legal team in Asia Pacific (2021)
• One of Top 10 GC Influencers in China (2019)
• FT Innovative Lawyer Awards, Standout award in Managing and Developing Talent (2019)
• 30% Club – named as woman to watch (2018)
• Asia Women in Business Law Awards (IFLR) – in-house lawyer of the year (2018)
•  Asia Legal Business Awards – in-house team of the year (2018)