A Founder’s Belief
When people feel they belong, they show up fully. When community is intentional, progress becomes collective. The future of the profession will be shaped not by individuals acting alone, but by communities committed to lifting one another as they rise.
Our Founder
Global Counsel Forum was created by Sharon Thomas from a deeply personal understanding of what it means to move through the legal profession without community, without access to the right rooms, and without a sense that you truly belong. GCF exists because Sharon believed that no lawyer should have to build their career alone.
Sharon created Black Counsel Forum (BCF) as a community-first response to the isolation and barriers she witnessed in the profession. As the community grew, so did the vision. Global Counsel Forum was born to extend that same model of belonging, connection and collective growth to a wider legal ecosystem — without ever losing sight of its roots.
A Founder’s Belief
Community is not a nice-to-have. It is the foundation of sustainable success. When lawyers are connected, supported and seen, they move differently. They lead differently. And together, they reshape what the profession can become.
BCF Advisory Board New Members 2025/26
Our team spans borders, cultures and continents.
Working across regions and time zones, we combine diverse expertise and perspectives to create work that resonates worldwide.
Sharon Thomas
Managing Director
Tana Brown
Team Manager
Delphine DeLaCroix
Sponsorship Lead
Imani Thomas
Head of Community
Leroy Lawrence
Operations
Utibe Daniel
Marketing Team
Nickson Zachary
Tech Lead
Shade Ishola
Design Team
Jemila Thomas
Research Assistant
This is about building community together
Whether you are an ambitious legal professional or an organisation ready to steward the future of the profession, Global Counsel Forum is your platform.