Meet a Council Member: Philip Deja

Tell us a bit about yourself:
As the Lay Member of the BCLA Council, I am the only Council Member who isn’t actually an eye health professional – being a lawyer by trade.

Having grown up in North London, I studied Law at the University of Nottingham before returning to London (via a gap year in Russia and Asia) where I trained, qualified as a solicitor and practised for about 5 years at a large international law firm in the City. After having my fill of acting for multinational corporations, I moved back to North London in 2012 to set up a corporate/commercial practice at a young, growing law firm (Streathers), becoming a partner in 2016.

I love building long-lasting relationships with entrepreneurs and businesses and becoming their trusted strategic adviser.

What encouraged/inspired you to apply to be on BCLA Council?
Being asked by the BCLA CEO! Seriously, having acted for a number of opticians over the years (particularly in relation to the sale and purchase of optical practices), I was keen to deepen my knowledge of the industry and hopefully provide some critical insight to the Council, especially from a legal perspective.

What do you get from the BCLA? 
I really enjoy getting to meet and work with a cross-section of the great and the good from across the optical professions. It helps me keep up-to-date with the latest developments in the optical industry and it’s great to feel part of such an outstanding organisation.

What is it like being a member of the BCLA council? 
It is genuinely inspiring to work with a diverse group of talented, dynamic people who are passionate about eye care and clinical excellence. 


Biography
Philip Deja is a solicitor and partner at Streathers Solicitors, heading up Streathers’ corporate and commercial practice across its North London offices. Philip advises businesses, charities and individuals on a range of commercial matters including corporate acquisitions, investment and restructuring, property transactions, shareholder agreements and other commercial contracts. Further information about Philip is available here.