Lisa Hart
Lisa has worked in the field of market research for 15 years, since completing her BSc Hons in Mathematics and Management Science. Initially learning the science of research in an FMCG agency environment, Lisa moved on to set up a Business Analysis team at law firm Denton Wilde Sapte in 1997, one of the first law firms to bring in strategic research and formal business planning. In 2000, Lisa joined FTSE 100 Sage Group plc as a Business Analyst supporting the board with research on new markets and acquisition targets.
After experiencing research from both the agency and client side, Lisa became an entrepreneur, launching Acritas in 2002. The agency was formed to combine robust research skills with deep sector knowledge, an offering that was lacking in the professional services world. Since then, the company has grown to service over 50 of the world’s leading law firms along with key players in the insurance, accountancy and property services industries. Lisa retains a strategic role in the business, devising the product strategy and inputting to key projects in a consultancy role.
Jo Aitken
After graduating with a BA Hons in Human Resource Management, Jo joined the Sage Group graduate scheme, where she had two placements working with the HR Director and subsequently the Company Secretary/Head of Legal. Jo formed part of the initial team launching Acritas in 2002 and after nine years in the market research field now spends much of her time working with law firm clients scoping their research ideas into programmes and delivering presentations.
As a shareholding Director of Acritas, Jo drives Acritas’ sales and marketing strategy which has seen the company enter the US, The Gulf, continental Europe and more recently, Asian markets. Jo develops ideas with the market, builds referral relationships and services key client accounts. Jo has played a leading role in the development of the sharplegal product range.
Jo is a regular on the conference circuit and runs Acritas' client feedback training programme.
Victoria Riccalton
Victoria has worked in the field of market intelligence and insight for ten years. The early part of her career was spent with two specialist research consultancy companies, during which time she conducted market monitoring and evaluation studies on behalf of the European Community and DTI and worked as an Analyst on primary and secondary research projects within the professional and financial services sectors.
Since the establishment of Acritas in 2002, Victoria has taken senior responsibility for Client Services, leading key accounts and overseeing research design and analysis. Victoria is actively involved in research delivery and works with a team of research executives and analysts to gain a deep understanding of individual project requirements and deliver research outcomes that exceed expectations. She works with a number of large corporate clients and professional service firms on a strategic level to translate research findings into actionable business plans and drive change. In 2007 Victoria developed and implemented the Acritas Platinum Client Service Charter which places client needs and meeting the full spectrum of client objectives at the heart of the business model.
Jacki Holmes
Jacki joins Acritas to supplement its capacity to provide law firm clients with focused, innovative strategic research and advice. Her experience in designing, implementing and analysing qualitative and quantitative research programmes, typically leading to strategy development will augment Acritas’ ability to provide key information designed to enhance our clients’ business performance.
Jacki is particularly skilled at researching and analysing complex issues. Trained in cutting edge techniques, she has much experience of successfully integrating many of these elements into projects.
For the last 20 years Jacki has been an independent consultant, providing market research and strategic advice to clients from a range of industrial, professional, and service sectors.
Lucy Leach
Lucy is Acritas’ Technical Research Director, taking the lead on all high level statistical analysis and creating sophisticated data models for the Sharp product range as well as individual accounts. Lucy manages a team of researchers and interviewers at Acritas and ensures all projects are delivered on time, within budget and to the highest possible standards from start to finish.
Lucy graduated with a 1st class honours degree in Maths and Chemistry from Durham University in 2002, she then went on to complete a degree conversion in Psychology and in her spare time is studying for an MSc in Social Research Methods. She has worked in the field of research since graduating, starting her career at FTSE 100 company Sage before joining Acritas over four years ago.
Colin Jasper
Colin Jasper has over 20 years experience in business-to-business services markets, having spent a decade in senior business planning and strategic marketing roles for some of Australia's largest business-to-business service organisations, and worked as a strategy consultant for the past decade where he has had the opportunity to work with most of Australia’s, and a number of Asia’s, leading professional service firms.
Colin has led a broad range of research studies on the professions, including market studies, client satisfaction studies and brand studies. These studies have involved over 200 professional service firms.
Colin is a Senior Advisor at Acritas and is responsible for leading the growth of the business in Australia and Asia.
Colin was the Program Director of the Australian Graduate School of Management’s (AGSM’s) Business-to-Business pricing program and led pricing programs for the Advertising Federation of Australia including a pricing master class. He has been a keynote speaker at conferences in China, Singapore and throughout Australia. He has been a guest lecturer at The University of Melbourne, RMIT and Melbourne Business School.
Elizabeth Duffy
In her three years at Acritas, Elizabeth has worked with clients across the professional services sectors and focuses on delivering a high standard of client service, working closely with clients to achieve their research goals.
Elizabeth works closely with law firms across North America, UK and Middle East helping them to meet their strategic goals, set direction and sharpen focus based on a bedrock of data from Acritas’ sharplegal programme.
Elizabeth also designs and oversees tailor-made client feedback programmes for individual law firms utilising a range of methodologies. Based on years of experience at all stages of the research process, Elizabeth is able to ensure that each programme is tailored to meet the individual firm’s research goals whether focussing on service performance, exploring client opportunities a more holistic relationship focus.
Elizabeth has also worked on a number of thought leadership projects, leading on from client research or sharplegal results and has developed a robust research model to apply in planning a successful thought leadership programme.
An experienced presenter, Elizabeth is a regular speaker at industry conferences including lecturing at Cornell Law School in New York on ‘The Modern Global Legal Industry: lessons and perspectives not found in your law books!’, the IBA Balkan Legal Forum and leading sharplegal Academy sessions.
With an MA Professional Translation and 4 years’ experience working in France and Spain Elizabeth is passionate about languages and speaks French and Spanish fluently as well as improving Italian and Portuguese.