Former GC of Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche, Funke Abimbola MBE, has joined Mishcon de Reya in a new role as director of operations for dispute resolution. 

Abimbola's role will include technology solutions, financial management and business planning matters, as well as integrating diversity and inclusion into the firm's strategy.

Abimbola was Roche GC for the UK and Ireland between 2015 and 2018, her last role at the company after more than six years with the business. She also held roles as managing counsel, data protection officer and head of financial compliance during her time at the company.

In 2017, she was awarded an MBE for diversity services to the legal industry.

She has spent just over a year on sabbatical since departing Roche and joined Mishcon last week.

Funke said: "After practising law for almost 19 years, I am delighted and proud to be starting a new chapter of my career at Mishcon de Reya, a firm I have long admired. I look forward to working alongside this exceptional team to drive operational and strategic excellence."

In January, the firm boosted its ranks with another female lawyer when it hired Kingsley Napley partner Johanna Walsh to its white-collar and investigations group in London.