Tim Hailes is a campaigner in more ways than one. The JPMorgan managing director and associate general counsel hit the headlines earlier this year for spearheading a major diversity campaign for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) employees in London. The move signalled his intention to open discussions on the topic with the bank’s external advisers in the City.

Hailes is the diversity representative on the bank’s global legal group and helped to develop the ‘Pride’ initiative, which encourages an inclusive working environment and networking.

But Hailes has not just devoted his energies to diversity. His work in the retail structured products market (he heads a 20-plus trading floor transaction legal team responsible for equity and fund-linked products) has drawn applause from private practice lawyers.

In addition to his day job Hailes has been putting his head above the parapet in getting the industry to form a collective response to the regulatory framework on retail structured products. That is an issue that will run well into 2007.