Phil Loynes joined the Royal Marines in 1977 and served in a variety of operational command and staff appointments in Northern Ireland, Norway, Hong Kong and the Baltic States, before transferring to the Royal Marines Reserve in 1997 and qualifying as a commercial lawyer – a sector he has remained in for close to 30 years.

He specialises in acquisitions, privatisations, foreign investment structures, joint ventures, government projects, outsourcing, franchise and distribution agreements, governance and regulatory frameworks, and is currently based in Riyadh working for the law firm King & Spalding as a Corporate Partner.

As a Reservist, Phil commanded RMR Merseyside on full time reserve service, and was RMR Colonel responsible for Reservist support to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines.