Meet The Team
Find out more about our team members below.
David is responsible for the implementation of the firms strategy and business plan. He ensures the business runs smoothly and takes care of all non-legal matters including the financial management of the business. He has a background in Financial Services having held senior management positions with Commercial Union Plc (now part of Aviva Plc) and Scottish Life (now part of the Royal London group). David has previously owned a successful Management Consultancy which includes FTSE 100 companies within its client list. David is also a Director and joint owner of COYR Limited a commercial property company. He jointly owns Kleyman & Co with Stephanie Kleyman.
David Meathrel
Director
Stephanie is a commercial solicitor with over 30 years experience in law, from small claims through to the Court of Appeal. Having worked in both private practice and in house, she combines a variety of legal knowledge as well as a good understanding of how businesses really work. Famous for her ability to explain issues in straight forward language and to deliver advice and support with both compassion and a sense of humour, Stephanie has built up a loyal following of regular clients, mostly small businesses who need a wide variety of assistance and has a strong team of assistant solicitors and support staff around her to provide legal services at all levels. Stephanie’s passion is to help new businesses get it right from the start, making sure that they develop policies and procedures for the recruitment, training and retaining of staff. She also advises on company and partnership matters. Through the recession Stephanie has also focused on helping companies manage their cash flow by assisting them in implement effective contracts, terms and conditions and debt collection policies. She is also no stranger to the Court process, helping clients bring and defend claims of all levels, although she is a big advocate of mediation and negotiation to avoid the uncertainties of litigation. Stephanie and her team also work on commercial property matters, as well as some personal legal issues such as probate claims and building disputes. Over her years in law, Stephanie has also built on her experience in family law, often being called upon to help in difficult and highly contentious matters. Her cases have involved helping a father obtain sole parental responsibility of his young children, and assisting mothers who wished to move their children to other parts of the country or abroad despite the fathers’ opposition. She has also worked on cases for high net worth individuals. Stephanie has also volunteered at the CAB centre at Families Court in Holborn, drafted pleadings, applications and witness statements, and has appeared in court on behalf of clients. Her work has also included supporting a number of local family related charities, often attending events to give legal advice and holding seminars. Although people might think that family law and commercial law are worlds apart, Stephanie believes there are many similarities. A dispute between co workers, company directors, clients and spouses all require careful handling and negotiations. It is not simply a question of knowing the law, but also of understanding how emotional some disputes can be, and the need to guide clients through the process in the most practical and cost effective way. For further information, and an informal chat with Stephanie please do not hesitate to contact her.
Stephanie Kleyman
Director
Meg is a barrister with over 20 years’ experience in Employment Law. She has worked in both private and public sectors: for Abbey Legal Protection Ltd, the London Boroughs of Ealing and Camden, and as a self-employed Employment Consultant and Barrister. This has given her broad and in-depth experience of all areas of Employment Law, including TUPE, discrimination, whistleblowing and unfair dismissal. Meg has represented many parties in the Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal and Court of Appeal. She has acted for employers (ranging from small companies to international companies such as H&M and charities such as Barnardo’s) and employees (pursuing their claims against companies of all sizes, including Addison Lee, Jigsaw and Betfred). Meg has specialist expertise in restrictive covenants, issues relating to Employment Contracts and disputes between directors. Meg has a good standard of spoken and written French, and has acted for a number of French speaking clients taking action in England, Scotland and Wales. Recent cases that Meg has been involved in, with successful appeals in the Employment Appeal Tribunal all the way up to the Court of Appeal, you can put your trust in our Employment team: Haydar v Pennine Acute Hopsitals Trust Successful appeal against ET order that Claimant should make a payment towards the Respondent’s costs. E. Martin v Home Office Successfully argued that the Employment Tribunal did not apply the law correctly when it dismissed her claims of unfair dismissal and disability discrimination. Xia v TAG Europe The EAT agreed with Meg’s argument that the Employment Tribunal’s decision to strike out the Claimant’s claim of unfair dismissal was legally flawed. Stevenson, Leeke & Stewart v Mid Essex Hospitals NHS Trust Successfully argued that the Employment Tribunal had not asked the correct legal questions in its judgment, and that its decision that the Appellants were not entitled to receive redundancy payments was flawed. Meg has also been appointed as a Deputy District Judge.
Meg Pennycook
Barrister and Deputy District Judge
Shivani began her legal career in 2012 at a firm in Chelsea and joined Kleymans in late 2014. She made outstanding progress in the litigation department and was promoted to Head of the firm’s Commercial Department in January 2019. Shivani and her team focus on Civil and Commercial Litigation (including Group Action work) and Alternative Dispute Resolution. Prior to joining the firm, she was involved in and managed a high profile group litigation against a bank in the High Court consisting of over 4,000 clients. Her expertise in Group Litigation has recently seen her involvement in a highly publicised case involving Universal Wealth Preservation. Shivani’s case has most recently been reported in the Times and aired on BBC’s Rip Off Britain where she gave an interview about her efforts in recovering those funds. Click here for the Podcast discussing Shivani’s group action Click here for a TV clip discussing Shivani’s group action Shivani and her team also act for both individuals and companies in a variety of disputes involving contract disputes, debt recovery (private/commercial), employment law, professional negligence, bankruptcy and insolvency, property litigation disputes (commercial/residential), land disputes and joint ownership/cohabitation disputes. Shivani deals with claims in both the County Court and High Court and is also a big believer of mediation and avoiding the costs of litigation if a satisfactory settlement can be agreed between the parties. Please contact our Head of Commercial if you would like to discuss how we can help you.
Shivani Varma
Head of Commercial Law
William graduated From Canterbury Christ Church University with a degree in History and Legal Studies. After graduating, and working for a year as a Commercial Litigation paralegal in Hammersmith, he went to complete his LPC at BBP Holborn focusing primarily on Commercial and Litigation fields of study and pursuing these subsequently in practice. William worked and trained at the London office of a large and reputable nationwide law firm in the Commercial Litigation department where he gained invaluable experience representing corporations, charities and individuals, both at home and internationally. During his time there William was involved in defending a £4million Defamation and Intellectual Property claim, successfully bringing an action for breach of data protection, representing a company shareholder in shareholder dispute, advocating in County Courts and the High Court before Judges and Masters as well as making numerous successful applications to set aside judgement in default. Throughout his career William has undertaken instructions to represent clients in a variety of Commercial matters including: William also has extensive Litigation experience, taking instructions from both Claimants and Defendants in High Court and Tribunal matters including the Business and property Court, Commercial Court, Technology and Construction Court, First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) and Health Care Professionals Tribunal Service. William prides himself on delivering a high quality, efficient and proactive service for all of his clients and is proficient in negotiating and advising on commercially sensible options and alternatives to both commercial matters and dispute resolution where possible. William joined Kleyman & Co upon qualifying as a solicitor in January 2019.
William Couchman
Senior Solicitor
Before going into law, Peri obtained a 2:1 degree in History from De Montfort University and then went on to complete his Graduate Diploma in law and Legal Practice Course. Peri then completed his training contract at a full-service high street firm, before joining the property team at Kleyman & Co in 2015. He now heads the property team and is responsible for overseeing conveyancing work completed by junior members of the team. Peri has a broad experience in property dealing with most areas of both residential and commercial property law, including: If you are interested in any of our conveyancing services please give Peri a call to discuss.
Peri Hassan
Solicitor
Catherine graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a degree in law in 2017 before completing the LPC at the University of Central Lancashire. She began working for Kleyman & Co in July 2018 as a legal secretary, started her Training Contract in November 2019 and most recently qualified as a solicitor in England & Wales in August 2021. Catherine predominately works in the property team and has a broad range of experience with both residential and commercial property law, such as: She also practices other areas of law, including: Catherine is available to assist with family law matters, from co-habitation agreements, to divorce proceedings. She has a professional and understanding manner, and is there to help guide you through the process during a difficult time. If you are interested in any of our services, please give Catherine a call to discuss.
Catherine Bates
Solicitor
Before joining Kleyman & Co in August 2019, Ellie received an Upper Second-Class Honours Law degree and a distinction in her Legal Practice Course and Masters in Law at Nottingham Law School. Ellie completed her training contract at Kleyman & Co and qualified as a solicitor in 2022. During her training contract, Ellie managed her own matters in a variety of areas of law, such as civil litigation, employment, insolvency, commercial, corporate, and private client. Her experience includes: On qualification as a solicitor, Ellie has chosen to specialise in civil litigation, but also works on a range of other matters including insolvency and employment.
Ellie Murray
Solicitor
Caoimhe attended Keele University and obtained her LLB Law Degree achieving an Upper Second Class Honours in 2018. She then went on to study at Hertfordshire University where she gained a Distinction in both her LPC and LLM in 2019. Caoimhe joined Kleyman & Co in September 2019 as a paralegal before she completed her training with the firm and qualified as a solicitor in 2022. Whilst completing her training, she handled her own case load, and was involved in a wide variety of cases. Caoimhe is experienced in employment disputes, criminal law, private client, litigation, immigration, and commercial/ corporate work. Caoimhe utilises the broad knowledge she has gained throughout her training to provide well rounded commercial advice to her clients. She enjoys working on company law and commercial issues and provides practical and effective advice to various businesses. Her commercial experience includes: Caoimhe continues to handle a varied caseload as a solicitor in the firm and is available to assist in a variety of areas, but she is predominantly focused on building her commercial practice and specialising in this area.
Caoimhe Leece
Solicitor
Sean attended the University of Strathclyde where he obtained an Upper Second-Class Dual qualifying LLB in Scottish and English Law. During his time at the University of Strathclyde, Sean was a member of the University of Strathclyde Law Clinic where he represented clients in small claims disputes. Sean then attended the University of BPP in Manchester where he attained his Legal Practice Certificate. During his time in Manchester, Sean primarily focused on the commercial and corporate aspects of law electing to study Private Acquisitions, Corporate Finance and International Trade and Transactions. Sean previously worked as a Legal Assistant for a small firm in his hometown of Glasgow where he assisted fee earners with their caseloads, provided advice and assistance to those involved in benefits disputes and managed a wide variety of administrative matters. Now Sean works closely with the team at Kleyman & Co. Alongside managing his own varied caseload, Sean assists the solicitors by conducting legal research and drafting both correspondence and legal documents. Sean’s overall goal is to become a fully qualified solicitor and eventually specialize in mergers and acquisitions. However, he is keen to continue expanding his knowledge in other areas to develop a well rounded skill set.
Sean Scott
Trainee Solicitor
Imogen attended the University of Southampton, where she achieved a 2:1 in her LLB Law Degree. After travelling for two years, she then went on to achieve a Distinction in her LPC and LLM at the University of Law. On the LPC, Imogen’s chosen electives were Employment, Commercial Dispute Resolution, Family and Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence in line with her interests. Imogen previously worked as a Legal Assistant for a private family office assisting the Head of Legal as well as undertaking informal work experience in a number of firms in London and Surrey where she assisted with legal research, file management and invoicing. At Kleyman & Co, Imogen assists with a variety of administrative tasks and assists the fee earners with the drafting of legal correspondence, file management and legal research. Imogen has a keen interest in Employment Law and Real Estate but continues to expand her knowledge in a number of areas. Her goal is to become a fully qualified solicitor and specialise into one of those two areas.
Imogen Bowers-Brown
Trainee Solicitor
Ella attended the University of Liverpool, where she obtained her LLB Law Degree achieving an Upper Second Class Honours in 2020. Ella then went on to attend the University of Law, studying at their Guildford campus, where she completed the Legal Practice Course with a combined masters in Law. Whilst studying on her LPC, Ella’s chosen electives were Family, Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence, Commercial and Employment as these reflect her own interest areas. Ella has particular interest in Family Law and received a Distinction in her Family Law elective on the LPC. Ella chose the Family module for her masters LLM qualification and wrote her dissertation on the laws surrounding surrogacy. Ella is deeply interested in the human aspect of law and how laws can be used to help people at some of the most vulnerable periods of their lives. Ella understand that the issues surrounding Family Law can be difficult and at times distressing. It is Ella’s ambition to qualify as a Family Solicitor and help walk families through difficult situations, and achieve for them the best possible results. Ella currently assists with a variety of administration tasks and assists the fee earners with the drafting of legal correspondence, file management and legal research. During her time at Kleyman & Co, Ella hopes to expand her legal knowledge in all areas of law, and is keen on developing her current skills.
Ella Puttock
Paralegal
Vicky graduated with a 2:1 in her Qualifying Law Degree from the University of York, Constantine College. She then studied her Legal Practice Course alongside her Masters in Law at BPP University Law School in Holborn. During her time at BPP, Vicky studied Employment Law, Private Acquisitions, and Commercial Law and Intellectual Property as these reflect her areas of interest. Vicky has a particular interest in Employment Law and received a Distinction in her Employment Law elective on the LPC. Vicky wrote her undergraduate dissertation on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, questioning whether the current procedures in place are adequate. As a Paralegal, Vicky helps with a range of administrative tasks and supports the fee earners with file management, legal research, and the drafting of legal correspondence. Vicky continues to develop her legal understanding in all areas of law, despite having a strong interest in commercial law. She has experienced working on a range of private client matters, as well as litigation. Whilst at Kleyman & Co., she aims to become a fully qualified solicitor with a focus on either Employment Law or Commercial Law.
Victoria Hanley
Paralegal
Abi graduated with an Upper-Second Class Honours Degree in Law at the University of Reading, where she was crowned champion of the Osborne Clarke Mooting Competition, involving numerous mock court trials. Her passion continues as she is now studying a Masters in Law, with the Legal Practice Course and Business Practice, at the University of Law. As part of the LPC, Abi chose the electives Employment Law, Advanced Criminal Law, and Personal Injury, which reflects her interests, but she also wishes to expand her knowledge within both commercial and conveyancing sectors. Abi previously worked as a Case Progression Officer for a criminal defence firm in Devon, specialising in Road Traffic Law. Within the firm, she managed her own caseload, providing coherent advice to her clients and progressing their cases through the court system, for a number of different driving offences. Now with Kleyman & Co., Abi works as a Paralegal, closely supporting the fee earners with legal research, drafting legal correspondence, and undertaking a variety of administrative tasks. Her ambition is to expand her knowledge across different sectors of law and eventually qualify as a Solicitor.
Abi Day
Paralegal
Jordan completed a Law LLB Degree at the University of Kent and graduated in 2022 with an Upper-Second Class Honours. Over the summer in 2022, Jordan had completed a one-month placement at a law firm in Buckinghamshire, primarily focused on Property Law and Wills and Probate. She joined the team at Kleyman & Co. in September 2022 as a Paralegal with the view to becoming a Trainee Solicitor with the firm. Jordan was a member of Kent Law Clinic during her undergraduate degree, where she worked on small cases with the support of local solicitors and barristers. Throughout her time in this module, she worked predominantly in Housing and Immigration law. Jordan was also a volunteer for ‘Canterbury Homeless Outreach’ during her time at university. As a Paralegal, Jordan will look to assist with handling administration tasks and assisting fee earners with case matters, including legal research, legal drafting and correspondence. Jordan has expressed an interest in Commercial Law but she wishes to gain an insight into various sectors in law, so she is able to achieve a well-informed understanding. She is currently studying for her SQE examination for her to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales.
Jordan Lock
Paralegal