Find out more about our team members below.

David Meathrel

David Meathrel

Director

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.

Stephanie Kleyman

Stephanie Kleyman

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.

Stephanie has worked with clients who have operated substantial vehicle fleets and has developed extensive experience in dealing with motoring offences for these clients. 

For further information, and an informal chat with Stephanie please do not hesitate to contact her.

Meg Pennycook

Meg Pennycook

Barrister and Deputy District Judge

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.

Shivani Varma

Shivani Varma

Head of Commercial Law

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. 

Peri Hassan

Peri Hassan

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:

  • the purchase and sale of freehold and leasehold properties;
  • lease extensions, renewals and variations;
  • the purchase and sale of small businesses and unregistered land;
  • planning disputes;
  • section 106 agreements;
  • construction projects, from acquiring and developing land to selling and letting plots;
  • appointment of managing agents; and
  • landlord and tenant issues.

If you are interested in any of our conveyancing services please give Peri a call to discuss.

Catherine Bates

Catherine Bates

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:

  • Buying and selling residential and commercial properties; 
  • Commercial and residential leases;
  • Landlord and tenant issues; 
  • Lease extensions; and
  • Property disputes.

She also practices other areas of law, including:

  • Family Law;
  • Insolvency and Debt Recovery; and
  • Litigation / Dispute Resolution. 

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.

Caoimhe Leece

Caoimhe Leece

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, wills and probate, litigation, immigration, motoring offences 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:

  • Drafting and advising on a range of contract types, including employment contracts, consultancy agreements, service agreements, sale/ purchase of goods contracts, shareholder agreements, company articles, and terms and conditions for a variety of businesses.
  • Handling share purchase/ sale agreements.
  • Dealing with a business sale or acquisition.
  • Assisting clients to register their new business, as well as drafting and advising on the initial paperwork required.

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.

Sean Scott

Sean Scott

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.

Imogen Bowers-Brown

Imogen Bowers-Brown

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.

Ella Puttock

Ella Puttock

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.

Ella started her Training Contract at Kleyman & Co Solicitors in February 2023, having worked at the firm as a Paralegal since February 2022. During her time as a trainee, Ella has been involved in a wide variety of cases including divorce and dissolution matters, child proceedings cases, insolvency, private client, wills and probate, criminal proceedings, and commercial litigation.

Ella continues to handle a varied caseload as a Trainee but is specifically interested in the human aspect of Family law and how laws can be used to help people at some of the most vulnerable periods of their lives. Ella received a Distinction in her Family Law elective on the LPC and her pragmatic approach to family disputes enable her to gain a quick understanding of the needs and circumstance of her clients. She understands that the issues surrounding Family Law can be difficult and at times distressing. Ella is working towards specialising as a Family Solicitor, in order to help walk families through difficult situations and achieve the best possible results.

Ella’s Family experience includes:

  • Divorce Proceedings
  • Financial Remedy Proceedings – application to the English Court for financial settlement following divorce proceedings
  • Child Arrangement Orders – Jurisdiction disputes concerning children who are not habitually resident in the UK

If you are interested in any of our services, please give Ella a call to discuss.

Jordan Lock

Jordan Lock

Trainee Solicitor

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 and became a Trainee Solicitor in June 2023. 

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.

Jordan has expressed an interest in Commercial Law and Family 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. 

Victoria Hanley

Victoria Hanley

Trainee Solicitor

Vicky graduated with a 2:1 in her Qualifying Law Degree from the University of York, Constantine College. She then completed her Legal Practice Course at BPP University Law School in Holborn, alongside her Masters in Law. Vicky studied Employment Law, Private Acquisitions, and Commercial Law and Intellectual Property whilst at BPP, as they reflect her areas of interest.

Vicky is particularly interested in Employment Law. She received a Distinction in her Employment Law elective on the LPC, and a First in her undergraduate dissertation, which focused on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, questioning whether the current procedures in place are adequate.

Vicky started her Training Contract at Kleyman & Co. in November 2023, having previously worked at the firm as a Paralegal. Vicky’s passion for Employment Law shines through her varied experience in the field. She has navigated an array of Employment matters, for both employers and employees, demonstrating her expertise in handling cases before they even reach the tribunal stage.

Vicky is also no stranger to Civil Litigation, having tackled a variety of matters ranging from initiating and defending cases in the County Courts, to collaborating on proceedings in the High Court.

Vicky’s ultimate goal is to become a fully qualified solicitor, focusing on Employment, Civil Litigation, or Commercial Law. 

Nesrine Bokhamy

Nesrine Bokhamy

Paralegal

Nesrine attended the University of Birmingham, where she achieved a 2:1 in her LLB Law Degree in International Law and Globalisation. She then went on to complete her LPC and LLM at BPP University in Holborn. On the LPC, Nesrine’s chosen electives were Employment, Commercial and IP law and Equity Finance in line with her interests.

Nesrine has a particular interest in Employment Law and received a Distinction in her Employment Law elective on the LPC. Nesrine chose the Employment module for her masters LLM qualification and wrote her dissertation on employee status law, specifically focusing on workers in the gig economy.

Nesrine is also devoted to commercial law as well, having received a Distinction in the Business Law and Practice module as well as in the Equity Finance elective. In her role as a Paralegal, Nesrine helps with the administrative tasks and supports the fee earners with file management, legal research, and the drafting of the legal correspondence. Nesrine continues to expand her knowledge across different sectors of law and aims to qualify as a Solicitor, 

 

Jessica Hunt

Jessica Hunt

Paralegal

Jessica graduated from the University of East Anglia in 2022 where she gained an Upper Second Class Honours in her Law LLB. While at university, Jessica won UEA’s annual Advanced Mediation competition and enjoyed taking part in other pro-bono work such as Client Interviewing. She then went onto achieve a Distinction in both her LPC and LLM at the University of Law. Her chosen electives were Commercial Dispute Resolution, Employment, Family and Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence. For her masters dissertation, Jessica focussed on Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 and considered potential options for reform.

Along with strong customer service and administrative experience, Jessica has undertaken informal work experience in several firms in Hertfordshire. She has also volunteered as a mentor with ‘Brightside’, supporting young people in considering a legal career. Joining the team in September 2023, Jessica helps with a wide range of administrative tasks and supports the fee earners with file management, legal research and the drafting of legal correspondence. Jessica has a strong interest in company, commercial and employment law. 

Olivia Michael

Olivia Michael

Paralegal

Olivia graduated from Durham University in June 2023 where she gained an Upper Second Class Honours in her Law LLB. Olivia’s degree was very commercially focused with modules such as corporate, commercial and competition.

Olivia has a particular interest in Employment Law with a special focus on whistleblowing – the topic upon which she wrote a first-class dissertation. Olivia is looking to expand this interest in her work here with Kleyman & Co.

Prior to joining Kleyman & Co, Olivia gained work experience from various places in the legal industry: criminal barrister’s chambers, a small-sized law firm as well as with the CPS. This has helped Olivia perform her day-to-day administrative tasks and supporting fee earners. Whilst keenly interested in Employment and Commercial law, Olivia builds on her understanding of all aspects of law that we cover here at Kleyman & Co. Olivia’s ambition is to become a fully qualified solicitor at Kleyman & Co.