The team at Your Employment Settlement Service (YESS) consists of experienced, practising solicitors with wide-ranging experience in employment law, dispute resolution and mediation. All of our solicitors are specialists in negotiating effectively without using litigation.
The Lawyers
SAHER OSMAN
HEAD OF MEDIATION SERVICES AND SENIOR SOLICITOR
Saher qualified as a solicitor in 2010 and has advised and represented employment clients in all types of employment matters including disciplinaries and grievances, unfair dismissal, redundancy, discrimination and whistleblowing. She has a wealth of experience in negotiating settlements and supporting clients at judicial mediations. Saher is also a qualified workplace mediator.
Saher’s strengths include connecting with her clients and concentrating on their objectives to reach solutions. She explains legal concepts to her clients in plain English and has insight into different client needs and backgrounds, to which she is sensitive.
Saher is a member of ELAN (Employment Legal Advice Network) and also sits as a trustee of the Kosmos Centre (formerly the Camden Cypriot Women’s Organisation).
CLARE FOWLER
ACTING CEO AND HEAD OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Clare joined YESS in November 2020. She qualified as a solicitor in September 2000 and practised at what is now Blake Morgan LLP and then Howells LLP. Much of her time at Howells was spent providing publicly funded work in both employment law and other discrimination claims under the Equality Act in relation to higher education, the provision of goods and services, housing and welfare benefits. As a result she has a special interest and expertise in discrimination matters.
Clare advises employees and employers on all aspects of employment law and has experience of managing and coaching teams herself. She has delivered training to clients and other lawyers/advisers. She focusses on understanding client goals and working collaboratively to achieve them. Clare has extensive experience of negotiating settlements directly, through ACAS and at Judicial Mediations.
She is also an experienced independent investigator, having carried out numerous workplace investigations for both commercial and not for profit organisations.
CHRISTIANNE SILVERWOOD
JOINT HEAD OF LEGAL SERVICES AND SENIOR SOLICITOR
Christianne qualified as a solicitor in 2005 and is an Associate Member of the CIPD.
She advises and represents employee and employer clients in all areas of employment law and has particular expertise in disability, sex and maternity discrimination, whistleblowing, unfair dismissals and breaches of contract.
Christianne has conducted investigations for employers and has acted for both employee and employer clients in grievance and disciplinary proceedings. She takes a pragmatic approach and negotiating COT 3 and settlement agreements is a central aspect of her role.
Christianne has been commended on her compassionate approach and ability to explain complex legal concepts in plain English. She works with her clients to help them understand all their options and achieve a resolution that is right for them.
Before specialising in employment law, Christianne spent her early career in representing publicly funded clients in human rights, immigration, housing and welfare benefits.
VIDHYA JAYARAJAH
JOINT HEAD OF LEGAL SERVICES AND SENIOR SOLICITOR
Vidhya joined YESS in April 2023. She qualified as a solicitor in 2006 and has specialised in employment law since then. Vidhya practised at major regional and London law firms, Taylor Walton and Winckworth Sherwood, before becoming a trusted in-house legal advisor to a large local authority.
Vidhya has considerable experience advising both employers and employees across sectors including local government, education, finance, automotive and retail . She supports employees on all areas including discrimination (particularly disability and race), whistleblowing, redundancy, and settlement agreements/COT3s. Vidhya has advised managers and HR teams on their day-to-day employment issues including sickness absences, performance/capability issues, TUPE, and complex reorganisations. Vidhya’s experience working for/within employer organisations alongside her significant employee experience has given her an invaluable insight into the factors influencing both sides during disputes which help to bring about swift practical resolutions. Vidhya prides herself on providing clear pragmatic advice with a deep understanding of her client’s needs to ensure they achieve the best result for them.
Vidhya has provided external training to clients as well as other lawyers and advisors.
Vidhya is a member of the Employment Lawyers’ Association.
PHIL LINDAN
SENIOR SOLICITOR
Phil joined the YESS team in September 2024, having spent nearly thirteen years in the Withers employment team. He has experience of helping employees across many sectors, including professional services, healthcare, technology, retail, transport, manufacturing, education, financial services, the public sector, fashion, charities, and many more. He has expertise and experience in advising over the full spectrum of employment issues, including disciplinary and dismissal, discrimination, disability, whistleblowing, maternity/parental rights, breach of contract/confidentiality, remuneration and shareholder disputes and more, in addition to helping clients with contractual and recruitment matters. He also advises employers on their day-to-day needs, whether they be in managing employment relationships and good practice, or in dispute situations. Phil is highly experienced in tech matters and artificial intelligence, and the emerging legal challenges technology poses.
Phil qualified as a solicitor in 2011 and brings maturity and life experience to bear in his advisory work. He is a persuasive representative and frequently represents clients in mediation (judicial and commercial) and in situations requiring similar representation and presence.
KIRAN DODEJA
SENIOR SOLICITOR
Kiran joined YESS in January 2025. She qualified as a solicitor in 2005 and has since specialised in employment law. Kiran has worked at London law firms, acting for both employers and employees in both contentious and non-contentious employment law matters.
Kiran advises on settlement agreements including dealing with all aspects of negotiations for employees who are in dispute with their Employer, arising from disciplinary proceedings, grievance matters, capability matters or redundancy situations. Kiran has particular experience in assisting neurodivergent clients that have been discriminated against because of their disability. Kiran’s commitment to client care and communication with clients is of high importance to her and she prides herself in ensuring that her clients are provided with solid and pragmatic advice.
In her down time, Kiran enjoys outdoor pursuits such as hiking as well as strength training/health and nutrition.
PAUL STATHAM
CONSULTANT SOLICITOR
Paul Statham is a solicitor who has worked with a nationally recognised claimant firm and has nearly 40 years’ experience of employment and trade union law. He has wide experience of all aspects of employment, discrimination and trade union law.
Paul was the former Treasurer of the Industrial Law Society and a member of the Executive Committee of the Institute of Employment Rights and the Legislative and Policy Committee of the Employment Lawyers Association.
Paul was co-author of Employment Law practice: Strategies for Success, published by IDS.
Support Staff
VICKI LEAVER
OFFICE MANAGER
Vicki is responsible for the smooth and efficient running of our organisation including finance and systems.
KIM SCOTT
ADMINISTRATOR
Kim is our first point of contact for clients and new enquiries.
ANDREW MCLEOD-SMITH
FINANCE OFFICER
Andrew is responsible for all things finance.
The Trustees
OLIVER SEGAL KC
Oliver is a very experienced employment barrister, who represents claimants and respondents in employment disputes at all levels in the tribunals and civil courts.
He is a trained mediator and sits as a part-time Employment Tribunal Judge.
He is head of Old Square Chambers.
SCARLETT MCCGWIRE
Scarlett MccGwire is a communications consultant working in the private, public and NGO sector. She has worked with senior politicians both here and in the Balkans, particularly Kosovo, Eastern Europe, Africa and since the Arab Spring, Egypt and Tunisia.
She has written a number of non-fiction books and reviews for Tribune and the LSE Review of Books.
CAROLINE HIBBS
Caroline is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wale (ICAEW) and has 20 years’ experience working in the field of finance. She spent the early part of her career working for a number of small audit and accountancy practices in London servicing a range of clients in the not-for-profit sector before moving into the higher education sector.
Most recently she was the Professional Services Finance Director at University College London, a position she held for almost 5 years. Her specialist expertise is in management reporting and financial control.
Mark Hunt
Mark Hunt is a solicitor, specialising in employment law, and a qualified workplace mediator. He is currently Head of Employment Law for EMEA with The Bank of New York Mellon. Previously, he was a partner at Reed Smith in London and was head of the firm’s European employment law practice. He trained with Ashurt and qualified as a solicitor in 1995.
Mark advises on all aspects of employment law and has particular expertise in dealing with national and international transactions involving employee transfers, redundancies and restructuring exercises, senior executive issues and assisting HR professionals in dealing with grievance, disciplinary and performance and compensation related issues. He has been closely involved in the implementation and operation of the FCA and PRA Senior Managers and Certification Regimes by The Bank of New York Mellon.
Mark is a member of the Professional Mediators Association and the Employment Lawyers Association (ELA).