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
Karen Teago
CEO AND PRINCIPAL SOLICITOR
Karen joined YESS in June 2018, taking over from Camilla Palmer as Joint CEO and Principal Solicitor. She was Joint-CEO with Emma Webster for 2 years, becoming CEO in September 2020.
Karen qualified as a solicitor in 2001 and practised at commercial firms Taylor Vinters and EMW before a period as an employment law lecturer working with providers including BPP, MBL and CLT. Karen has more recently worked as an HR consultant and HR manager and is an Associate Member of the CIPD. Her experience of dealing with workplace relations as both a solicitor and an HR practitioner, enables her to advise clients in a practical and relevant manner.
Karen advises employers and employees on a wide range of employment matters, including redundancies and restructuring, parental entitlements, discrimination, performance management and ill-health dismissals, contractual rights including restrictive covenants and confidentiality clauses, and settlement agreements.
She is also an experienced independent investigator, having carried out varied and complex disciplinary and grievance investigations in a number of sectors including property, education, transport and technology.
Karen is a member of the Employment Lawyers’ Association and is an accredited Mental Health First Aider.
SAHER OSMAN
SENIOR SOLICITOR AND MEDIATOR
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
SENIOR SOLICITOR
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
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
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.
AVNEET BAHRA
SENIOR SOLICITOR
Avneet joined YESS in October 2023.
With over 16 years' experience as a qualified lawyer, Avneet is able to negotiate fair settlements for her employee clients with a high degree of success. She has an empathetic and kind manner with all her clients.
She also has substantial experience of advising SMEs on HR issues such as grievances, disciplinaries, redundancy programmes and restructuring. She has experience of drafting contracts and policies tailored to the specific needs of the client’s business.
Before specialising in Employment Law over a decade ago, Avneet worked in private practice in the areas of welfare benefits and crime, often assisting vulnerable clients. She also worked for the Victoria Climbie Foundation, a charity established by the parents of Victoria Climbie to campaign for improvements in child protection and ensure effective coordination between statutory agencies, care services and communities.
Rhian Morallee (nee Prosser)
CONSULTANT SOLICITOR AND MEDIATOR
Rhian qualified as a Solicitor in 2001 and has advised on all aspects of employment and employment related law She has considerable experience advising employees and employers; trade unions, trustees, schools and charities as well as fast growth and fintech companies She has also worked in-house for several years in a number of large UK charities. Rhian has provided practical training and facilitation for clients on many areas of employment law, leadership, transformational change and culture as these all have knock on effects in the workplace. Rhian has also carried out investigations for many large charities and employers.
Rhian has chosen to step away from employment litigation as she is a firm believer in exploring all avenues of alternative dispute resolution, becoming a CEDR accredited Mediator in November 2022. Rhian enjoys strategically resolving employment issues with the best outcome possible for the client. She is a clear communicator and listens well to understand the needs of the client and to suggest options to consider for the best way forward for the client.
Prior to specialising in Employment law, Rhian advised on civil litigation, immigration law, housing, welfare benefits, education, clinical negligence and criminal law. Rhian is particularly interested in the psychology of the individual and the education system. She is also a Trustee for Bromley, Lewisham and Greenwich Mind.
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.
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).
