VALENS SOLICITORS VALENS SOLICITORS LIMITED - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Solicitor
- Solicitor in the Field of Employment Law
Cyril is a highly experienced solicitor in the field of Employment Law.
At Valens, Cyril heads up the Employment Law department, and he is also regularly involved in transactional work as part of the Commercial Law team.
Cyril's expertise encompasses all aspects of employment law, both contentious and non-contentious, and he advises employers and employees on a range of issues including employment-related issues in the sale and acquisitions of businesses; TUPE; contracts, policies and procedures; employment benefits; and claims.
One of Cyril's areas of particular expertise is in the negotiation and drafting of mutual termination agreements for senior employees, including managing directors and senior executives. Cyril also has many years' working experience in dealing with discrimination claims and equality and diversity issues honed during his time working at the Commission for Racial Equality.
Cyril's practice also encompasses dispute resolution, and he is very familiar with the workings and procedures of the Employment Tribunal as well as the Civil Courts. Cyril is a skilled negotiator and advocate and acts for claimants and respondents in employment and civil claims, and also represents clients during the ACAS Early Conciliation period.
Employment law is inherently important in everyday working life. Whilst Cyril's work is not sector-specific, a considerable proportion of the work he undertakes is in the manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and hospitality sectors.
Cyril brings a personal and authoritative approach to the work that he undertakes at Valens, and is highly regarded by the firm's many satisfied clients.
Outside the office, Cyril regularly offers his services on a pro bono basis at London Central Employment Tribunal through the Employment Lawyers' Association's ELIPS Scheme, assisting unrepresented claimants. Cyril is also Chair and Trustee of Harrow Law Centre.
Dee qualified as a solicitor with a law firm in Islington in 2002, having worked on property, family, private client and litigation cases and transactions during the course of her training. She further developed her legal skills and experience at the same firm over the next few years before moving to a boutique law firm based in Hampstead, where she was a partner for 8 of the 10 years she was there.
During Dee's time at the firm, she undertook large-scale commercial and residential transactions and also further developed her expertise in private client and family law matters. Dee subsequently worked for a short time at a larger firm based in Mayfair.
In 2017, Dee joined Valens, where she now heads up the Private Client and Family department.
Dee's clients are from all walks of life, and include individuals, partners, and families. She advises and assists on all aspects of family and matrimonial law, including divorce, financial settlement, and international abduction cases, as well as private client matters such as wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, and deputy applications.
Dee's ethos is to provide legal services at the high level that she would expect to receive. She brings a robust and determined service to all her legal work. When engaging with her clients about what can sometimes be very personal and sensitive issues, she has a professional, empathetic and personable approach that enables clients to feel understood and supported.
During her working career, Dee has developed excellent relationships with professionals in other fields connected with her specialist areas. If Dee is unable to assist personally with any particular requirement, then she will do her utmost to find a suitable professional who can assist so as to enable her clients' requirements to be comprehensively met.
In 2018, Dee received a special commendation and recognition in the Legal 500.
Away from the office, Dee enjoys keeping fit by practising yoga and Pilates. She is a source of motivation and inspiration to the Valens team in helping them achieve (and exceed!) their daily step targets and eating healthily. Dee is also a keen photographer, and enjoys experimental baking.
Nese has been working in the field of property law and conveyancing for over 17 years. She qualified as a Licensed Conveyancer in 2008 and is a member of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), the specialist property law regulator.
Prior to joining Valens Solicitors in 2019, Nese worked for another City law firm for over 13 years in their Property Department, where she was Head of the Property Team and responsible for dealing with all residential property transactions.
Nese has extensive knowledge in all areas of residential conveyancing, including transactions relating to registered and unregistered land; freehold or leasehold sales, purchases, and re-mortgages; transfers of equity; new build; buy-to-let; and let-to-buy.
Nese also acts for property investors both in the UK and overseas.
Drawing upon her skills and using a keen attention to detail, Nese always brings a high standard of legal service to every transaction that she works on. Over the course of her career, she has established a strong reputation for providing excellent client care. All the law firms that she has worked for, including Valens, have been accredited with Lexcel, the Law Society's legal practice management and client care standard.
Outside of the office, Nese enjoys spending time with her family.