By: 19 May 2021
Clarion strengthens employment and family teams

Clarion has strengthened its employment and family teams with three new appointments.

Suzanne Treen (pictured, left) joins Clarion’s 10-strong employment team as a legal director. She has more than 10 years of experience in this area of law, having trained and qualified with a well-known national firm and then spending almost seven years at a commercial law firm in Leeds.

Treen has expertise in advising employers on all aspects of employment law, including large scale reorganisations, TUPE, collective redundancies and executive departures, as well as delivering tailored training programmes. 

She has particular experience in dealing with complex employment tribunal proceedings, and she also advises on business immigration matters for UK employers.

Treen is looking forward to expanding Clarion’s offering by building its business immigration service and has experience in managing sponsor licences, applying for visas under the points-based system, and making successful sponsor licence applications.

Sarah Tahamtani, partner and head of employment at Clarion, commented: “With two partners and now three directors, Clarion has one of the strongest dedicated employment practices in Leeds. Over the last year, the pandemic has raised a vast and varied range of HR issues as employment relationships have seen seismic changes, and, consequently, it’s vital that we continue to build our team in response to increasing client demand.”

“Suzanne’s ten years of specialist experience further boosts the team, particularly with her track record of advising on business immigration and sponsor licences. Given the complexities of Brexit with the introduction of barriers to freedom of movement for workers, there is growing need for expertise in this area and she will further strengthen our ability to help businesses to recruit and retain the right people, whatever their nationality.”

Treen added: “One of my key strengths is building and maintaining long-term client relationships which is a perfect fit with the Clarion ethos. I am also impressed by the firm’s progressive approach and collegiate culture. Having known Sarah Tahamtani for many years, it’s exciting to be working with someone with her skills and genuine ambition to develop and bring out the best in every member of her team.”

Siobhan Jeffels and Sarah Manning are the latest lawyers to join Clarion’s nine-strong family law practice.

Having worked in family law for more than 20 years, Jeffels (pictured, right bottom) joins Clarion as a legal director. She has spent the last 10 years as a family solicitor for a North East-based family law firm.

Jeffels helps clients through all areas of family law, including divorce and separation, civil partnerships, pre-nuptial and cohabitation agreements, finance, and child support. She is experienced in handling more complex financial matrimonial issues, for example, farming cases. She has also acted for high-net-worth individuals, land-owners and business owners.

She is Resolution accredited, making her the fourth member in Clarion’s family team who has that specialist accreditation. 

Manning (pictured, right top) joins the Clarion team as a senior associate mediator having worked in a niche family and employment practice in Leeds for the last three years.

She has more than 13 years of experience in family law and qualified as a mediator in 2012. 

Manning assists individuals in all aspects of private family law matters, including pre- and post-nuptials, children disputes and finance disputes. She has experience of dealing with mid- to high-net-worth clients on cases of a complex nature, including those involving overseas assets.

She is a board member of the Family Mediation Association, which raises awareness of mediation within the legal sector and the general public.

Justine Osmotherley, partner and head of Clarion’s family practice, commented: “The family team has seen three years of exceptional growth with the practice consistently beating targets as demand for our services has increased, based on the strength of our reputation. The recruitment of these two talented lawyers helps grow our technical expertise.”

“Siobhan has an impressive track record of handling complex matrimonial cases and with her experience in the farming sector, she will further boost our specialist agricultural offering. Sarah also brings a wealth of experience with her and, as an accredited mediator, her skills fit well with our commitment to amicable dispute resolution whenever possible. Having built such a cohesive team that shares a common approach to providing outstanding client care, it is also great to find like-minded people who fit with the Clarion ethos.”

Jeffels said: “Clarion is well known for its positive culture, for example, it offers flexible working for parents, and it seems like a great place to work with a highly engaged and client-focused team. The family practice is renowned as one of the best in the North and I’m excited to play my part in its continued success.”

Manning added: “I pride myself on dealing with cases amicably and doing everything I can to keep matters constructive and non-confrontational. This approach seems to chime with the Clarion team and I am really looking forward to being part of a full services firm where all of a client’s needs can be met under one roof.”