Our team is talented and diverse.
We place equal importance on supporting the profession by guiding and mentoring a new generation of lawyers and securing our firm’s growth.
Lesley Allan
Operations Director
+44 7585 688 312
Expertise
Responsible for the firm’s operations and project delivery
Lesley joined Sphere Legal in 2019 working ad-hoc on special projects and, since May 2024 as our Operations Director. Lesley has over 25 years’ experience working in business with a background in operations, client services and design. She leads project delivery across the firms’ operations, working closely with the management team to ensure the smooth running of the business.
Hugo Anthony
Trainee Solicitor
+44 7776 525 997
Expertise
Works with the team on a wide range of commercial matters
Hugo joined Sphere Legal as a paralegal in July 2021 on graduating from university, having gained experience in between his studies in a range of sectors such as insurance, marketing, education and law. He began his training contract with Sphere Legal in September 2023 and enjoys working with Sphere Legal’s lawyers and clients on a wide range of commercial matters.
Anneliese Aulton
Legal Director
+44 7766 904 532
anneliese.aulton@spherelegal.com
Expertise
Commercial and IT, data protection and intellectual property rights
Anneliese has over 15 years’ experience as a commercial lawyer and has worked for leading national and regional law firms. Anneliese advises on a wide range of commercial issues and has particular strength in projects involving licensing intellectual property, technology and data protection.
Lucie Balcarova
Finance Assistant
lucie.balcarova@spherelegal.com
Expertise
Finance
Lucie joined Sphere Legal in June 2024 as our Finance and Accounting Assistant. She holds an AAT qualification and has two years experience as a Finance Assistant. Lucie supports our financial operations by managing accounts payable and receivable, and reconciling bank statements. Additionally, she is continuing her studies to further enhance her skills in finance.
Olivia Beach
Trainee Solicitor
+44 7501 147 091
Expertise
Works with the team on a wide range of commercial matters
Olivia joined Sphere Legal as a paralegal in October 2022, having previously obtained her PGDL and LPC. Alongside her studies, she undertook pro bono work across various commercial sectors and will be working with the Sphere Legal team on a range of commercial matters.
Monica Coombs
Consultant
Expertise
Commercial and regulatory law
Monica brings extensive experience in managing high-value disputes across regulatory and commercial sectors. As a former partner at a niche City firm, she provided board-level advice on complex and confidential issues. Her expertise extends to the Telecoms sector, where she has worked as a consultant specializing in compliance and regulatory investigations. At Sphere Legal, Monica’s practice encompasses commercial and contractual disputes, as well as regulatory compliance.
Jessica De Lange
Paralegal
+44 7818 311 850
jessica.delange@spherelegal.com
Expertise
Supports the team on a variety of legal matters
Jessica joined Sphere Legal as a Paralegal in August 2024. She holds a first in Criminology with Quantitative Method and a Merit in her LLM. With experience in research and consulting, she has supported projects on corporate governance, global health, and human trafficking. Jessica will be supporting the Sphere Legal team on a variety of commercial matters.
Adele Dethick
Legal Director
+44 7469 794 086
Expertise
Employment law
Adele has over 25 years’ of experience advising in employment law and has successfully represented numerous clients, handling cases ranging from wrongful dismissal to complex disputes involving employment status, discrimination, and whistleblowing. Additionally, Adele has provided legal counsel to trade unions and their members at both regional and national levels.
Margaret Evans
Legal Director
+44 7502 204 310
margaret.evans@spherelegal.com
Expertise
Corporate and corporate finance
Margaret Evans joined Sphere Legal in August 2024. With over 25 years’ experience as a corporate lawyer, Margaret advises owner-managed businesses, SMEs, and family companies and her expertise includes M&As, management buy-outs/buy-ins, governance, company secretarial, banking and security, company re-organisation, restructures, and refinancing.
Daniel Fernandes
Trainee Solicitor
+44 7584 988 226
daniel.fernandes@spherelegal.com
Expertise
Works with the team on a wide range of commercial matters
Daniel joined Sphere Legal as a paralegal in December 2020, having worked previously as an administrative assistant at a City law firm after completing his LLB degree and began his training contract with Sphere Legal in April 2023. He now enjoys working with Sphere Legal’s lawyers and clients on a wide range of commercial matters.
Kavitha Ganeshan
Of Counsel
+44 7876 824 068
kavitha.ganeshan@spherelegal.com
Expertise
Regulatory and consumer-related law
Kavitha qualified into the tax department of a Magic Circle law firm in 1999. She later spent a number of years working as a tax associate in the structured finance department of a large US law firm’s London office. Having joined Sphere Legal in 2016, Kavitha now works on a variety of commercial matters. She has particular experience in the telecoms sector, specialising in regulatory and consumer-related law.
Faye Hutchinson
Administrative Assistant
+44 7765 830 702
faye.hutchinson@spherelegal.com
Expertise
Admin
Faye became an Legal Administrative Assistant at Sphere Legal in August 2024. She holds a BSc in Psychology and an MSc in Forensic Psychology from Newcastle University. Before transitioning to the legal field, she acquired administrative experience as a Mental Health Support Coordinator.
Julia Jackson
Consultant
+44 7593 079 645
Expertise
UK immigration and nationality law
Julia has over 25 years’ experience in the field of immigration and nationality law. Julia specialises in business and executive immigration advising clients on strategic immigration planning, international recruitment and assignments and management of immigration status from first UK arrival to naturalisation. Julia regularly provides training to employers to understand compliance and risks around immigration issues and sponsorship.
Leah Johnstone
Senior Legal PA
+44 7551 087 366
leah.johnstone@spherelegal.com
Expertise
Admin, finance and marketing
Leah joined Sphere Legal as a Legal PA in November 2020. She has over 7 years of experience as a Legal Secretary/Team PA, working in a variety of legal fields for numerous London law firms. Leah assists all members of the team and works closely with our Operations Director and our Founder and Director.
Jo Kavanagh
Legal Director
+44 7741 551 034
Expertise
Commercial contracts, data protection and intellectual property rights
Jo has 20 years’ experience as a commercial lawyer. After qualifying in private practice, she moved in-house and worked in the financial services and fintech sectors as well as for NGOs. Jo’s work included a number of sole counsel roles. She advises on a wide range of commercial issues, with particular experience in licensing intellectual property, and enjoys being involved in operational implementation and project delivery.
Ben Kieft
Partner
+44 7552 484 694
Expertise
Corporate and corporate finance
Ben is an experienced solicitor and joined Sphere Legal in March 2020. Prior to that he had over 10 years’ experience as a corporate lawyer at a US firm in the City, working closely with clients in the technology, biotech and healthcare sectors on domestic and cross-border transactions. Ben enjoys advising clients on a broad range of corporate matters.
Andrew Lemonides
Paralegal
+44 7778 976 196
andrew.lemonides@spherelegal.com
Expertise
Supports the team on various commercial matters
Andrew joined Sphere Legal as a paralegal in August 2024 having obtained both his GDL and the LPC. Andrew gained experience through various legal internships and part-time roles at boutique practices, city law firms, and public sector organisations. At Sphere Legal, Andrew will be supporting the team on various commercial matters.
Anjanette Pavell
Founder and Director
+44 7801 120 845
anjanette.pavell@spherelegal.com
Expertise
Commercial, corporate and employment law
Anjanette advises a broad range of SME and entrepreneurial clients in all sectors, from start-ups to turnovers of more than £100m. She also works with the C-suite to advise on strategic goals and how best to achieve them.
Sunaina Rana
Trainee Solicitor
+44 7425 915 952
Expertise
Works with the team on a wide range of commercial matters
Sunaina joined Sphere Legal as a Paralegal in December 2021, having obtained her LPC LLM and began her training contract in June 2024. Between her studies Sunaina has had experience of working in e-commerce, customer service, hospitality and law. Sunaina now works on a wide range of commercial matters with Sphere Legal’s lawyers and clients.
Jacqui Skovron
Partner
+44 7741 856 601
jacqui.skovron@spherelegal.com
Expertise
Telecommunications, wayleaves and property
Jacqui has over 25 years’ experience as a commercial property lawyer dealing with a broad spectrum of property work. She has acted for commercial and residential developers, worked as in-house counsel for a property developer and an asset management company and has lectured on the Legal Practice Course. She now specialises in the Electronic Communications Code and commercial wayleave negotiations.
Nangeloum Ursell-Djourna
Senior Solicitor
+44 7825 323 555
nange.ursell-djourna@spherelegal.com
Expertise
Telecommunications, wayleaves and commercial and IT
Nange trained with Sphere Legal, qualifying as a Solicitor in early 2016. Before that he worked for 9 years as a senior paralegal at a City law firm engaged on a range of complex arbitration and litigation matters. Nange works on a full range of commercial matters with particular experience in the Electronic Communications Code, on-line business and Company set up.
Emily Wilson
Solicitor
+44 7384 542 743
Expertise
Telecommunications, wayleaves and commercial and IT
Emily joined Sphere Legal as a paralegal in July 2019 after completing an MA Law conversion course, having previously worked in customer service roles specialising in complaint resolution. Emily now enjoys working with Sphere Legal’s lawyers on a wide range of commercial matters. Emily began her training contract with Sphere Legal in November 2021 and became a qualified solicitor in November 2023.
Elise Wootliff
Paralegal
+44 7867 428 556
elise.wootliff@spherelegal.com
Expertise
Supports the team on a wide range of commercial matters
Elise joined Sphere Legal as a paralegal in February 2024. Having gained a First in Philosophy from the University of Exeter for her undergraduate degree, she has now completed the LLM Law Conversion with SQE1 from BPP University. She has undertaken various legal internship roles in the past and will be working on a range of commercial matters with the Sphere Legal team.
Karen Wootliff
Partner
+44 7341 059 893
karen.wootliff@spherelegal.com
Expertise
Commercial, IT, cyber security, data protection; media and IP
Karen has over 30 years’ experience in IP/IT/commercial matters, working in a Silver Circle law firm and then as Head of Legal (in-house and external) for large and small companies (UK and US). She applies heavyweight experience on a full range of IT and other transactions for suppliers and customers and enjoys maintaining the relationship beyond agreement completion as part of the client team. She is a qualified DPO (GDPR).
Our services
- Commercial agreements and disputes
- Corporate and investor advice
- Data protection and e-commerce
- Employment and workplace relations
- Intellectual property and exploitation of rights
- Publishing and media rights
- Regulatory
- Technology contracting and licensing
- Telco contracting
- Wayleaves/easements
Commercial contracts and agreements, managing counsel in local and international jurisdictions.
Corporate work (including company secretarial advice) to clients in wide-ranging sectors and their UK and cross-border investors on corporate finance matters, such as M&A, investment and fundraising.
Data protection and security, privacy and information management and the commercialisation and use of technology and technology-related goods.
General employment advice including complex cases involving employment status, discrimination and whistleblowing, and provide representation at Employment Tribunals, as well as advice on business immigration.
The distribution, generation, protection and licensing of intellectual property rights.
Creation and protection of content and IP, worldwide distributor arrangements and the growing impact of AI.
Regulatory and consumer-related law.
Cyber security, data generation and licensing, deployment and change management.
Telco contracting and the Electronic Communications Code.
Wayleave and easement negotiations.