Profiles

Laurence Dunn - Partner

Laurence was admitted as a solicitor in 1986 and has specialised in employment law for most of the time since.

He joined White Brooks and Gilman Solicitors (predecessor to White and Bowker) in 1984, going on to become an equity partner there in 1992. He went on to head up the Commercial Litigation department and was Head of the Employment Team. He joined Warner Goodman Commercial as a partner in 2006 before deciding in 2008 to join Daryl Cowan in creating a new specialist employment law firm.

Laurence deals with contentious and non-contentious matters and is particularly experienced in high value claims (bringing or defending actions) and where strong negotiation is a requirement. He has also successfully participated in mediating disputes for clients.

Laurence is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association and an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Laurence is a keen golfer and says he regularly enjoys beating his colleague Daryl Cowan. He is also a serious cyclist in his spare time and takes part in a charity cross France bike challenge each year. He also has an interest in what he calls ‘world music’, opera and theatre.

Daryl Cowan - Partner

Daryl was admitted as a solicitor in 1997 after carrying out his training in Southampton City Council’s Legal Department where he assisted in large scale planning projects as well as general litigation and housing issues.

Daryl quickly decided that he wished to specialise in employment law having read them as specialist subjects at both university and law school. He moved to the National Farmers Union where he advised farmers on a wide range of topics as diverse as the hedgerow regulations and the legal implications of hot air balloons landing in crops. However, employment law was his main focus of attention and after several years of very interesting work with the NFU he agreed to join Laurence Dunn in the Employment Team at White & Bowker Solicitors.

Subsequently Daryl has worked as an employment Lawyer (Senior Associate) with Blake Lapthorn Tarlo Lyons and more recently Warner Goodman Commercial. He decided to join Laurence Dunn in setting up a niche employment law firm and is convinced that the future of the profession lies in specialist niche practices.

Daryl is very experienced in handling both contentious and non-contentious matters. Like Laurence, he has also successfully participated in mediating disputes for clients. He enjoys all aspects of employment law but particularly TUPE issues, complex restructuring exercises and senior executive /director level issues.

Daryl agreed to join Laurence, in part because he realised he was able to tolerate his idiosyncrasies but not least because he is able to consistently beat him at golf, despite having “a very dodgy game” himself. He has also dabbled in comedy script writing and refuses to give up despite numerous rejection letters and pleas from production companies for him to stop contacting them. He does have an interest in the other usual things that can rarely warrant being set out in a tedious list but for the avoidance of doubt include cricket, football, eating out etc etc..

Kirsty Alleyne - Solicitor

Kirsty attained a First Class Honours law degree at Southampton University and a Distinction in her Legal Practice Course from the College of Law in Guildford. Kirsty trained with Warner Goodman in Southampton and since qualifying as a solicitor she has specialised in employment law.

Born in Barbados, and with a mandatory love of sun, cricket and rum punch, she became interested in employment law while at university, at a time when a whole raft of employment legislation was being introduced. Kirsty has remained a volunteer adviser for the Junior Lawyers' Division (JLD) Helpline.

Kirsty enjoys the fast moving dynamics of employment law and getting to grips with its complexities. She has had significant involvement in a number of employment tribunal matters, including unfair dismissal and discrimination claims. One of the more unusual cases she has dealt with and brought to a successful conclusion involved whistle-blowing and victimisation.

Sue Gibbs – Human Resources Consultant

Sue is our Human Resources consultant. She has worked with us for a number of years in this capacity, firstly with White & Bowker Solicitors and most recently as part of the Warner Goodman LLP team. Sue graduated from the Institute of Personnel Management with a distinction in 1992 and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. She has a wide range of experience and specialises in workplace mediation where there has been, or is likely to be, a breakdown in workplace relationships. She has many years of experience in dealing with performance management systems, job evaluation schemes and policy reviews.

Sue hails from the Isle of Wight and, when she is not working, she is most likely to be found sailing, walking the countryside or attending one of the Island’s festivals.

Claire Hodson – PA and Office Manager

Claire has worked with Daryl and Laurence for many years. She is a highly skilled and experienced legal PA. She joined us after spending some 23 years with White & Bowker Solicitors, followed by two years at Warner Goodman LLP. Claire is renowned for her organisational skills and ensuring that the office (and its lawyers) runs smoothly.