The day-to-day operation of our Law Centres is managed by our Senior Management Team, led by Patrick Marples, our CEO. Patrick is responsible to our trustees for the management of our Law Centre.
Our staff team is supported by our team of dedicated and talented volunteers, to whom we’re all very grateful.
Our staff team
Senior management team
Patrick Marples, CEO
Deputy CEO (currently being recruited)
Katy Forkah, Head of Legal Service and Housing Solicitor
Gayathiri Nadarajah, Finance Manager
Administration team
Fran Elliott, Administration Team Leader and Merton Branch Administrator
Nikki Sheydayeva, Croydon Branch Administrator and Croydon Legal Advice Clinic Receptionist
Shirley Crisford, Wandsworth Branch Administrator
Benefits team
Diane Sechi, Welfare Benefit and Community Care Solicitor
Fenella Mason, Stepping Stones Project Caseworker
Communications team
Communications Manager (currently being recruited)
Debt team
Roni Marsh, Debt Team Leader
Eva Van Der Spek, Debt Adviser
Jaye Munro, Debt Adviser and Wimbledon Legal Advice Clinic Receptionist
Mark Jerome Valencia, Debt Adviser
Ruby Khatri, Debt Adviser
Swabra Natabi, Debt Adviser
Employment team
Sarah Forsyth, Employment Caseworker
Finance team
Gayathiri Nadarajah, Finance Manager
Andrew Folkes, Billing/ Costs Manager
Nada Aboushama, Finance Assistant
Housing team
Katy Forkah, Head of Legal Service and Housing Solicitor
Leena Jangra, Housing Team Leader Merton
Jeinsen Lam, Housing Team Leader Croydon
Paul Wallace, Housing Team Leader Wandsworth
Claudia Estephane, Housing Solicitor Croydon
Mary Prescott, Housing Solicitor Merton
Hajra Jafri, Paralegal Wandsworth
Sophie Donegal, Paralegal Wandsworth
Immigration team
Mark Housby, Housing Team Leader
Paul Keeley, Immigration Solicitor
Rajitha Kumar, Asylum & Immigration Solicitor
Pradeep Kumar, Asylum & Immigration Caseworker
Rajiv Bera, Asylum & Immigration Caseworker
Reception team
Eleanor Cole, Battersea Legal Advice Clinic Receptionist
Eliza Fleming, Guildford Legal Advice Clinic Receptionist
Kizzy Maginley, Merton Legal Advice Clinic Receptionist
Ksenya Lysenko, Battersea Legal Advice Clinic Receptionist
Nnaana Adjei, Croydon Legal Advice Clinic Receptionist
Volunteer team
Nicoletta Crivellaro, Volunteers and Pro Bono coordinator
Our trustee team
Allan Blake, Chair
Allan was HR Director, Managing Director and Chair of UK, Australian and Russian aviation companies. He transitioned into the private sector after an academic career lecturing in Law and as a Business School Dean. Allan’s other non-executive roles have included: Independent Director/ Company Secretary of the Family Mediation Council, Founder Member of the Legal Aid Board, Chair of Preston Free Legal Information Service and Management Committee of the Legal Action Group.
Clara Clint
Clara joined the Board in 2016 and is a Solicitor at BDB Pitmans LLP in their litigation department. Prior to qualifying as a lawyer, Clara worked in project management at national charities such as Citizens Advice, Mind and The Prince’s Trust. Having worked in the charity sector (in the areas of homelessness, prison, mental health and support for court witnesses), Clara is passionate about volunteering and ensuring that disadvantaged groups are supported.
Ranil DeSilva, Treasurer
Ranil joined our board in 2020. He is a Certified Practicing Accountant and a Senior Finance Executive with over 20 years’ experience in the Commercial, Chartered Accounting and non-governmental organisation (NGO) sectors. He is currently the Global Director of Finance for Save the Children International.
Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Ranil spent most of his early career in Senior Finance roles in Chartered Accounting Practices and Investment Banking. In 2014, Ranil moved into the NGO sector in Australia and eventually spent 3 years in Africa in a field-based role as the Regional Finance Director for the East and Southern Africa, where he was managing over 14 different countries for a large international NGO based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Ranil is very passionate about human rights, humanitarian and community development work and generally improving the NGO sector to be agile and to add value to communities through strong governance and leadership. He is really inspired by the dedication and commitment of the South West London Law Centres team to support the most vulnerable people against injustice and inequality.
Marion Edge
Marion joined our Board in 2015. She is a solicitor advocate with a background in commercial disputes. She currently works for Herbert Smith Freehills LLP where she manages their pro bono practice for the UK, US and EMEA. Using technology to support pro bono work in the access to justice field is a particular interest. She has lived in south-west London for more than 25 years. In her previous role as a commercial disputes lawyer at Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, she was responsible for managing a number of their pro bono schemes, including their Tuesday evening legal advice clinic at Tooting and Croydon Law Centres where she was a regular advisor. Marion is also a member of the UK board of the Association of Pro Bono Counsel.
Claire Gilbert
Claire Gilbert joined our board in 2019. She qualified as a barrister in 2005, and has worked in criminal and civil courts, and tribunals. She spent more than eight years at global law firm Linklaters LLP, where she had a particular focus on managing sensitive high/level disputes involving global companies, including allegations of discrimination, whistleblowing and pay claims.
Claire has lived in south-west London for more than 15 years, and has been an elected member of Wandsworth Borough Council since May 2018. In terms of Claire’s work in Wandsworth, she has a particular interest in planning, housing, opportunities & facilities for our young people, and community safety. Claire has worked with a number of national charities in a variety of roles, including Working Families, the Anti-Trafficking Labour Exploitation Unit, and Maternity Action (where she is a Trustee).
Claire is passionate about people on low incomes being able to access justice, so they can solve difficult issues they face, for instance around housing. Claire was pleased to be invited to join our Board, having been impressed by our work locally, and that of the Law Centres Network across the UK.
John Linwood
John joined the Board in June 2014. He qualified as a solicitor in 1980 and in 1985 became a partner in City and International firm Trowers & Hamlins, specialising in litigation and arbitration in the private and public sector. Until his retirement in 2013, John was head of the Dispute Resolution department and a member of its management board. In 2013 John was appointed as a Deputy District Judge sitting in London County Courts. In 2016 John was appointed to another judicial role as Deputy Master in the Chancery Division of the High Court.
Sarmad Qureshi
Sarmad joined the Board in 2020. He has 25 years of work experience, initially with a Big Four accountancy firm where he advised on government procurement and initiatives. Most recently he has worked as regional Finance Director for a multi-national, where in addition to financial management he was involved in capital raising and in reviewing and enhancing governance processes.
Sarmad is excited to be part of South West London Law Centres, as it provides invaluable assistance in providing access to justice and legal service to people in need.
Olivier Ribert
Olivier joined the Board in 2019. He has 25 years’ experience in property investment and management, fund management, private banking, financial portfolio management and commercial banking. He is currently Managing Director of Poune Asset Management, a boutique consultancy firm dealing with property investment funds and High Net Worth Individuals. Olivier also has experience in the voluntary sector as a Financial Capability Trainer for Citizens Advice, and in corporate fundraising.
Simon Tinkler
Simon joined our Board at the end of 2019. He has worked as a solicitor in private practice in Bristol and London, as well as in industry. Since 2000 he has been a partner at Clifford Chance, who are a long-standing supporter of law centres in London, including SWLLC. Simon also sits as a member of the Solicitor’s Disciplinary Tribunal, ensuring that the regulatory standards of the profession are upheld. In addition, he has held positions in national and regional sports governing bodies, with particular responsibility for governance. Simon has lived in south London for more than 10 years, and believes in ensuring access to justice for everyone. He came on board with us having witnessed at first-hand the effect of lack of legal representation on people’s rights, and lives. He sees a vital role for SWLLC, and law centres generally, in providing this fundamental protection to everyone in society.
Sarah Towler
Sarah joined our Board in 2014. She is a partner in the Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence team at Russell-Cooke LLP. Sarah manages several pro bono personal injury and clinical negligence drop-in clinics at law centres, and advises clients on a wide range of issues including cases involving misdiagnosis of symptoms, negligent operations, road traffic accidents, and work accidents. Sarah also has experience in claims against local authorities regarding failure to care for vulnerable adults and children.
Sarah says: ‘I believe in access to justice for all and sadly, with the current government cuts to legal aid funding, there are far too many people now without access to legal representation. I consider my work at the law centre a small contribution than can make a big difference to our clients.’