Robbie Skinner
Associate
Services
International trade
Robbie is an associate in the firm’s marine, trade and aviation team, with broad commercial litigation and dispute resolution experience.
He acts for a wide range of clients which include P&I clubs, aviation insurers/reinsurers, shipowners, charterers, and operators of passenger cruise vessels. This exposure has enabled Robbie to gain valuable experience in matters concerning a number of legal issues across these sectors.
I am a shipping and aviation lawyer who is committed to delivering clear and effective solutions, tailored to client needs. My exposure to a wide range of legal issues and my approachable nature allows me to provide insightful assistance to clients, ensuring they navigate complex legal matters with confidence and efficiency.
Robbie has been involved in several multi-jurisdictional disputes which have required preparation for hearings and trial in high-value cases concerning charterparty disputes, salvage, yacht claims, demurrage, and aviation insurance issues. In doing so, he has developed a strong ability in handling several complex legal matters concurrently, and is well versed in both High Court and London arbitration procedure. He is currently involved in the multi-billion aviation insurance litigation arising out of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In addition, Robbie also assists clients in seeking alternative methods of settling their disputes, such as by way of mediation. He is known for his strategic and client-focused approach in achieving the best outcome for clients.
Recent work highlights
Ukraine aviation claim
LOF salvage claims
Unsafe port claim
Lending banks disputes
Insurance claim
Container ship refloating
External recognition

What people are saying
Highly qualified, with an eye for every single detail, client orientated and dedicated professionals, always meeting tight deadlines.
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Holly Sargeant
Associate
Services
Corporate
Holly is an associate in the corporate team, based in the Guildford office. She advises on a wide variety of corporate work including mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructures, shareholder and board advisory matters, and corporate governance.
She works for a broad range of clients, from small family owned and run businesses to larger corporates. Holly also has experience working with lawyers in various different jurisdictions.
I provide clear, practical advice on corporate matters, from transactions to governance. I work closely with clients of all sizes and collaborate with lawyers internationally to deliver seamless solutions.
Having joined the firm as a trainee solicitor in 2021 from another regional UK law firm, Holly qualified in 2022 after gaining a wide range of experience in different practice areas throughout the firm.
Recent work highlights
Share buyback and exit advisory
Pharmacy group sale support
Corporate acquisition advisory
Growth funding
What people are saying
Penningtons Manches Cooper consistently delivers exceptional service through their highly capable and diligent team. They possess deep expertise and specialised knowledge in technology M&A.
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Saima Sarwar
Associate
Saima is an associate in the employment team, based in the London office. She acts for staff associations and their members on a broad range of contentious and non-contentious employment law matters including discrimination, victimisation, disciplinary and grievance issues.
As a member of the firm’s specialist Police Federation team, Saima advises on unlawful arrest/detention claims, judicial review claims, ill health retirement, injury pension awards and all other aspects of the Police Pension Regulations. She has experience in the Employment Tribunal, County Court and High Court and has advised trade unions and their members on many aspects of employment law. She has also assisted with large group claims relating to overtime payments for police officers, including statutory debt and breach of statutory duty claims, equal pay issues and age discrimination.
I am an employment lawyer with expertise in discrimination and victimisation complaints, as well as significant experience of litigation in the employment tribunal. I consider practical and amicable solutions for clients who often still work at the organisation or with the colleagues that they have raised issues with.
Saima joined Penningtons Manches Cooper in 2020. Previously, she qualified as a solicitor at another City-based law firm where she conducted her own caseload of employment matters as a paralegal prior to commencing her training contract. Saima has been commended by clients for her ‘hard work, advice and excellent service’ and has been described as ‘totally professional’.
Recent work highlights
Group pension claim
Employment tribunal claims
Judicial review claims
Pay points advice
Injury in the execution of duty
Ill health retirement
Disability discrimination claim
Disability discrimination claim
External recognition

What people are saying
She has worked tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome for me in securing what I was owed, and I would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Saima or Penningtons to anyone in a similar position to myself.
Discrimination matters are an area of specialism of Saima Sarwar.
I have been very impressed by Saima Sarwar; she is so easy to work with and meticulous in her approach.
Leo Shrimpton
Associate
Services
Corporate
Leo is an associate in the corporate team in Oxford. His work is primarily focused on the technology and life sciences sectors.
He has acted on university spin-outs, venture capital funding transactions, mergers and acquisitions and exits (often with an international element), the use of employee incentives such as enterprise management incentives, corporate restructuring and group reorganisations, shareholder and board advisory matters, general corporate governance, and other corporate law matters. Leo’s clients range from start-ups and owner-managed companies to large corporations. He has a pragmatic and commercial approach to advising on transactions, which is informed by his previous experience of working in-house.
I am a corporate lawyer with a particular interest in innovative life sciences and technology companies, and the entrepreneurs who run them. I enjoy getting to know my clients and their businesses, and developing a strong working relationship that allows me to really understand their unique challenges, and help them achieve their aims.
Leo studied law as a post-graduate at the University of Bristol. He then worked at a start-up, following which he trained and qualified at a major national law firm in 2020. After qualification, he spent a year working as an in-house solicitor at the family office of a high-net-worth individual, gaining experience of a wide variety of legal work and transactions. He joined Penningtons Manches Cooper in 2021.
Recent work highlights
Spin-out seed funding
Specialist acquisition
Series B funding
Private equity acquisition
Series A funding
International funding
Oxford acquisition
Oxford acquisition
What people are saying
This team is really proactive as well as responsive. They are very thorough and work as a team really well.
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Marianne Rock-Perring
Associate
Sectors
Real estate
Marianne is an associate in the real estate litigation team in London. She is experienced in representing a diverse range of clients, including private individuals, institutional landlords, tenants, and housing associations.
Her practice covers all aspects of contentious commercial and residential property, and her experience includes handling complex service charge disputes, possession cases, disrepair issues, trespass matters, real property disputes, boundary disputes, the construction of leases, and business lease renewals and disputes. Marianne leverages her extensive knowledge and experience to achieve favourable outcomes for her clients. She remains dedicated to ensuring her clients receive tailored commercial answers, and providing the highest standard of legal representation.
I am a property disputes lawyer with significant experience in dealing with commercial and residential landlord and tenant and real property issues. I regularly act for landlords, tenants, retailers, property owners, investors and financial institutions and offer my clients commercially driven solutions to their real estate disputes, whether they may be mainstream issues or more niche problems.
Marianne qualified as a solicitor in 2002, then spent 10 years in the property litigation team at a top 100 law firm. During this time, she honed her skills and built a reputation for her meticulous attention to detail and her commitment to achieving the best outcomes for her clients. After taking a career break to raise her family, she joined Penningtons Manches Cooper in June 2021.
Recent work highlights
1954 Act lease renewal
Lease renewal rental dispute
Real property disputes
Dilapidations
Professional negligence
Utilities
What people are saying
The Pennington Manches Cooper team have good specialist knowledge and are very responsive.
Eva Rurlander
Associate
Eva is an associate in the employment team, based in the London office. She acts for staff associations and their members on a broad range of employment law matters, including issues such as discrimination, victimisation, disciplinary and grievance disputes.
Throughout her career, Eva has assisted on various complex and high-value employment law matters, from the start of ACAS conciliation through to settlement. She manages her own large caseload which is extremely varied. Eva has experience in both contentious and non-contentious issues and has represented clients at the Employment Tribunal. As part of the firm’s specialist Police Federation team, Eva advises members on their various employment claims, in particular those falling under equality legislation and the specific Police Regulations. Eva has also assisted with large group claims relating to pension schemes for police officers and age discrimination.
My aim is to truly understand my client’s aims and values, and deliver coherent and pragmatic advice. I help officers navigate workplace disputes with dignity, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights respected, so they can focus on serving their communities with confidence.
Eva is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association. She joined the firm in 2023, after qualifying at another City-based law firm. She has been commended by clients for her ‘very professional’ approach.
Recent work highlights
Large group action dispute
Successful Employment Tribunal judgment
Police officer maternity issues
What people are saying
I am so impressed with their work ethic, honesty, passion for helping the client and overall service quality. Proud to be associated with them.
Harry Rados
Associate
Sectors
Shipping
Harry is an associate in the marine, trade and aviation team at the firm’s Piraeus office, specialising in dry shipping disputes.
He advises on matters arising from bills of lading, charterparties, and related claims including demurrage, off-hire, cargo damage, and underperformance. He has gained experience in LMAA arbitration and High Court litigation, and regularly advises clients on international trade sanctions and compliance.
Prior to joining the firm, Harry gained valuable in-house experience as legal counsel at leading shipping companies in Greece and Switzerland, where he handled a wide range of P&I, FD&D, and H&M claims, and has negotiated shipping and commercial contracts with international traders, charterers and financial institutions.
I help clients resolve shipping disputes with clear, practical advice. My background in both private practice and in-house roles means I understand the commercial realities and focus on solutions that manage risk and deliver results.
Harry is dual-qualified in England and Wales and Greece, and holds a law degree (LLB) from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and a masters (LLM) in maritime law from Swansea University.
Recent work highlights
Sanctions enforcement advisory
Charterparty dispute resolution
Bunker quality and engine damage claims
Cargo claim defence post-engine failure
What people are saying
They have an excellent team, from trainees and associates up to partners. They are extremely knowledgeable both about the law and about the industry.
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Bronnie Rae-Le Bourn
Associate
Services
Medical negligence
Bronnie is an associate in the medical negligence team based in the Basingstoke office but also acts for clients nationwide. She acts for a variety of claimants, both adults and children, and deals with claims involving misdiagnosis, delays in treatment, surgical errors, obstetric injuries and birth injuries, and cases where there has been a fatality.
She has previously worked on cases involving obstetric negligence, including cerebral palsy claims, claims involving neonatal hypoglycaemia, delays in diagnosis of cancer, and claims for spinal injuries including cauda equina syndrome. Bronnie has particular experience assisting senior colleagues on cases involving child brain injuries.
I understand that medical negligence claims often arise out of very difficult and challenging circumstances. I strive to build strong relationships with my clients and seek to provide the sensitivity and support they need to bring a medical negligence claim.
Prior to completing her Legal Practice Course, Bronnie was awarded an MA in medical ethics and law from King’s College London and obtained her LLB from the University of Exeter. She qualified as a solicitor in May 2021 and joined Penningtons Manches Cooper’s clinical negligence team as an associate in January 2024. Bronnie volunteers with the charity Actions Against Medical Accidents (AvMA), providing advice for members of the public through their telephone helpline.
Recent work highlights
Post-partum investigation
Cerebral palsy claim
Spinal injuries investigation
What people are saying
…the service and support you provided was exceptional. You answered every one of my questions and reassured me when it felt too much.
Very satisfied with the way Bronnie Rae-Le Bourn and Hannah Hope handled my claim and kept me updated with proceedings.
Tom Perkins
Associate
Tom is an associate in the commercial, intellectual property and IT team in London. He advises commercial clients and academic organisations on a range of national and international matters, including commercial agreements, intellectual property and data protection.
He possesses extensive expertise in IT, technology, and professional services which has been enhanced by his secondment to a leading digital network solutions provider. This hands-on role allowed Tom to gain deep insights into the intricacies of the technology sector, refining his ability to address the complex industry challenges faced by professional service providers.
As a commercial and intellectual property lawyer, I specialise in navigating complex business transactions and legal frameworks. My goal is to provide strategic advice that helps clients to achieve their commercial objectives, safeguard their assets and mitigate risks.
His practical experience complements his advisory skills, enabling him to deliver tailored solutions and strategic guidance to clients operating in fast-evolving digital environments. This unique blend of in-house exposure and sector expertise underscores his capacity to navigate technical, commercial, and regulatory aspects with confidence and precision.
Tom also provides expert guidance across the retail and publishing sectors. He is highly skilled in drafting and advising on a wide range of legal matters, including complex technology projects, software development agreements, IP licensing, distribution, manufacturing, agency, and introducer agreements. Additionally, Tom handles publishing agreements and creates tailored terms and conditions for platforms, websites, and the supply of goods or services.
His practice encompasses advising on regulatory and compliance issues linked to commercial agreements, such as commercial agency, consumer regulations, data protection, and both social media and traditional marketing. Tom’s expertise ensures comprehensive support for his clients’ legal and business needs.
Tom was awarded the BPP Cohen Excellence Scholarship during the Legal Practice Course, and also spent a year studying at the University of Copenhagen while completing his law degree. Tom qualified with the firm in 2022 having joined as a trainee.
Recent work highlights
Services agreement for NewCo
Global brand guidance
AI provider contract
Master services agreement
Software contract
Data protection and safeguarding
Reseller agreements
Reseller agreements
What people are saying
Penningtons Manches Cooper has a strong, knowledgeable, approachable team that is always available to support all our needs.
Jen Parker
Associate
Jen is an associate in the immigration team, and practices a broad spectrum of personal and business matters, as well as nationality cases. She has worked with an extremely wide range of clients, from first applications and through extensions, to settlement and citizenship applications.
She has particular expertise in personal immigration, exceptional applications, and those engaging human rights. Jen has secured exceptional grants when applicants cannot meet requirements in varying circumstances, raising a range of arguments depending on the case. Her experience extends to complex appeal and judicial review litigation. Jen has also prepared reports for family court proceedings as an expert in immigration law.
I advise on all aspects of immigration and nationality law, with a particular focus on personal immigration and exceptional matters. This informs my tailored and pragmatic approach. I never lose sight of the individual at the heart of each matter and keep their objectives as the focus of case planning.
As well as working directly with individuals, she advises corporate clients on sponsorship applications, and is a member of the audit team. In all cases, she approaches the options available creatively and holistically, keeping the individuals at the centre of each application. A member of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association, Jen has been recognised as an ‘Associate to watch’ by Chambers UK in the personal immigration category for human rights, asylum and deportation.
Recent work highlights
Grants of discretionary leave
Settled and pre-settled status
Indefinite leave to remain
Indefinite leave (returning residence)
Long-term overstayer ILR
Post-Brexit asylum seeking
Global Talent
Sponsor licence
Corporate sponsorship management
Global Talent
Sponsor licence
Corporate sponsorship management
External recognition

What people are saying
Jen Parker is outstanding to work with. She speaks and listens well, writes clearly, and calmly and thoughtfully guides me through the process.
Jen Parker is world class in how she is able to guide me emotionally through a very difficult process.







