Who We Are

Rosalyn has extensive expertise in all aspects of family law, in particular in relation to financial matters arising from the breakdown of a relationship and disputes over children. Rosalyn is a Resolution-accredited specialist in ‘Complex Financial and Property Matters’ and in ‘Children Law’.

As a trained mediator, Rosalyn is able to assist separating couples and families in resolving all types of family-related disputes.

She is also a Collaborative Lawyer and offers a conciliatory yet firm approach to cases. She is known for being practical and thorough, and for her ability to bring even the most bitterly-fought cases to a conclusion.

Rosalyn is exceptionally good at achieving the best outcomes for her clients, while minimising the damage to the family relationships.

Rosalyn is widely recognised for her expertise, both in London and on a national level.

Rosalyn has acted on the following reported cases:

• Re L (Residence: Jurisdiction) [2006] EWHC 3374 (Fam)
• Price v Price [2014] EWCA Civ 655
• Harrison and others [2018] EWHC 2738 (Ch)

Ranked in Band 2 for Family/Children Law in Chambers & Partners 2024, previously ranked in Chambers & Partners 2022 and 2023

Catherine practises the full range of private family law cases and has particular expertise in complex and international financial matters. She was a known expert on the now-obsolete, esoteric European Maintenance Regulation and advises many clients all over the world on cross-border maintenance disputes.  Catherine’s career in family law began with seven years at top-tier firm Hughes Fowler Carruthers Limited.

Catherine is also a trained Collaborative Lawyer and a member of Resolution.

In recent years, Catherine has developed an expertise in bitterly fought children cases, which have often involved parental alienation and abuse.

Catherine is highly respected amongst other family lawyers for being a fierce and tenacious yet reasonable litigator. She is known by her clients for combining great empathy and sensitivity with the ability to provide accurate and realistic advice.

Catherine speaks fluent French and Nepalese and also speaks German to an intermediate level.

Catherine has acted on the following reported case:

1. X v Y (Permission to Appeal) [2019] EWHC 1713 (Fam)

From Legal 500 UK 2024: 

“Catherine Silwal is a brilliant technical lawyer and very academic in her aptitude for legal issues, but what really sets her apart is her commitment to client care…”

“Catherine Silwal is highly intelligent and able, and she brings her intelligence to bear on all her case work. She is very ably assisted by Fiona O’Connell.”

From Chambers & Partners UK 2024:

“She is wonderful with clients and has an extremely good brain to analyse legal problems.”

“Catherine is knowledgeable and concise… She also has an extremely calming approach and huge empathy.”

“Catherine understood my situation and believed in me when I couldn’t believe in myself.  She supported me in all areas while handling the case and managing the outcome I wanted.”

From Chambers & Partners UK 2023:

“Catherine…. knows how to handle complex cases and provides pragmatic solutions.  She is personable, very friendly and has an empathic approach.”

“She always has her eyes on the final goal to get the best outcome and treats her clients with utmost care and respect.”  

“Catherine inspires confidence.  She is … thoughtful about keeping costs reasonable for her clients.”

From Chambers & Partners UK 2022:

“She is extremely sympathetic and sensitive towards clients.”

Having qualified as a solicitor in 2001, Fiona has extensive expertise in resolving financial issues following the breakdown of relationships, and also in respect of children matters. Fiona spent three and five years respectively at top-tier firms Payne Hicks Beach and Hughes Fowler Carruthers Ltd.

Fiona guides her clients through emotionally challenging situations with sensitivity, ensuring that the best possible outcome is achieved.

Fiona’s approach to cases can be described as firm but fair. She is fiercely protective of her clients at every step of the way, but is also mindful that family relationships must move forward positively.

Fiona is known for her ability to be thorough and to provide the right advice throughout a case.

Marina has extensive experience in relation to financial matters arising on the breakdown of a relationship and in dealing with emergency applications. She has particular expertise in private children law and injunctive proceedings.

Marina’s ability to keep the situation calm whilst remaining forceful enables her to achieve successful results for her clients. She prides herself on providing clients with pragmatic and tactical advice, fully supporting them throughout proceedings.

Marina joined Teelan & Silwal in October 2018 having trained in a specialist family law practice.

Marina is a member of Resolution and the Resolution Innovation Group. She is passionate about developments in family law, including new products and services that seek to assist both clients and practitioners.

Marina speaks fluent Portuguese.

Louise joined Teelan & Silwal in March 2018, bringing over seven years’ experience working in the family law arena as a paralegal and legal PA.  During this time, she dealt with a wide range of matters covering all aspects of family law, most recently at top-tier niche family law practice Hughes Fowler Carruthers Limited.  

Prior to this, Louise worked for over 15 years as a Legal PA in a number of top-tier international law firms, and as a Dispute Resolution Business Development Assistant.  Louise is also a trained and experienced proofreader. 

Louise brings a fresh approach to family law and uses her many years of broad experience to bring a different perspective in very complex cases.  She has a particular interest in difficult children matters, such as parental alienation. 

Within her role at Teelan & Silwal, Louise has developed considerable expertise on the General Data Protection Regulation.  Louise is an impeccable, thorough and diligent office manager of Teelan & Silwal.

Louise is an Affiliate Member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx).

Shanila joined the firm in November 2019. She has recently completed her Legal Practice Course and her Master of Laws degree, part-time, at the University of Law. She is also a graduate member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx).

Having previously worked at IBB Law and Penningtons Manches (now known as Penningtons Manches Cooper), Shanila has been working within family law for over 4 years. Prior to this, she worked in a specialist immigration law practice, providing assistance to businesses and individuals on all aspects of UK immigration law.  

Working specifically within the family law arena, Shanila has an immense understanding of the importance of providing compassionate assistance to clients. She supports the team on a variety of complex financial disputes arising from the breakdown of relationships and on sensitive private children matters.

Shanila speaks fluent Urdu.

Tafadzwa joined Teelan & Silwal as a paralegal in November 2019 after graduating from BPP University in Holborn, where he achieved a Commendation on the LPC.  

Tafadzwa assists the team on the full range of family law matters and has a particularly good eye for identifying issues arising out of financial disclosure.  His innovative approach brings a fresh outlook to the firm and he has a great interest in legal developments, on both an academic and a practical level.

Tafadzwa is fluent in Shona and has a basic understanding of French. 

Marc is an extremely versatile Legal Practice Management Consultant with over sixteen years’ experience setting up and managing law firms. His experience in financial management, compliance, performance analysis and IT has brought him a reputation as a safe pair of hands. 

Marc has been instrumental in setting up, growing and managing Teelan & Silwal in his role as consultant and he has been working with Rosalyn and Catherine from the very beginning.

Marc’s knowledge of bookkeeping, the Solicitors’ Accounts Rules and the SRA’s regulations is extensive and invaluable to the firm.

Kerstin is passionate about people and believes that putting them at the heart of each business delivers results that are far greater than the sum of the parts. She believes that this not only makes the workplace more inclusive and flexible but also more productive and healthy in the long run. 

Kerstin helps small and medium sized businesses achieve sustainable growth through people development and strategic HR. She is also a qualified mediator, which supports her work for Teelan & Silwal.

Kerstin has brought to Teelan & Silwal her experience of living and working in ten countries around the globe, where she has worked in both corporate and SME environments. She is known for her pragmatic, yet empathic way of dealing with all aspects of people development and has been instrumental in planning and overseeing Teelan & Silwal’s growth, having been with Rosalyn and Catherine from the very early days. Kerstin ensures that the firm is able to draw out the talent of its members and utilise it in the most innovative way. 

In addition to her work in HR, Kerstin is part of several networks and committees whose aim is to increase our awareness and expand our consciousness to live more creative, inspired and balanced lives.