Meet the People Legal Team

Chris McAvoy-Newns

Founder

Chambers Ranked In UK 2025 Chris Mckavoy-Newns

Chris graduated with an LLB (Hons) Degree in Law from the University of Durham in 2005. The following year he achieved a Distinction in the Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School before beginning his two-year training contract at Eversheds Sutherland in September 2006.

Chris has been a qualified Solicitor since 2008. He has practised in law firms such as Addleshaw Goddard and DWF as well as in-house for organisations such as BP, British Airways and The Co-operative Group.

Chris is a CEDR-accredited mediator and experienced trainer and was recommended by both Chambers and Legal 500 on numerous occasions. Chris also sits as a part time Employment Judge in the North East of England Employment Tribunals. Outside of work, Chris enjoys spending time with his husband and their son. As well as caring for his many animals, Chris is a keen runner, scuba diver and snowboarder

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Helen Littlewood

Senior Consultant Solicitor

Helen graduated from Newcastle University before obtaining an LLB (Hons) Degree in Law from The University of Law (formally the College of Law) in 2007. Helen achieved a Distinction in the Legal Practice Course before starting her two year training contract at Addleshaw Goddard in September 2008. Helen qualified as a Solicitor in September 2010.

As well as working as a qualified Employment Law Solicitor at Addleshaw Goddard for several years, Helen has worked at Myerson Solicitors and also, more recently, at Centrefield LLP where she acted for a range of professional footballers / managers and professional football clubs.

Helen is experienced in supporting individuals and companies on all Employment Law issues which includes advising on Employment Tribunal claims such as unfair dismissal, as well as more complicated contractual, discrimination and restructuring issues. Helen has a particular focus on contentious, contractual and disciplinary matters and is recommended in the Legal 500.

Outside of work, Helen enjoys spending time with her family and her two small children. Helen is a keen swimmer and horse rider.

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Rizwana Ishaq

Senior Consultant Solicitor

Rizwana qualified as a Solicitor in September 2002 and has spent the last 19 years working in three leading law firms.

Rizwana provides advice on all aspects of employment law for clients in both the public sector and private sector. Since 2018, Rizwana has acted as an independent workplace investigator in complex and sensitive grievance and/or disciplinary matters.

In addition, Rizwana provides specialist immigration support to businesses wanting to recruit from outside of the UK. Rizwana provides training on the prevention of illegal working and the points based immigration system.

Outside of work Rizwana enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, going to the theatre and dining out.

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Georgia Goulding

Trainee Solicitor

Georgia graduated from the University of Leicester with an LLB in Law before joining People Legal as a Paralegal in October 2023.

Georgia supports the team with a range of employment matters, from unfair dismissal claims, workplace discrimination, redundancy and settlement agreements, for both employees and employers. She became a Trainee Solicitor in 2024 and is currently undertaking the SQE, with plans to qualify as a solicitor.

Outside of work, Georgia enjoys cooking, going to quizzes with friends and walking in the local area.

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Aran Bassi

Paralegal

Aran studied in Liverpool, graduating with an LLB (Hons) degree in Law before joining People Legal as a Paralegal in September 2025.

Aran supports the team with a range of employment matters, from unfair dismissal claims, discrimination in the workplace, redundancy and settlement agreements. He aspires to be a solicitor and plans to qualify via the SQE route.

Outside of work, Aran enjoys boxing and regularly trains in his spare time, appreciating the discipline and commitment the sport requires.

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Henry Sturm

Paralegal

Henry graduated from the Northeastern University School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree. He qualified as a lawyer in the State of Texas in 2020 and practiced law as a Pro Bono Fellow with Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP.

Since moving to the UK, Henry has been keen to become a qualified solicitor. He joined People Legal as a Paralegal in April 2026 with plans to qualify via the SQE.

Henry supports the team across employment law issues, including workplace discrimination, unfair dismissal, settlement agreements, and business’ employment concerns.

Outside of work, Henry enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children, exploring the Peak District, tending his garden, and visiting the library.

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Samarah Sulaman Albu

Immigration Consultant

Samarah is a British-born Pakistani lawyer, who brings over 25 years of distinguished experience in corporate immigration. After earning her LLB (Hons), Legal Practice Course, and PG Dip, she began her legal career at Eversheds within the Education Litigation department before transitioning to leading roles in multinational firms such as PwC, Ernst & Young, and Fragomens. Mrs. Albu continues to offer expert guidance as a Level 3 immigration advisor, specialising in practical, compliant solutions for complex immigration matters.

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Some words from our happy clients

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"Excellent experience and very positive outcome with Lauren and the People Legal team - comprehensive and actionable advice, delivered in an extremely professional and timely manner - great service all round and highly recommended." Anon

"I recently engaged People Legal to deal with my redundancy settlement agreement and cannot speak highly enough of their services. From our first interaction, it was clear that I was in capable hands. People Legal demonstrated exceptional professionalism, combined with a deep understanding of employment law, which immediately put me at ease during a challenging time. What stood out most was their ability to explain complex legal terms in a way that was easy to understand, ensuring that I was fully informed at every stage of the process. People Legal was not only thorough but also very approachable and empathetic, making a potentially stressful experience much more manageable. The dedication and attention to detail were evident in the way they negotiated on my behalf. People Legal went above and beyond to ensure that my interests were protected and that I received a fair and satisfactory settlement. I am extremely grateful for the support and guidance provided by People Legal. I would highly recommend them to anyone in need of expert legal assistance with employment matters. Their combination of expertise, professionalism, and personal touch truly sets them apart." Carl

"People Legal were recommended to me and I am so happy to have used their service. Lauren and team have been amazing at assisting me with my employment related matter. They were professional, friendly, knowledgeable and very responsive. Lauren kept me in the loop at every stage of the process and constantly kept me up to date with the legal fees which was much appreciated. Overall, I found them very affordable for the amount of work that was put into my case. I was very impressed with the service I have received and I would absolutely recommend this firm to anyone that requires employment related advice." Izabella

"I found Chris and his team professional, friendly and very knowledgeable. I would not hesitate in recommending People legal to anyone seeking employment law advice. A first class service from beginning to end." Mark

"Chris and his team were extremely helpful, very responsive and very professional. I would gladly recommend their services to anyone. They made the whole experience simple, fast and everything was explained in full and I was kept updated at every step of the way." Iain

"I instructed People Legal based on a recommendation from a previous client and I was not disappointed. Chris and the team were excellent advocates for me and provided me with clarity and confidence at a difficult time. I would highly recommend them." Stacy

I worked with Chris and his team on an employment contract when leaving my full time job at a large corporate. They’ve been incredibly supportive and clear with their communications both with me and my employer. I would highly recommend them for any employment legal support and advice." Fabio

"I feel fortunate to have been referred to Chris and Laurent, who stood out for their quick, clear and informative approach. It made me feel assured in their handling of my complicated case. Especially, they offered expert guidance, ensuring I understood every legal term, which was crucial for making informed decisions. They also clearly outlined the path and realistic cost of each scenario, enhancing the professional direction of the case. Their honesty, sincerity, and informative approach helped me navigate out of a challenging situation and resolve issues maturely during a difficult time. I highly recommend this firm and cannot thank them enough for their outstanding support." Anon

"I can’t recommend Chris and his team enough. Really efficient and speedy response time. Exactly the support I needed during an extremely stressful time!" Niamh

"I was very pleased with the service provided and found the entire team very friendly, Helpful and professional when discussing my case details and providing me with legal advice." Jason

"The team has given me so much support and handled my case, showing excellent knowledge, attention for detail and a calm composure. They have exceeded my expectations and reduced my stress levels and I’m feeling grateful to have worked with them." Gemma

"We were introduced to People Legal Limited and particularly Chris McAvoy-Newns by our PEO. Chris and his team, Lauren Beaumont and Georgia Goulding, were extremely knowledgable and responsive when helping us with an employment matter. They quickly gained our trust, provided great counsel and guided us through a process which we were not previously familiar with. The People Legal team provided timely and detailed communications and kept us apprised throughout the engagement. I cannot recommend Chris, Lauren and Georgia enough. People Legal Limited provided excellent service for a reasonable fee." John

"From first contact with People Legal I no longer felt alone against the 'big boys'. They ensured I understood everything every step of the way, and got a positive outcome due to the work the whole team put in." Chris