Melissa Andrewes
Associate Director, Rare

Andrewes Melissa

Melissa joined Rare in 2013 from BPP, where she was a freelance lecturer in Corporate Transactions. Prior to BPP, Melissa was part of the management team at the University of Law. She set up the Graduate Diploma in Law course at the Moorgate Centre of the University of Law and managed yearly cohorts of up to 300 GDL students, from admission to final results.

During her time at the University, she worked with various law firms to focus on what they were looking for in future trainees. She gave coaching and careers advice to many students.

Melissa practised commercial law at Slaughter and May (1997–2003) and Clifford Chance (2003–2005). She holds a degree in Modern Languages from Oxford University. She is SHL Level 2 qualified and is a qualified Executive Coach.

Since joining Rare, Melissa set up the Discuss development programme for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds and currently oversees Rare’s Advocate and Articles development programmes.

Andrew Lilley
Associate Director

Andrew Lilley

Andrew began his legal career at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and served as the Managing Partner of Travers Smith. Andrew is now the Head of Employment Law for Deloitte Legal.

 

Dorothy Henderson
Consultant, Rare

Dorothy Henderson

Dorothy Henderson joined the leading City law firm Travers Smith in 1987 and became a partner in 1993. She became the Head of the Employment department, which she set up herself in 1992. She was also Head of Graduate Recruitment from 2000-2003 and was on the firm's GR panel from 1996-2010.

Dorothy's practice covered all areas of Employment law including Employment Tribunal and High Court litigation. As well as being a regular speaker at client seminars and external conferences, Dorothy has made appearances on BBC Radio and TV and was listed as a recommended Employment Lawyer by The Legal 500.

Dorothy left private practice in 2010 and now sits as a part-time Judge in the Employment Tribunal and also in the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal. She also does voluntary work as a school governor and with her old college, Newnham, Cambridge.

Cary Kochberg
Coach, Rare

Cary Kochberg

Cary is a very experienced lawyer, who qualified in both Canada and England. He spent nearly 30 years as a litigation lawyer and partner at Hogan Lovells, where he was a specialist in major cross border disputes, often involving high profile fraud matters and insolvencies. He was also the partner in charge of the firm’s graduate recruitment team for many years and has huge experience in all aspects of mentoring and developing young talent to work in large law firms. Cary has taken a particular interest in the challenges facing candidates from less privileged backgrounds and is therefore thrilled to be working with Rare.

 

Rita Dev
Coach, Rare

Rita Dev

Rita is a qualified solicitor and an award-winning global training and development specialist.

After qualifying as a solicitor, she specialised in Litigation, working in the UK until 1999. In 2000, Rita moved to Singapore and joined Allen & Overy (now known as A&O Shearman) to manage the Training, Development & Know-how function. Rita then returned to London in 2003 to head up the Training function for the Banking practice and had global responsibility until 2017.

Rita now works as an independent freelance consultant for law firms based in Europe and Asia.

She started working as a Coach with Rare in 2019.

Ian Stanley
Coach, Rare

Ian Stanley

Ian Stanley has spent his entire professional career at Allen & Overy (now known as A&O Shearman) during the period that it has expanded into a major international law firm advising businesses and governments around the world. As a partner leading M&A transactions and complex projects for 30 years, he is very experienced in managing relationships with corporations in Europe, the US and Asia. He also has a breadth of experience of analysing risks, advising on strategies and communicating them clearly.

He has had a long-standing commitment to mentoring students and, as well as coaching at Rare, he is a trustee of the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance.

 

Imogen Moss
Coach, Rare

Imogen Moss

Imogen Moss grew up in Durham, attending the local comprehensive, and then studied History at St Anne’s College, Oxford. She joined Allen & Overy (now known as A&O Shearman) as a trainee solicitor and spent her whole professional career with A&O becoming a partner in 1999 and the global head of real estate in 2014, whilst also raising five children. At A&O Imogen was heavily involved in recruiting trainees and mentoring associates. Since retiring from A&O at the end of 2020 Imogen has continued to mentor associates through the partnership process. Imogen is also a non-executive director of a listed real estate company.

Steven Gilberg
Coach, Rare

Steven Gilberg

Steven is a solicitor and entrepreneur from the North East of England.

He spent 10 years as a commercial litigator at Clyde & Co in London, 9 years leading global teams of transaction lawyers at multibillion-dollar UK, US, French and Swiss insurance businesses, and is the founder and CEO of an insurtech startup using artificial intelligence for contract analytics.

He went to school in Newcastle upon Tyne, studied law at the University of Sheffield and divides his time between London and the North East. He is passionate about people, technology and the persuasive power of words.

 

Salome Coker
Coach, Rare

Steven Gilberg

Salome Coker is a corporate finance solicitor with over a decade of experience in private practice and in-house roles, having worked with banks, pension funds, and legal charities. She is a visiting lecturer at the University of Law, teaching on the LPC and SQE. Salome actively contributes to the legal community as an independent committee member at the City of London Law Society and holds a representative position for 20,000 solicitors on The Law Society's council.

Beyond her legal pursuits, Salome is a practicing artist, specialising in painting, printmaking, and photography.