Meet Scotland's six new employment judges appointed by Lord President including university lecturer

The Lord President, Lord Pentland, has appointed six new employment judges in Scotland.

The new judges include two salaried posts in the Dundee Office of Employment Tribunals, and four fee-paid posts who started work this week.

Judge Susan Walker, president of Employment Tribunals (Scotland) welcomed the new judges, highlighting their specialist knowledge in employment law and expressing confidence in the contribution they will make to the tribunal’s work.

Salaried - in Dundee Office of Employment Tribunals

• Robert Phillips – 16 March 2026
• Debbie Fellows – 27 July 2026

Fee-paid

• Emma McIlveen
• Katy Wedderburn
• Paman Singh
• Paul Rae

Meet the judges

Robert Phillips

Having read both Scots and English law at Dundee University, Robert Phillips qualified as a solicitor in Scotland in 2008 and has specialised in employment law throughout his career. With a focus on contentious workplace disputes, Robert has appeared in Employment Tribunals throughout Scotland and in London, has taught Employment Tribunal Practice and Procedure at the Aberdeen University on the Diploma, has held accreditations in employment and has carried out a range of professional standards, discrimination and whistleblowing investigations.

Debbie Fellows

Debbie Fellows was admitted as a solicitor in 2000 and has over 25 years of experience in employment law. Currently a Partner at Thorntons Law LLP, she has a MSc in Employment Law and is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in both Employment Law and Discrimination Law.

Emma McIIveen

Emma McIlveen was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 2016 and practises in employment law, public and administrative law, personal injury and inquests.  She sits as a Legal Chairman of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST) in Northern Ireland and holds a door tenancy with 3PB Chambers in Great Britain.

Katy Wedderburn

Katy Wedderburn was enrolled as a solicitor in 1995. Initially a civil court practitioner, she has specialised in employment and discrimination law since 2001, practising in Employment Tribunals in Scotland and England & Wales. She also sits as a fee paid Legal Convenor in the Social Security Chamber of the First Tier Tribunal for Scotland.

Paman Singh

Paman Singh trained and qualified in Employment Law in 2017. He is a Solicitor Advocate and an accredited specialist in Employment Law and Discrimination Law. He has worked for both Claimants and Respondents throughout his career. Paman is also an accredited mediator.

Paul Rae

Paul Rae has specialised in employment law since qualifying and has held senior in-house roles in the financial services sector.  Paul has recently been appointed to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland and has also held various professional conduct roles for UK regulators. Paul also enjoys teaching employment law on the Dip.LP at the University of Glasgow.