Who We Are

Areas of Specialism

Ashleigh has worked at Dean Wilson LLP for 8 years and specialises in a range of Private Client matters. 

Having completed her CILEX qualification in 2021, Ashleigh has grown within the department and has experience in dealing with all aspects of Private Client work including Estate Administration, Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney. 

Ashleigh always supports her clients with sensitivity and expertise.

Qualifications

Chartered Legal Executive (FCilex) 2021.

Ashleigh can be contacted by email: AHS@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: (0) 1273 249275. 

Areas of Specialism

David has a wealth of experience and heads up the firm’s Commercial Development Team.  David has 40 years of experience in the property sector acting largely for developers, investors, dealer’s and high net worth individuals along with their family offices.

David specialises in a wide range of commercial real estate transactions and heads up a team specialising in Options, Promotion Agreements, Conditional Contracts, Infrastructure Agreements, Planning Agreements and Investments Properties as well as looking after some substantial and diverse property and land portfolio’s which his clients have built up over the years – many of Davids clients have been with him for 25 years or more.  

David works closely with the team which comprises Sinead Dye (Associate Solicitor), Amy Edwards (Solicitor), Isabelle Svendsen (Paralegal), Beth Allen (Paralegal) and Beverely McLoughlin (Assistant).  The team always look for solutions and take a flexible and pragmatic approach – the team are proactive, not reactive and the culture is “how” can we make this deal happen when obstacles are presented. The Team are experienced in acquiring land (often site assembling) and taking the development through to the sale of individual units and we deal with developments comprising single units to in excess of 150 units.  The team are also experienced in land trades and are not fazed in dealing with sites with a GDV in excess of £100m  

David can be contacted by email: dh@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: 01273 249 249. 

Areas of Specialism

Maddie is a recent law graduate and a paralegal in the Dispute Resolution team. She specialises in Landlord and Tenant possession claims, including Section 8 and Section 21 proceedings. Maddie is currently training to manage her own caseload, with a focus on drafting pleadings and progressing matters through court to obtain possession orders and cost awards on behalf of landlords. She is enthusiastic about developing her career in the legal field and gaining further experience in Dispute Resolution.

Qualifications

• LLB Law graduate (Royal Holloway, University of London)

Areas of Specialism

Sarah is a Partner in the Family team, who specialises in complex Children Act litigation (private law), Financial Remedies on divorce, cohabitation agreements and disputes, and protection from domestic abuse. Sarah has a particular interest in advising in cases where allegations of coercive control are in play. 

• Child arrangements orders – living and spending time arrangements.
• Children – urgent applications, specific issue and prohibited steps orders -  vaccination, education, name change, temporary and permanent removal from the jurisdiction, enforcement of orders, instruction of experts and working with family consultants. 
• Financial remedies on divorce / dissolution of civil partnership -  business and trust assets, pension sharing orders, non-disclosure, litigation conduct and financial conduct.
• Pre and Post-nuptial agreements.
• Separation and cohabitation agreements.
• Domestic violence injunctions.

Recent Client Matters

• Sarah regularly represents parents in private law proceedings where mental health issues, SEN, substance misuse, implacable hostility and allegations of coercive control, narcissistic abuse and alienating behaviours are a central feature.
• Sarah negotiated a financial settlement in which the client received an 80% share of the equity in the family home, and maintenance for five years to provide the client with time to attain financial independence without undue hardship.
• Sarah recently represented a mother at a Fact Finding hearing in which the very serious findings against the father of physical, emotional, sexual and psychological abuse and coercive control were made by the Judge after 4 days of oral evidence.
• Sarah has an interest in international relocation cases and has successfully obtained permission for her clients to relocate to Hong Kong, Greece and Malaysia. 
• Sarah regularly settles financial remedy cases by way of advice during mediation, voluntary disclosure and solicitor-led negotiations, avoiding the cost and stress of contested proceedings for her clients.

Qualifications, Membership 

• Solicitor (PGDL) City University
• Resolution Accredited Specialist Family Lawyer – Complex Financial Remedies
• Resolution Accredited Specialist Family Lawyer – Children Law Private
• Resolution qualified Collaborative Lawyer
• Member of Resolution
• Recommended in Chambers and the Legal 500

Recent client testimonials 

Sarah was wonderful throughout she was very knowledgeable of the Law but also very relatable as a person.  Sarah took her time to understand me and what my concerns were and was empathetic throughout.  Sarah was efficient and effective in representing me always giving me the best advice that I felt I could rely on.  I have no hesitation in recommending Dean Wilson. 

(Applicant Father – PSO) - 26 March 2026

Sarah can be contacted by email at SCP@deanwilson.co.uk or by telephone on 01273 249295

Areas of Specialism

Lyubov is a Solicitor in the Personal Injury and Medical Negligence team. She qualified as a Solicitor in May 2024, having previously spent nearly 3 years working on complex injury cases, including spinal cord injury, brain injury, and birth injury. 

Recent Client Matters

Lyubov is working with Alex Brown on a number of birth injury cases where the mothers suffer from PTSD due to a negligent medical care during delivery. She also runs a mixed caseload of claims as a result of road traffic accidents, accidents-at-work, and medical negligence. 

Qualifications, Membership

• Solicitor
• BA (Hons)
• Graduate Diploma in Law (Distinction)
• Legal Practice Course (Distinction)
• Major Trauma Signposting Partnership (Brighton)

Lyubov can be contacted by email: LSN@deanwilson.co.uk or on their direct dial: (0) 1273 249257. 

Areas of Specialism

Lily is a Solicitor in the firm’s Dispute Resolution department, specialising in Landlord and Tenant matters. She assists with leasehold disputes, lease extensions (both statutory and informal), freehold acquisitions (both collective enfranchisement and first right of refusal claims), right to manage claims, licences for alterations and deeds of variation. 

Qualifications, Membership & Directory Rankings

• Law Degree, LLB Hons
• Legal Practice Course, LPC
• Law, Business and Management, MSc

Memberships

Dean Wilson is a member of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (“ALEP”). ALEP promotes best practice by vetting organisations to ensure a consistently high level of service so that leaseholders and freeholders can contact ALEP members with confidence.

Lily can be contacted by email: LSH@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 032326 

Lily is assisted by Molly Hamilton, Senior Paralegal within the Dispute Resolution department. Molly's contact details are - email: MOH@deanwilson.co.uk and direct dial: 01273 249264.

Hattie joined the firm in January 2026 as a Trainee Solicitor and is currently undertaking her second training seat in our Dispute Resolution team.

During her training contract, Hattie has gained experience in both Personal Injury & Medical Negligence and Dispute Resolution, developing a broad understanding of contentious legal matters while working closely with clients and colleagues across the firm.

Prior to joining the firm, Hattie undertook a range of legal experiences, including internships in commercial law and legal recruitment, and shadowing experiences in the criminal courts. Hattie was also a solicitor’s assistant flexibly supporting a small firm in Haywards Heath over a few years.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Law: Graduated with first class honours from the University of Sussex. 

Master of Law: Graduated with merit from BPP University alongside passing the Solicitors Qualification Exam (SQE). 

CONTACT DETAILS 

Hattie can be contacted by email: HBS@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 032312. 

Areas of Specialism

Karl is the Head of Department of the Residential Property Department and manages the fee earners within the team as well as the paralegals/support staff. 

Karl has worked for Dean Wilson LLP for over 13 years and specialises in all aspects of Residential property transactions. 

Karl has an excellent reputation with estate agents, mortgage brokers, surveyors and the like and is sought after by property developers and local estate agents.  

Karl’s specialist areas are newbuild sales and purchases with or without help to buy involvement, although Karl does deal with residential and buy to let sales, purchases and re-mortgages on a day to day basis and has a wealth of knowledge in this respect. 

Qualifications, Membership 

• LLB Hons

Karl can be contacted by email: ksp@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: 01273 249248. 

Beth has worked for Dean Wilson LLP for over 8 years and assists with plot sales, often off-plan.

Beth works closely with the team which comprises David Hodge (Partner) Sinead Dye (Associate Solicitor), Amy Edwards (Solicitor), Isabelle Svensden (Paralegal) and Beverley McLoughlin (Assistant).  The team always look for solutions and takes a flexible and pragmatic approach – the team are proactive, not reactive and the culture is “how” can we make this deal happen when obstacles are presented. The Team are experienced in acquiring land (often site assembling) and taking the development through to the sale of individual units and we deal with developments comprising single units to in excess of 150 units. The team are also experienced in land trades and are not fazed in dealing with sites with a GDV in excess of £100m.  

Beth can be contacted by email: bxa@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249263

Joseph joined the firm as a Legal Assistant and has since been promoted to Paralegal within the Dispute Resolution team. He specialises in landlord and tenant possession matters and also assists with a broad range of general litigation work.

QUALIFICATIONS

Degree – Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of York 

CONTACT DETAILS 

Joseph Phillips can be contacted by email: jcp@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: 01273 249 243.

Areas of Specialism

Victoria is an experienced solicitor specialising in Commercial Property and, prior to Dean Wilson, Victoria worked in the City. 

Victoria has broad experience with acquisitions and disposals of commercial and mixed-use premises, acquisition and granting of commercial leases, asset management matters and secured lending/refinancing. 

Victoria provides clear and commercially focussed advice tailored to each client and their needs. 

Qualifications

• Solicitor (LLB Hons)

Victoria can be contacted by email: VLS@deanwilson.co.uk or on their direct dial: (0) 1273 249204. 

Areas of Specialism

Sara is a Senior Paralegal within the Dispute Resolution department and has extensive experience in all matters concerning residential possession claims. Sara works with both landlords and tenants and also works with providers of insurance cover for landlords. 

Additionally, Sara has experience in regard to breaches of lease in relation to running Holiday Lets, with Dean Wilson LLP acting for both leaseholders and freeholders. 

Sara is fluent in English and Norwegian and has a working knowledge of the Scandinavian languages. 

Qualifications, Membership & Directory Rankings

• Bachelor of Law from University of Sussex (LLB)

Sara can be contacted by email: sn@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249276

Areas of Specialism

Scott is a highly experienced solicitor and heads up the firm’s Commercial Real Estate team.  With over 20 years of experience in the legal sector, Scott has established a reputation for providing excellent service, achieving positive outcomes for his clients and prides himself on taking a detailed yet commercial and pragmatic approach to his work.

Scott specialises in a wide range of commercial real estate transactions and the bulk of his day-to-day work involves working with property investors and landlords with considerable portfolios and dealing with the ongoing legal work that this typically involves.  

Scott specialises in licensing too.  Scott used to teach the BIIAB Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLH) at City College in Brighton and the Award for Licensing Practitioners (ALP) to Sussex Police and Sussex based Licensing Authorities.  This experience allows Scott to act for a number of clients with licensed premises, advising them on not only the commercial property aspects, but also the licensing elements too.  This places him in a unique position within the industry, specialising in both disciplines.

Scott is known for his dedication to his clients and his ability to provide clear and practical advice.  He takes the time to understand his clients’ needs and works closely with them to achieve their goals.

Recent Client Matters

• Involved in a large corporate acquisition which included over 55 commercial properties;
• Multiple eight figure portfolio refinances;
• Acquisition of a retail portfolio for over £10m;
• Refinance of commercial and residential portfolio worth over £5m

Qualifications, Membership 

• Solicitor
• LLB Hons
• PTLLS

Scott can be contacted by email: sg@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: 01273 249265. 

Areas of Specialism

Jasmine is a Solicitor specialising in both personal injury and clinical negligence claims. Jasmine qualified as a Solicitor in May 2025, having previously spent 2.5 years assisting Alex Brown, Head of Department, with Claimants who had suffered Personal Injuries, Criminal Injuries & Clinical Negligence resulting in:

• Brain Injuries
• Spinal Cord injuries
• Birth Injuries
• Amputations
• Severe Orthopaedic Injuries

Jasmine continues to assist Alex Brown as well conducting her own cases, securing settlements for client’s who have suffered injuries arising from the following circumstances:

• Road traffic accidents
• Accidents at work
• Falls in public places
• Clinical negligence
• Criminal Injuries 

Jasmine is known for her commitment to her clients and ability to quickly understand key issues in resolving disputes. She is able to work collaboratively with clients to help them achieve the best outcome for their case.

Recent Client Matters

• Jasmine assisted in securing a settlement for a client who was incorrectly advised to undergo bladder surgery incorrectly for urinary incontinence which led to further difficulties including chronic pain.
• Jasmine assisted in settling a significant claim on behalf of a client who was left wheelchair bound after Maidstone Hospital failed to carry out a falls risk assessment which led to his injury.

Qualifications and Memberships

• LLB Hons Law
• LPC with LLM
• Major Trauma Signposting Partnership (Brighton)

Jasmine can be contacted by email: jlc@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249246.

Areas of Specialism

Julian is a highly experienced family practitioner who heads up the Family Department. Julian is a trained Collaborative lawyer and Mediator. Julian is Top Ranked in the Chambers Legal Directory with testimonials including “a really good lawyer, experienced, calm and can fight his client’s corner with flair and creativity without making the dispute intractable.”

Julian’s focus is on resolving, not creating conflict, encouraging negotiation, and finding solutions.  Julian is adept at bringing a calm, focused and if necessary, robust approach to contentious and complex financial situations. Julian will bring empathy and solutions to child related matters. Julian will strive to find the approach which will best benefit the individual and to prepare them for life after separation.

Julian’s specialties :

• advising on high net worth and complex separations, involving businesses, Trusts, and pension issues

• dealing with cases using the Collaborative model

• resolving childcare disputes

• advising on pre and post nuptial agreements

• advising on cohabitation disputes

Recent Client Matters

• Acted for a Wife in Financial Remedy proceedings overcoming Husband’s refusal to provide full financial disclosure and comply with the Court timetable. Secured Penal Notices and multiple Cost Orders against the Husband and an excellent outcome for the Wife.
• Acted for a Wife in Financial Remedy proceedings that involved 5 hearings including obtaining a Legal Services Order. Secured significant lump sum for housing, repayment of debts and spousal periodical payments throughout the child’s minority.
• Acting for a Husband following a long marriage where Wife has issued Financial Remedy application. Included instruction of a single joint expert to value a company in which both parties are shareholders, a dispute in relation to matrimonial and non-matrimonial assets and the treatment of foreign assets. Successfully resolving matters outside of the Court process.

Notable Cases

• X v D [2023] EWFC 332 (B)

Qualifications

• Solicitor BA (Hons)
• Member of Resolution
• Founding member of Brightpod ( Collaborative Group) & Sussex Family Solutions (inter-disciplinary network of family professionals)

Recognition

Chambers ranked No 1 in Family/Matrimonial - “extremely experienced, sensible and really resolution-focused.” ‘Julian is one of the toughest negotiators but one of the most charming men you will ever meet.’

Legal 500 Ranked – “an experienced practitioner who is well known and respected by opponents and the judiciary.” “straight talking, trustworthy and well respected locally.” 

Julian can be contacted by email: JBH@deanwilson.co.uk or on their direct dial: (0) 1273 249223. 

Areas of Specialism

Nicholas is a Partner in our Dispute Resolution team.

Having been admitted as a solicitor in 1982 he has  a wealth of experience and there are few areas of Litigation and Dispute Resolution with which he has not been involved over his long career with the firm be it general contract or building disputes lease renewals equine law or even Admiralty matters 

He has in particular always specialised in Landlord and tenant matters – both residential and commercial – and has a substantial practice advising and acting for letting and managing agents  and their landlord clients locally, and both  in London and throughout the Country 

He is also an acknowledged expert in Liquor Licensing matters for Pubs clubs and restaurants and regularly appears before Licensing committees both locally and  further afield  promoting his client’s applications 

Underpinning all his dealings for his clients is a determination to be efficient and most importantly, cost effective.

Recent Client Matters

• Acting for a well-known and respected agent in a multi-party dispute and achieving settlement
• Obtaining  a complicated Premises License for the social areas of a multimillion pound residential development
• Successfully defending a Review application brought by the Police seeking to revoke a large Public House’s Premises license.
• Advising a national chain of letting and estate agents on a review of their legal procedures and documentation

Qualifications

• Solicitor
• LLB Hons

Nicholas can be contacted by email: NP@deanwilson.co.uk or on their direct dial: (0) 1273 249203.