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Dean Wilson LLP’s reputation has been built upon our ability to deliver and exceed our clients’ expectations. For over 100 years our success has been founded upon our client focused approach, backed by the knowledge and expertise of our lawyers.

We make it our business to know yours

Having your needs and goals in mind

We aim to deliver outcomes and resolutions efficiently and cost effectively. So whether you need assistance with a business or personal matter we can provide a responsive service delivered to you with expertise and clarity.

Fatima Y Hussain Dean Wilson

Fatima Y Hussain

Solicitor Apprentice, Corporate Department

Fatima Y Hussain Dean Wilson

Fatima Y Hussain

Solicitor Apprentice, Corporate Department

Fatima is a Solicitor Apprentice in the Corporate Department having commenced her first 6 months in the Dispute Resolution department, while undergoing her SQE to qualify as a Solicitor. 

Prior to Fatima commencing her Solicitor Apprenticeship, was previously a paralegal within the Residential Conveyancing Department assisting Siobhan Cox on Residential Conveyancing and Commercial Property matters.

Before joining Dean Wilson Fatima worked for HMCTS. Her primary role was as Clerk to the Circuit and District Judges. 

Fatima has a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Sussex and hopes to be completing a Master’s degree in the near future. Away from work and studies, Fatima enjoys traveling and badminton.

Qualifications

  • LLB Hons – University of Sussex

Fatima can be contacted by email: FYH@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249209

GM

Gabrielle Moffatt

Partner, Dispute Resolution  

GM

Gabrielle Moffatt

Partner, Dispute Resolution  

Areas of Specialism

Gabrielle is a solicitor in the firm’s Dispute Resolution team with over 20 years of experience in property litigation. 

Gabrielle’s commercial landlord and tenant practice makes up a core part of her workload. She acts for  both landlords and tenants on various issues, including breach of covenant, dilapidation claims, contentious lease renewals  and forfeiture. 

Gabrielle has a strong interest in real property disputes, especially arising from development of land. She acts in many cases concerning restrictive covenants, boundary disputes, easements and adverse possession. 

Gabrielle is the firm’s specialist on fire safety following the implementation of the Building Safety Act 2022 and associated legislation. She regularly delivers seminars to Managing Agents to keep them abreast of the changes in the law affecting all aspects of residential block management. 

Gabrielle also overseas the team’s insurance funded work where we act for Landlords in recovering possession of their properties let on shorthold tenancies.  

Gabrielle’s practice area is UK-wide and she conducts cases in various courts and Tribunals to include the Technology and Construction Court. 

Recent Client Matters

  • Acting for an overseas company with a portfolio of UK properties in several dilapidation claims, including claims against the Secretary of State and Lloyds Bank PLC
  • Acting for a group of flat owners in an action against its freeholder for remedial works to address fire safety defects at the building
  • Acting for developer in an application under Section 84 of the Law of Property Act 1925 to discharge restrictive covenants on land that preventing the construction of new houses 

Qualifications, Membership & Directory Rankings

  • Solicitor LLB Hons
  • Advanced Diploma in Litigation
  • Member of Property Litigation Association 

Recognition 

Gabrielle is ranked as a leading lawyer and next generation partner for property litigation by both Chambers and Partners and Legal 500. 

‘Dedicated and excellent in addressing the issues and working to resolve the dispute. Good communication and tailored service. Highly recommend.’

‘We are being advised by Gabrielle Moffatt. She has been supportive and extremely helpful in dealing with the complex and continuing problems we are facing, in a situation which involves dealing with some extremely aggressive and difficult people. We have received excellent advice and Gabrielle Moffatt’s thoroughness, helpfulness, professional and personable approach has been very supportive and beneficial during that time we have been seeking advice from her.’

"I have been extremely impressed and reassured by Gabrielle's attention to detail and professionalism. She has made an extremely stressful process vastly more bearable."

Gabrielle can be contacted by email: grm@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249253. 

Gabrielle’s secretary Vanisha Parekh’s can be contacted by email: vxp@deanwilson.co.uk or her direct dial 01273 032355.

Moffatt, Gabrielle

Leon Mumford Dean Wilson

Leon Mumford

Associate Solicitor, Residential Property Department

Leon Mumford Dean Wilson

Leon Mumford

Associate Solicitor, Residential Property Department

Areas of Specialism

Leon joined Dean Wilson LLP in January 2022, having worked in Uckfield for approximately 7 years prior. Leon specialises in all aspects of Residential property transactions. 

Leon’s specialist areas are residential and buy to let sales, purchases, re-mortgages and transfers of equity’s. Leon does also have experience in dealing with commercial property transactions to include the sale and purchase of businesses, although has predominantly practiced within residential conveyancing areas of law. 

Leon also provides Independent Legal Advice on Guarantees and Indemnities, where required. 

Qualifications, Membership 

  • Solicitor
  • LLB Hons

Leon can be contacted by email: lpm@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: 01273 032338.

FJ

Freya Jackson

Paralegal apprentice, Residential Conveyancing 

FJ

Freya Jackson

Paralegal apprentice, Residential Conveyancing 

Freya has joined Dean Wilson as a Paralegal Apprentice, specialising in residential conveyancing. Having recently completed her A Levels, including achieving an A* in Applied Law, Freya is passionate about developing her legal career and working towards her goal of becoming a qualified solicitor.

Before beginning her career in law, Freya gained valuable experience in the hospitality industry, where she developed strong communication and client care skills.

CONTACT DETAILS 

Freya Jackson can be contacted by email: FAJ@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 032385

Rory

Rory Lindsay

Solicitor, Dispute Resolution

Rory

Rory Lindsay

Solicitor, Dispute Resolution

Areas of Specialism

Rory is a solicitor in the Dispute Resolution team specialising in construction law.

Within the construction field, he has experience in both contentious and non-contentious transactional matters.

In dispute resolution, he has experience in a wide range of areas, including breach of contract, insurance, dilapidations, trust and cohabitation disputes, and contested probate matters.

Recent Client Matters

  • Helped a residential client in a construction dispute with a contractor over defective works, undertaking a high-value extension and renovation. The claim proceeded to trial and resulted in a judgment in favour of the client, ordering the builder to cover the costs of remedial works undertaken by an alternative contractor.
  • Assisted a land developer in an insurance claim after the insurer refused to pay out, alleging that there had been a failure of fair presentation when the policy was entered. The case involved a grey area on the legal position under the Insurance Act 2015. A settlement was achieved in mediation before proceedings were issued, resulting in the developer receiving the majority of the sums originally claimed.
  • Involved in a dispute over a land investment in which the defendant denied the claimant's (Rory’s client) entitlement to one-half of the property and/or the proceeds of sale. At trial, the court found in favour of the claimant, recognising a resulting trust over half of the property and ordering the defendant to pay the claimant’s costs.
  • Drafts various contractual documents for clients, including Bespoke terms and conditions for a high-end landscaper; An amended RIBA 2018 contract for the construction of a new build property; Amended 2016 and 2024 JCT contracts and subcontracts.
  • Instructed on multiple adjudications (representing employers, contractors and subcontractors) over the terms of a contract, payment cycles and notices, claims of contra charges for alleged overpayment and the validity of a contract termination. These resulted in the adjudicators finding in favour of his client
  • Led three mediations in contested probate matters over the last year involving claims of proprietary estoppel and claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. All three resulted in the settlement of the claims.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Arts, History, Literature and Culture

Solicitor (SQE)

Rory can be contacted by email: RFL@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: 01273 032336

Josh

Joshua Baxendale

Senior Associate Solicitor, Corporate Department

Josh

Joshua Baxendale

Senior Associate Solicitor, Corporate Department

Areas of Specialism

Joshua works in the Commercial & Corporate team at Dean Wilson. He works in mergers & acquisitions and acts on both sides of the transactions. Many of these transactions are in the estate agency sector. He has a wide range of commercial experience, having worked for many recruitment companies in litigation matters. 

Joshua focusses on his client’s intentions and makes those work to ensure that transactions are a client led and not lawyer led process. 

Joshua has acted in cases involving cross-border jurisdictional issues involving many companies in the EU and further afield.

Joshua grew up in Brighton and Hove, and then studied at UEA and the College of Law in Guildford.

Joshua enjoys riding his bike slowly up hills, a dry riesling, and small cups of strong coffee and speaking conversational French.

Qualifications

  • Solicitor
  • LLB Hons

Recent Transactions

  • Large regional estate agent selling to a nationwide corporate acquirer;
  • Acting for the Buyer of a hospitality business in Brighton;
  • Acting for acquirers moving into new geographic areas and
  • Acting for an estate agent in taking over a local competitor on their retirement.

Joshua can be contacted by email: jjb@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: (0) 1273 032337. 

Joshua is assisted by Natalia Revesz, Senior Paralegal within the Corporate & Commercial Team. Natalia’s contact details are: Email: nxr@deanwilson.co.uk Direct Dial: 01273 032334.

Claire Whiteman Dean Wilson

Claire Whiteman

Partner, Dispute Resolution

Claire Whiteman Dean Wilson

Claire Whiteman

Partner, Dispute Resolution

Areas of Specialism

Claire’s expertise is in property related disputes, landlord and tenant matters, and enfranchisement matters.

Claire’s clients include commercial and private landlords, property agents, tenants’ associations, trusts and other commercial entities in the leisure and retail sector nationwide. Her work is derived almost entirely from recommendations.

She is recommended in Chambers & Partner.  Claire has a good eye for those all-important details, undertakes advocacy and has a practical working relationship with other professionals. Her strong belief in looking after her clients' best interests is her motivating force.

Qualifications, Membership 

  • Solicitor
  • Member of the Property Litigation Association
  • Member of ALEP
  • Chambers & Partner recommended solicitor 2024 (ranked for 9 years) 

Claire can be contacted by email: CLW@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: (0) 1273 249229. 

Whiteman, Claire

SB

Samantha Boarer

Consultant Solicitor, Private Client

SB

Samantha Boarer

Consultant Solicitor, Private Client

Samantha advises individuals and families on a wide range of Private Client matters, offering clear, practical guidance tailored to each client’s circumstances. She combines technical knowledge with an approachable and supportive manner, helping clients make informed decisions about their personal affairs, future planning and the administration of estates.

  • Practical, tailored advice on Wills to reflect clients’ wishes and family circumstances.
  • Advice on trusts and tax planning.
  • Guidance on asset protection.
  • Long-term succession planning for individuals and families.
  • Estate administration support for estates of varying sizes and complexity, including intestacies.
  • Assistance with obtaining a Grant of Probate.
  • Estate planning advice, including Inheritance Tax mitigation.
  • Advice on the Nil Rate Band and Residence Nil Rate Band.
  • Guidance on preserving available reliefs where appropriate.
  • Lasting Powers of Attorney, including helping donors and attorneys understand the scope, responsibilities and practical limits of their role.
  • Assisting clients with matters that have cross-border elements.
  • Helping families understand care funding and the provisions surrounding it.

Sam’s aim is to make often complex and sensitive matters feel more manageable for her clients. This is an area of law that affects every single one of us: we are all someone’s child, and many of us are someone’s sibling, friend, confidant, parent or relative. Any one of us can find ourselves needing assistance with these matters, often at important or difficult points in life, and Sam believes it is essential that the information and advice provided is clear, accessible and easy for clients to understand.

Qualifications

 LLB (Hons)

Solicitor

Contact Details 

Samantha can be contacted by email: sxb@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 032320.

Rosie Harfield

Rosie Harfield

Paralegal, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence

Rosie Harfield

Rosie Harfield

Paralegal, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence

Paralegal in the Personal Injury and Medical Negligence team, assisting Alex Brown, Rachel Makore and Lyubov Nikolchova with a variety of cases involving:

  • Severe Orthopaedic Injury
  • Brain Injury
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Birth Injury 
  • Psychiatric Injury
  • Amputation 

 RECENT CLIENT MATTERS

  • Assisting with matters signposted by the Royal Sussex County Hospital via the Major Trauma Signposting Partnership.
  • Assisting with a mixed caseload of claims as a result of road traffic accidents, accidents-at-work, criminal injuries, accidents on public property, sexual assault and clinical negligence.

QUALIFICATIONS

LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology and a Study Year abroad 

CONTACT DETAILS 

Rosie can be contacted by email: RCH@deanwilson or on her direct dial: 01273032357.

Aibhlinn

Aibhlinn Carroll

Solicitor Apprentice, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence

Aibhlinn

Aibhlinn Carroll

Solicitor Apprentice, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence

Aibhlinn is a Solicitor Apprentice within our Personal Injury & Medical Negligence team. She joined the team in December 2025, following a year’s experience as a paralegal within our Corporate Commercial team, where she worked on various aspects of corporate transactions. 

Aibhlinn assists Ben Davey, Jessica Edwards and Lyubov Nikolchova on a broad range of personal injury and medical negligence claims including:

  • Catastrophic Injury
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Fatal Accident Claims including Inquests
  • Road Traffic Accidents
  • Accidents at Work
  • Clinical Negligence Claims including birth injuries, delays in diagnosis, and negligent operations

In her role as a solicitor apprentice, Aibhlinn works closely with the solicitors in her team to assist with the progression of claims, maintaining regular communication with clients and ensuring they feel supported, informed, and at ease throughout the legal process.

Recent Client Matters

Qualifications, Membership 

  • Aibhlinn graduated from the University of Oxford in 2024 with a BA in Jurisprudence. 

Aibhlinn can be contacted by email: ALC@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 032335

Melissa R

Melissa Roberts

Partner, Commercial Property

Melissa R

Melissa Roberts

Partner, Commercial Property

Melissa has over 10 years of experience helping clients complete matters efficiently and effectively. 

Melissa acts on a wide range of commercial transactions including;

  • Acquisitions and disposals of commercial property (both freehold and leasehold and whether registered or unregistered);
  • Commercial landlord and tenant work (acting for both landlords and tenants);
  • Secured lending (acting for both lenders and borrowers); and
  • Asset sales and purchases.

Melissa works with a range of clients and is known for her proactive approach to transactions.  Clients value her straight-talking advice, responsiveness and focus on commercial outcomes.

Qualifications

  • Solicitor (LLB Hons)

Melissa can be contacted by email: mrr@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 032375

Siobhan Cox

Siobhan Cox

Partner & Head of Department, Property Department 

Siobhan Cox

Siobhan Cox

Partner & Head of Department, Property Department 

Areas of Specialism

Siobhan is the Head of the Residential Property Department. 

Siobhan has worked for Dean Wilson LLP for over 20 years and specialises in both Residential and Commercial property transactions. 

Siobhan has a vast amount of clients worldwide and has an excellent reputation with estate agents, mortgage brokers, surveyors and the like.

Recent Client Matters

  • Sale of London Residence worth in excess of £5m,
  • Refinance of commercial and residential portfolio worth in excess of £20m
  • Purchase of block of residential units worth in excess of £50m

Qualifications, Membership 

  • Solicitor
  • LLB Hons

Siobhan can be contacted by email: sac@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249205. 

Siobhan is assisted by Fatima Hussain, Paralegal within the Property Department. Fatima’s contact details are: Email: fyh@deanwilson.co.uk Direct Dial: 01273 249209. 

jessica edwards

Jessica Edwards

Associate Solicitor, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence

jessica edwards

Jessica Edwards

Associate Solicitor, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence

Areas of Specialism

Areas of Specialism

Jessica Edwards is a Solicitor specialising in personal injury and medical negligence claims. She qualified as a Solicitor in March 2022, having previously spent four years working closely with the team on high‑value catastrophic injury matters, including complex brain and spinal cord injury claims.

Jessica regularly assists Ben Davey on catastrophic injury case. Alongside this, she manages her own caseload across a broad range of personal injury and medical negligence claims.

Acting exclusively for injured people, Jessica has experience supporting clients who have sustained serious, life‑changing injuries following:

  • road traffic accidents (including those involving cars, cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists), 
  • accidents at work, 
  • accidents on public property and highways, 
  • and medical negligence.

She understands that, following an accident, a client’s day‑to‑day life can be profoundly affected. Her role is not only to pursue compensation, but to provide practical support at an early stage, including securing interim payments to relieve immediate financial pressure and to fund private treatment, rehabilitation and care where needed. At the same time, Jessica keeps a clear focus on the long‑term position, working to recover damages for loss of earnings and future earning capacity, and to ensure clients have the resources required to support their recovery and long‑term independence wherever possible.

Jessica is committed to providing clear, practical advice and ensuring that clients feel supported, informed and confident throughout the claims process.

Recent Client Matters 

Jessica has successfully settled claims for clients who have suffered a wide range of serious injuries, including multiple fractures and musculoskeletal injuries, spinal injuries, amputations and traumatic brain injuries.

Personal Injury 

Medical Negligence 

Inquests 

Feedback 

‘Thank you for allowing us to represent our father and mother and showing us how it can be done with respect and dignity even when we know what was happening behind the scenes was quite different.

You have all given dad the best chance to figure out what his future looks like and how to enjoy it without fear.’

‘The service we received from both Ben Davey and Jessica Edwards was exemplary. We cannot fault their professionalism and they kept us fully informed throughout the entire process in their dealing with what was an extremely complicated and lengthy case. Ben and Jessica constantly protected us from the stress and intimidation by the defendants over the course of the proceedings to ensure we felt safe and informed and their expertise, efficiency and attention to detail led to a positive outcome, one better than we could have ever hoped for.’

Memberships

  • Member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL)
  • Member of the Major Trauma Signposting Partnership (Brighton)

Contact

Jessica can be contacted by email at JVE@deanwilson.co.uk or by telephone on 01273 249292.

james fletcher dean wilson

James Fletcher

Senior Associate Solicitor, Residential Property Department 

james fletcher dean wilson

James Fletcher

Senior Associate Solicitor, Residential Property Department 

Areas of Specialism

James joined Dean Wilson LLP in February 2022, having worked in the Eastbourne area for approximately 10 years prior. James specialises in all aspects of Residential property transactions. 

James’ specialist areas are newbuild sales and purchases with or without help to buy involvement, as well as residential and buy to let sales, purchases, re-mortgages and transfers of equity’s. 

James also provides Independent Legal Advice on Guarantees and Indemnities, where required. 

Qualifications, Membership 

  • Solicitor
  • LLB Hons

James can be contacted by email: jf@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: 01273 032341

James is assisted by Charlotte Hazeldine, Paralegal within the Property Department. Charlotte’s contact details are: Email: cbh@deanwilson.co.uk Direct Dial: 01273 032330. 

EB

Erin Boland

Trainee Solicitor, Commercial Property

EB

Erin Boland

Trainee Solicitor, Commercial Property

Areas of Specialism

Erin joined Dean Wilson as a Paralegal in the Corporate Commercial team before commencing her Training Contract. She is currently undertaking her final training seat in our Commercial Property team, where she hopes to qualify upon completion of her training contract.

During her Training Contract, Erin has gained experience across Commercial Property and Dispute Resolution, developing a broad understanding of both transactional and contentious legal work.

Prior to starting her Training Contract, Erin assisted the Corporate Commercial team on a wide range of corporate transactions, including share and asset acquisitions and disposals, shareholders' agreements, and company restructurings. Her responsibilities included drafting ancillary legal documents, preparing legal due diligence reports, and carrying out legal research.

Erin graduated from the University of Sussex in 2022 with a first class LLB.

Recent Client Matters

  • Regularly assists one of the largest property agents in the UK to acquire letting and block management agents across the country.
  • Assisting buyers in purchasing a hospitality business in Brighton;
  • Assisting sellers and buyers of estate agency businesses; 

Qualifications, Membership 

  • LLB Hons

Erin can be contacted by email: egb@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249227.  

Craig Shoosmith

Craig Shoosmith

Compliance Manager

Craig Shoosmith

Craig Shoosmith

Compliance Manager

Craig joined Dean Wilson in March 2026, after a 20 year career in the financial services industry, providing regulatory and financial crime guidance to a number of high-street firms. 

Craig is now providing that expertise to Dean Wilson to help the firm achieve the ‘gold standard’ in the legal sector for compliance with regulatory and legislative requirements, assisting the Managing Partner and Finance Director with data protection, complaint management, and other related activities. 

CONTACT DETAILS 

Craig can be contacted by email: cfs@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: 01273 249269.

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