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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.

Rebecca Asaolu Dean Wilson

Rebecca Asaolu

Trainee Solicitor

Rebecca Asaolu Dean Wilson

Rebecca Asaolu

Trainee Solicitor

Area of Specialism 

Rebecca is currently a Trainee Solicitor doing her third seat in Residential Conveyancing assisting Karl Willmott-Post and Siobhan Cox on residential sales, purchases and re-mortgages. . 

Rebecca recently completed her second trainee seat in the Personal and Medical Injury Team, working on a mix of medical negligence and personal injury claims under the supervision of Alex Brown.

Rebecca completed her first seat in the commercial property team, assisting Scott Gair and Francesca Lyons on a wide range of commercial real estate transactions. 

Qualifications:

  • LLB 
  • LLM 
  • LPC LLM

Rebecca can be contacted by email: ROA@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 032352

izabela toma dean wilson

Izabela Toma

Paralegal, Dispute Resolution

izabela toma dean wilson

Izabela Toma

Paralegal, Dispute Resolution

Area of Specialism

Izabela is a proficient paralegal specialising in property litigation.

Izabela independently handles residential possession proceedings and is experienced in dealing with disputed matters. She consistently strives to resolve conflicts, seeking to achieve the best outcome for her clients.

She also works closely with a Partner to assist in various types of disputes, including title disputes, forfeiture under commercial leases, lease variation, and determination of service charge reasonability.

Recent Cases

Regularly acts for the Legal Protection Group in nationwide property possession proceedings.

Successfully handled a case involving the eviction of a trespasser in which she achieved a favourable financial resolution for the client, avoiding the need for court proceedings.

Assisted in representing an RTM company for an application to the First-Tier Property Tribunal for the determination of service charge reasonability and the variation of a lease.

Qualifications

Izabela graduated with a First-class degree from the University of Law, Guildford, and holds an award for the highest average mark at her campus.

Izabela can be contacted by email: ixt@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273249296.

Maryam

Maryam Pour

Paralegal, Dispute Resolution 

Maryam

Maryam Pour

Paralegal, Dispute Resolution 

Areas of Specialism

Maryam is a dedicated Paralegal in the Dispute Resolution team and assists with various possession proceedings including rent mediation, section 21 and section 8 claims. Maryam ensures our clients are kept at the forefront of her work and strives to achieve the best outcomes for them. 

Maryam brings valuable experience from her previous role in a local firm where she worked in the Residential Property department and undertook various caseloads including purchases, sales, lease extensions and transfers of equity, and also assisted with Commercial Property matters. 

Maryam has passed the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE1) and is currently preparing to undertake the SQE2 as part of her journey to qualify as a Solicitor. 

Qualifications

  • SQE1 completed 
  • Distinction MA Law 
  • BSc (Hons) Psychology with Clinical Approaches 

Maryam can be contacted by email: MTP@deanwilson.co.uk or on their direct dial: (0) 1273 032312. 

William Spratt

William Spratt

Paralegal, Dispute Resolution

William Spratt

William Spratt

Paralegal, Dispute Resolution

Areas of Specialism

Willam is a paralegal in our Dispute Resolution Department specialising in possession claims. William has experience in dealing with landlord and tenant disputes. William acts as the firsthand communication point for the team for any queries from clients or tenants.

Recent Client Matters

Assisting in claims for possession of residential property based on no-fault eviction, and breach of tenancy including:

  • Animals in the property
  • Damage to the property
  • Arrears

Qualifications, Membership & Directory Rankings

  • Bachelor of Law with Criminology (LLB Hons) from Oxford Brookes University

William can be contacted by email: wgs@deanwilson.co.uk or on direct dial: 01273 032354

duncan wilks dean wilson

Duncan Wilks

Partner, Dispute Resolution 

duncan wilks dean wilson

Duncan Wilks

Partner, Dispute Resolution 

Areas of Specialism

Duncan advises clients on a range of contentious issues relating to property including:

  • Lease renewals 
  • Dilapidations
  • Restrictive covenants
  • Easements
  • Boundary disputes
  • Forfeiture
  • Debt recovery
  • Adverse possession
  • Break rights
  • Breaches of contract/lease terms
  • Possession claims (both commercial and residential)
  • Disputed mortgages and secured loans
  • Trusts in land
  • Tenants in administration/liquidation

Duncan’s other main area of practice is litigation arising out corporate insolvency and bankruptcy and in particular, transactions at undervalue, preferences, director conduct and trustee possession claims. 

Duncan has extensive experience of broader commercial issues including contractual disputes, debt recovery and professional negligence. 

Recent Client Matters

  • Acting for a landlord in a successful application to the Land Tribunal for a declaration of breach of lease owing to the tenant (a housing authority) placing residents in their properties who abused drugs. 
  • Acting for a property owner who acquired a large commercial premises subject to an unregistered 999-year lease; brought a successful claim under s.29(1) of the Land Registration Act 2002 for a declaration that the client purchased free of the lease and thereafter recovered possession.  
  • Bringing a successful action for forfeiture of a long residential lease owing to the tenant making unauthorised structural alterations.
  • Defending a client against a high-street mortgage provider taking sale and possession proceedings; no possession was ordered and the claim was settled.
  • Acting for the liquidator of a well-known company bringing a successful claim against a director for breach of fiduciary duties.
  • Acting for a defendant company in its successful defence against a multi-million pound claim relating to unpaid commission for investment introductions.
  • Bringing possession proceedings (and successfully defending an appeal) against a tenant who used the client’s property for holiday lettings.
Feedback

“Duncan Wilks goes the extra mile. He takes the pressure from your shoulders and happily puts it on his.  He is excellent in his field.”

Legal 500, 2024

“Duncan took over a difficult and complex dispute for me.  He cut through the background noise, identified the real issues and formed a strategy.  He took control and found a solution which resulted in a favourable outcome.” 

Duncan can be contacted by email: drw@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: 01273 249236.

Faye Cann Dean Wilson

Faye Cann

Paralegal, Dispute Resolution

Faye Cann Dean Wilson

Faye Cann

Paralegal, Dispute Resolution

Areas of Specialism

Faye is a paralegal specialising in Lease extensions and enfranchisements. Faye deals with matters such as Deeds of Covenant, Licences to Assign and Notices of Transfer and works closely with Claire Whiteman and Lisa Osborne.

Qualifications, Membership & Directory Rankings

  • Faye is currently studying with CILEX alongside her work

Faye can be contacted by email: FCC@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: (0) 1273 032353. 

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.

Melissa

Melissa Frankling

HR Officer

Melissa

Melissa Frankling

HR Officer

Areas of Specialism

Melissa is a dedicated HR Officer with a passion for fostering a positive and supportive work environment. Melissa has a strong background in Law, having joined the firm as a Paralegal in Dispute Resolution before transitioning into human resources. 

Melissa oversees the general day-to-day employee relations, arranges training for the firm and manages the recruitment and onboarding process while ensuring a seamless employee experience. 

Melissa brings Percy, her adorable Golden Retriever pup, into the office – which everyone loves. 

Qualifications

Melissa has completed her Level 3 CIPD and is currently undergoing Level 5. 

Melissa can be contacted by email mjf@deanwilson.co.uk, or on her direct dial, 01273 032329.

dean wilson placeholder staff profile

Aibhlinn Carroll

Paralegal, Corporate Department

dean wilson placeholder staff profile

Aibhlinn Carroll

Paralegal, Corporate Department

Areas of Specialism

Aibhlinn assists our Corporate Commercial team, working on various aspects of corporate transactions, including company restructuring, share and asset acquisitions and disposals, and shareholders’ agreements. Some of Aibhlinn’s responsibilities include drafting legal ancillary documents, legal due diligence reports and carrying out research.

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

Recent Client Matters

  • Regularly assists one of the largest property agents in the UK to acquire letting and block management agents across the country.
  • Assists in the sale and purchase of estate agency businesses.  
  • Assists sellers and buyers of hospitality businesses. 

Qualifications, Membership 

  • BA (Hons) in Jurisprudence

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

Fatima Y Hussain Dean Wilson

Fatima Y Hussain

Solicitor Apprentice, Dispute Resolution 

Fatima Y Hussain Dean Wilson

Fatima Y Hussain

Solicitor Apprentice, Dispute Resolution 

Fatima is a Solicitor Apprentice in the Dispute Resolution department, undergoing her SQE to qualify as a Solicitor. 

Fatima 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

Beth Allan

Beth Allan

Paralegal, Commercial Development Team

Beth Allan

Beth Allan

Paralegal, Commercial Development Team

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

jennie apsey dean wilson

Jennie Apsey

Solicitor, Family Department

jennie apsey dean wilson

Jennie Apsey

Solicitor, Family Department

Areas of Specialism

Jennie is a Solicitor in the Family team, who advises in relation to Children Act litigation (private law), Financial Remedies on divorce, cohabitation agreements and disputes, and protection from domestic abuse/injunctive relief. 

  • Child arrangements orders
  • Children – specific issue and prohibited steps orders - temporary or permanent removal from the jurisdiction, enforcement
  • Financial remedies on divorce / dissolution of civil partnership - pension sharing, litigation and financial conduct
  • Pre and Post-nuptial agreements
  • Separation and cohabitation agreements 
  • Domestic violence injunctions

Recent Client Matters

  • Jennie regularly represents parents in private children law proceedings where mental health issues, substance misuse, and allegations of domestic abuse are a feature.
  • Jennie has recently successfully defended a Specific Issue application by a mother to remove a child from the jurisdiction and secured a Port Alert Order. She has also acted for the Applicant in a Specific Issue application to permanently remove children from the jurisdiction.
  • Jennie has experience of acting for parents in Children Act proceedings that include Fact-Finding hearings.
  • Jennie has experience of acting for clients in both long and short marriages and recently acted for the Applicant Husband in Financial Remedy proceedings following a very short marriage of 7 months’ duration where all the assets were in the wife’s name including the Family Home. A very successful outcome was secured for the client which enabled him to rehouse and settle significant liabilities.
  • Jennie is often instructed to prepare Financial Consent Orders following agreements reached between parties directly, in mediation, or as a result of solicitor-led negotiation.

Notable Cases

  • X v D [2023] EWFC 332 (B)

Qualifications, Membership 

  • Solicitor (PGDL)

Qualifications, Membership 

Legal 500 “Star in the making”

Jennie can be contacted by email: JA@deanwilson.co.uk or on their direct dial: (0) 1273 249299. 

dean wilson placeholder staff profile

Beatrice Bentley

Paralegal, Residential Conveyancing 

dean wilson placeholder staff profile

Beatrice Bentley

Paralegal, Residential Conveyancing 

Beatrice has recently graduated from Sussex University after completing her Master of Laws. During Beatrice's master's, she conducted independent research for her dissertation, achieving a high grade of 84%. 

In Beatrice's role, she assists fee-earners and Solicitors with all aspects of a sale, purchase, re-mortgage, and transfer of equity. 

Beatrice loves going on dog walks in her spare time. 

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Sussex
  • Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Sussex 

Beatrice can be contacted by email: BFB@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 032342

Megan Barnes

Megan Barnes

Paralegal, Residential Conveyancing Department

Megan Barnes

Megan Barnes

Paralegal, Residential Conveyancing Department

Areas of Specialism

Megan is a paralegal within our Residential Conveyancing team. She assists in all aspects of conveyancing transactions, specialising in sales, purchases, reportages and transfers of equity. 

Megan graduated from the University of Sussex in 2024, achieving first-class honours in her Law degree. Whilst at university, Megan was a part of the Performing Arts Legal Clinic and provided legal advice and guidance to a variety of charities in the arts industry.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Law (LLB Hons) from the University of Sussex

Megan hopes to complete SQE 1 & 2 in the near future to fulfil her aspiration of becoming a solicitor. 

In her spare time, Megan enjoys playing piano and going to pilates classes.

Megan can be contacted by email: MBB@deanwilson.co.uk or on their direct dial: 01273 032324. 

david hodge dean wilson

David Hodge

Partner & Head of Real Estate Commercial Development 

david hodge dean wilson

David Hodge

Partner & Head of Real Estate Commercial Development 

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

isabelle svendsen dean wilson

Isabelle Svendsen

Paralegal, Commercial Development Team

isabelle svendsen dean wilson

Isabelle Svendsen

Paralegal, Commercial Development Team

Isabelle has worked for Dean Wilson LLP for over 7 years and specialises in plot sales, often off-plan.

Isabelle works closely with the team which comprises David Hodge (Partner) Sinead Dye (Associate Solicitor), Amy Edwards (Solicitor), Beth Allan (Paralegal) and Beverley 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.  

Isabelle can be contacted by email: ixs@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249259 

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