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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.

BD

Ben Davey

Partner, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence and Practice Lead in Serious Injury Claims

BD

Ben Davey

Partner, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence and Practice Lead in Serious Injury Claims

Areas of Specialism

Ben is a Senior Chartered Legal Executive in the Personal Injury & Medical Negligence team. He specialises in complex personal injury and medical negligence claims, acting for the injured party or the families. He specialises in a wide range of life-changing injuries ranging from road traffic accidents, employment claims to severe injury medical negligence claims. Ben is also frequently instructed to represent families at inquest.

Ben has dealt with a number of profile matters which have been reported in the regional, national, and international media. 

Recent Client Matters

Personal Injury

Medical Negligence

Inquests

Human Rights

Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority

Feedback

Ben works hard to get the best possible results for his clients. He is organised, has good analytical skills and a good eye for detail – Chambers & Partners 2024

 

Thinks outside the box – he sees and acknowledges my struggles – The Legal 500 2023

 

Years of relevant experience and can take cases forward and to successful conclusions with vigour – The Legal 500 2022

 

Truly outstanding professional – he is willing to go the extra mile and you can always rely on him to ensure clients get justice - Chambers and Partners 2022

 

Ben Davey was highly professional, diligent and constructively helpful in his explanations. Ben quickly identified the issues and provided a practical approach to deal with the issues in question and accordingly I have no hesitation in recommending him and his firm – Google review

Qualifications, Membership (& Directory Rankings)

  • Senior Chartered Legal Executive (FCilex)
  • Member of Association of Personal Injury Lawyers
  • Headway Panel Solicitor
  • Major Trauma Signposting Partnership (Brighton)

Ben can be contacted by email: BD@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: (0) 1273 249287. 

Davey, Ben

PS

Poppy Spencer

Solicitor Apprentice, Family Department

PS

Poppy Spencer

Solicitor Apprentice, Family Department

Areas of Specialism

Poppy is a Solicitor Apprentice within the family department. Before embarking on the Solicitor Apprentice journey Poppy has paralegal experience within both the Court of Protection and Commercial Property Departments.

Poppy has experience with the following: 

  • Deputyships for Property & Financial Affairs
  • Liaison with the Court of Protection
  • Providing collaborative support to Litigation Solicitors
  • The management of client’s property and assets 

Recent Client Matters

  • Poppy works alongside the deputy for an elderly gentleman with Dementia. Poppy has arranged for his property to be maintained, equipment to be installed, and for social activities to be re-introduced into his life.
  • Poppy works collaboratively with litigation solicitors, architects, surveyors, and the client’s parents to purchase and renovate a ‘forever home’ which was adapted for the young client to meet his complex needs both now and long into his future.
  • Poppy provided collaborative support and information sharing to litigation solicitors to evidence the expenditure and losses experienced by a client for his multi-million-pound settlement.

Qualifications, Membership 

  • Member of the Professional Deputies Forum
  • Dementia Friend 

Poppy can be contacted by email: PS@deanwilson.co.uk or on their direct dial: 01273 249225. 

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.

FS

Freya Sethi

Apprentice Solicitor, Commercial Development 

FS

Freya Sethi

Apprentice Solicitor, Commercial Development 

Freya graduated from the University of East Anglia in 2025 and gained experience working in commercial property before joining Dean Wilson LLP.

Freya is now an Apprentice Solicitor in our Commercial Development team, working towards qualification as a solicitor through the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

She assists with a broad range of commercial property matters, including acquisitions and disposals, commercial leases and property refinancing transactions. Freya works closely with Sinead Dye and the wider Commercial Development team, gaining experience across a variety of development matters, including development land, site assembly and site acquisitions.

Qualifications

LLB LAW Degree 

Ccontact Details 

Freya Sethi can be contacted by email: FNS@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 032389

 

MD

Mollie Donnelly

Solicitor, Dispute Resolution

MD

Mollie Donnelly

Solicitor, Dispute Resolution

Mollie is a solicitor in the firm’s dispute resolution department, specialising in property litigation. She has experience with landlord and tenant disputes (both commercial and residential), and other property disputes such as dilapidations, boundary disputes and TOLATA 1996.  Mollie also has experience with enfranchisement. 

Qualifications 

Bachelor of Laws (LLB)

LPC LLM with Distinction in Professional Legal Practice

Contact Details 

Mollie can be contacted by email: mcd@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249234

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.

Julian Potter

Julian Potter

Senior Associate Solicitor, Private Client

Julian Potter

Julian Potter

Senior Associate Solicitor, Private Client

Areas of Specialism

Julian has over 20 years’ experience as a solicitor dealing with all aspects of Private Client work including Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Administration of Estates and Estate Planning.

Julian can advise on a variety of Wills to suit differing circumstances including advising on various types of trusts for efficient tax planning and asset protection.

Julian deals with a variety of estates of all values including intestacies and estates with business interests and can provide a service tailored to your needs whether it be obtaining the Grant of Probate or dealing with the administration of the entirety of the estate.

Julian can advise on Estate Planning matters including Inheritance Tax saving, the Inheritance Tax Nil Rate Band, the Residence Nil Rate Band and preservation of the same as well as providing Capital Gains Tax advice.

Julian always aims to forge a close relationship with his clients in trying to provide the best service and advice for them.

Julian can be contacted by email: JP@deanwilson.co.uk or on their direct dial: (0) 1273 249219. 

frances pierce dean wilson

Frances Pierce

Partner, Deputy, Professional Trustee and Mediator

frances pierce dean wilson

Frances Pierce

Partner, Deputy, Professional Trustee and Mediator

Areas of Specialism

Court of Protection Deputy and Professional Trustee, Catastrophic Personal and Medical Injury Litigation and CEDR accredited Mediator. Frances has a passion for making a difference to lives and has dedicated her whole career to helping clients and their families who suffer from life changing injuries including birth injury, acquired brain injury, spinal, amputees and those with PTSD following serious accidents and traumatic life events. She is a formidable litigator and advocate, and often calls upon her mediation skills to assist her clients and team members with disputes and issues.

Frances has acted in several high profile cases in her career including:

  • XVW & YZA v Gravesend Grammar Schools for Girls & Adventure Life Signs Ltd [2012] (Vicarious Liability in a Civil Rape claim)
  • Jenkins v Young Brothers Transport Ltd [2006] (assignment of Conditional Fee Agreements)
  • AA (Protected Party) v BB and another (2013) (Quasi-Deputyship costs and "stop start" PPO awards)

Many catastrophic personal injury and medical negligence litigation solicitors and Deputies nationally, trust her and seek her advice and support with their vulnerable clients.

  • Professional Deputy managing £540 million of assets on behalf of vulnerable clients.
  • Personal Injury Trust management
  • Specialist in overseeing rehabilitation and building care teams, property purchase and adaptations.
  • Professional Deputy Expert Witness Statements

Recent Client Matters

  • Acting as a Professional Trustee for a young woman during and following a multi-million-pound settlement. Frances has supported the purchase of a ‘forever home’ and is currently adapting this with the assistance of specialist teams. Frances is working closely with the beneficiary of the Trust to ensure she is supported, protected, consulted, and can maximise her independence.
  • Frances has been appointed by another firm as Financial Deputy for a young boy they represent in medical injury litigation. Frances has provided detailed robust expert evidence which has enabled significant damages to be recovered for Deputyship costs for the client’s lifetime. Frances is managing the multi-million-pound interim payment and will manage the final award to benefit the client including adapting his home to accommodate carers, a hydro pool, finding and working with his multidisciplinary rehabilitation team, employing a case manager, carers, managing investments, budgeting and ensuring an excellent quality of life for him.
  • Frances was chosen as the “go to” Deputy for a solicitor in another firm who was retiring from Deputyship work. She has been trusted to take on all the deputyship work and every client has been happy with the transition. Frances and the dedicated team are skilled in managing changes for severely damaged clients.

Qualifications

  • “Fellow” of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (“APIL”) 1996 - date
  • Member of the Forum of Complex Injury Solicitors (“FOCIS”) 2013- date
  • Member of the Professional Deputies Forum
  • Kent Law Society (Member 1990 – date) Honorary Secretary (2003- 2010), President (2011-2012) TWDLS President (2010-2011).
  • Ranked Band 1 Chambers and Partners – Personal injury - recognised as a leader nationally.

Frances can be contacted by email: FVP@deanwilson.co.uk or on their direct dial: (0) 1273 249207. 

Pierce, Frances

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, remortgages 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. 

samantha brace dean wilson

Samantha Brace

Solicitor, Dispute Resolution

samantha brace dean wilson

Samantha Brace

Solicitor, Dispute Resolution

Samantha has recently qualified as a solicitor in June 2025 within the Dispute Resolution Department. Samantha works closely with Claire Whiteman on Property Litigation, Enfranchisement and General Litigation cases. 

During Samantha's training contract, she undertook the following seats: 

  • First seat was in our Personal Injury & Medical Negligence team, assisting Alex Brown, head of the Personal Injury department with claims in relation to severe and life changing injuries resulting in Brain Injury, Birth Injury, Severe Orthopaedic Injuries and Spinal Cord Injury. 

  • Second seat was in the Private Client department undertaking a range of work including Wills, Probates and Trust work under the supervision of Julian Potter.

  • Third and final seat was in the Dispute Resolution Department working on Property Litigation, Enfranchisement and General Litigation cases.

Samantha previously worked as a Paralegal in the Dispute Resolution team running her own possession claims assisting landlords recover their residential property along with any rent arrears owed and a successful Judgment for their legal costs. 

Samantha worked closely with a well-known local managing agents to help clients achieve the best possible outcome. She also assisted senior members in the team with more general litigation matters. 

Qualifications

  • Solicitor
  • 1st Class LLB Law (Hons)
  • LPC LLM with Distinction in Professional Legal Practice

Samantha can be contacted by email: slb@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249298. 

CW

Clayton Weir

Paralegal, Dispute Resolution 

CW

Clayton Weir

Paralegal, Dispute Resolution 

Areas of Specialism

Clayton is a Paralegal in the Dispute Resolution team, specialising in residential property repossession under Section 8 and Section 21. Clayton helps landlords navigate the legal process with clear advice and practical support, making complex procedures feel more manageable. 

Qualifications

  • University of Leeds (LLB Hons)
Julian Hunt 2025 headshot

Julian Hunt

Partner & Head of Family Department

Julian Hunt 2025 headshot

Julian Hunt

Partner & Head of Family Department

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. 

Hunt, Julian

Amanda Hayward Dean Wilson

Amanda Hayward

Finance Director

Amanda Hayward Dean Wilson

Amanda Hayward

Finance Director

Areas of Specialism

Amanda is the Finance Director for Dean Wilson LLP and has over 20 years of experience in both this field and practice management.   She is responsible for the overall financial management and performance of the firm.  She enjoys looking at new and improved ways to make the financial process and reporting more efficient and seamless from both a management and fee earning perspective.  She works closely with the James Chadburn, the Managing Partner in supporting the firm’s plans for future growth and development. 

Will I

William Irvine

Paralegal, Dispute Resolution 

Will I

William Irvine

Paralegal, Dispute Resolution 

Area of Specialism

William is a recent first-class law graduate from West of England University. This is Williams's first role in law and he is currently assisting the team on Landlord and Tenant matters including the possession proceedings by way of Section 8 and/or Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

Qualifications

  • First Class Honours LLB Degree from the University of the West of England

William can be contacted by email: WXI@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: 01273 249255

AH

Aaron Humphrey-May

Paralegal, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence

AH

Aaron Humphrey-May

Paralegal, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence

Aaron is a Paralegal in the Personal Injury & Medical Negligence team. He has experience assisting with complex and high-value serious injury claims, including claims arising from alleged sexual assaults perpetrated by high-profile individuals. His work also includes supporting clients with claims relating to medical negligence, road traffic accidents and other serious injuries.

Aaron has a background in the charity sector, having previously served as an area lead for a charity providing critical aid to people seeking asylum in the UK and abroad.

Aaron is passionate about making the client experience as straightforward and supportive as possible. A key part of his role involves working closely with clients, helping them understand the claims process, addressing their concerns and ensuring they feel informed and supported throughout their case.

QUALIFICATIONS

Aaron holds an undergraduate degree in History and a Master of Laws (LLM). He has successfully passed SQE1 and is currently preparing for SQE2, with the aim of qualifying as a solicitor through a future training contract with Dean Wilson LLP.

CONTACT DETAILS 

Aaron can be contacted by email: AHM@deanwilson or on her direct dial: 01273 032376.

Edward Anstiss

Edward Anstiss

Paralegal, Dispute Resolution

Edward Anstiss

Edward Anstiss

Paralegal, Dispute Resolution

Areas Of Specialism

Edward began his legal career with the firm after graduating from the University of Warwick, currently working as a Paralegal in the Dispute Resolution team.

Edward specialises in residential property matters, where he manages his own caseload and supports landlords through the process of obtaining possession orders and recovering costs. His work also includes handling Section 8 and Section 21 claims under the Housing Act 1988.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Arts in History & Politics: Graduated with Upper Second-Class Honours from the University of Warwick

Contact Details 

Edward can be contacted by email: eja@deanwilson.co.ukor on his direct dial: 01273 249222

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