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 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.
Partner, Employment Law
Clare Waller is an experienced employment lawyer who acts primarily for employers, ranging from SMEs and owner-managed businesses to HR directors and business owners, across the South East and beyond. Clare’s approach is strategic, commercially focused, and tailored to the unique needs of each client.
Unlike mass HR providers, Clare delivers legally robust advice from a qualified solicitor who gets to know your business and your strategic priorities. Her solutions are designed to protect your business, your people, and your reputation, and stand up in court if challenged.
Clare read Law at the University of Reading, achieved distinction in the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law, Guildford, and holds a Masters in Employment Law from the University of East Anglia. She qualified in 1999 and became a Partner at HRJ LLP in 2002, later joining Hewitsons LLP and then Dean Wilson LLP to head up its employment law team.
Book a free 30-minute Employer Risk Review
Email: CRW@deanwilson.co.uk
Direct dial: (01273) 249277
Partner, Real Estate & Commercial Property and Development
Jo trained and practised at a silver circle corporate law firm for a decade before moving to a regional firm in Gatwick. When the opportunity finally arose to practise in Brighton 7 years ago, Jo jumped at the chance of joining Dean Wilson LLP.
With almost 20 years’ experience, Jo specialises in all areas of non-contentious commercial property, property finance and development. She acts for a variety of clients: investors, developers, landlords, tenants, assignees in relation to refinancing, acquisitions, disposals, leases, management matters and development contracts.
Jo can be contacted by email: jnt@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249252.
Jo is assisted by Katherine Glasson, Legal Secretary within the Real Estate Department. Katherine’s contact details are: Email: kg@deanwilson.co.uk Direct Dial: 01273 249266.
Paralegal, Commercial Property
James is a Paralegal in the Commercial Property team. He joined the firm in August as a Legal Assistant and was promoted to Paralegal in February. Prior to joining the firm, James worked as a project manager for over a year following his graduation from the University of Bristol.
RECENT CLIENT MATTERS
James is currently managing a number of matters under supervision, including leases, sales and other commercial property transactions.
In one recent matter, James was involved in the grant of leases for three commercial units which were required to complete before the end of the financial year. He opened and completed all three matters within a 10‑day timeframe in order to meet the deadline.
James also assists the fee earners within the department with drafting documents, managing completions, Land Registry applications and preparing Stamp Duty Land Tax returns.
QUALIFICATIONS
LLB (Hons) 2:1, University of Bristol
CONTACT DETAILS
James can be contacted by email at JMM@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial +44 (0)1273 249210.
Senior Paralegal, Dispute Resolution
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.
Sara can be contacted by email: sn@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249276
Paralegal, Corporate Department
Abigail has recently graduated from the University of Southampton with an LLB (Hons) Degree in Law and has now begun her legal career at the firm, within the Corporate Department. In her role, she assists the team with various aspects of corporate transactions, including drafting legal ancillary documents, assembling legal due diligence reports and conducting research.
LLB Hons
Abigail can be contacted by email: alb@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249256.
Paralegal, Court of Protection
Katie is a Paralegal in our Court of Protection Team with a focus on supporting clients with acquired brain injury to manage their finances. Assisting client's with anything from paying a dog-walker to buying a house, arranging insurance to applying for benefits. Since joining the team in 2023, Katie has become a reassuring and trusted presence for clients and their wider team, offering consistent support and confidence in all matters.
Katie has experience with the following:
Associate Solicitor, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence
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:
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
Contact
Jessica can be contacted by email at JVE@deanwilson.co.uk or by telephone on 01273 249292.
Partner, Dispute Resolution
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.
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.
Executive Assistant, Dispute Resolution
Sarah is the Executive Assistant to Duncan Wilks, Head of our Dispute Resolution team, providing high‑level, proactive support to ensure the smooth and effective day‑to‑day management of his practice commitments.
A highly experienced Executive Assistant, Sarah has a strong track record of supporting senior leaders across a range of sectors, including within a FTSE 250 global insurance company. She is accustomed to operating in fast‑paced environments and is recognised for her discretion, sound judgement and meticulous attention to detail.
Her role encompasses complex diary management, meeting and event coordination, travel planning, and the preparation and formatting of correspondence and documentation. She liaises confidently with internal stakeholders, manages competing priorities effectively, and supports the wider team through clear, accurate and timely communication.
Sarah Brown can be contacted by email: SZB@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: 01273 249293
Partner & Head of Family Department
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
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.
Partner, Dispute Resolution
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.
Nicholas can be contacted by email: NP@deanwilson.co.uk or on their direct dial: (0) 1273 249203.
Paralegal, Dispute Resolution
Vivien is a dedicated Paralegal in our Dispute Resolution Department, specialising in possession proceedings. She assists with rent mediation, as well as Section 21, Section 8, and Section 146 claims. Committed to delivering outstanding support, Vivien ensures her clients receive expert guidance throughout the legal process.
Vivien has just over a year of Legal Assistant experience supporting with drafting and legal research in Canada, prior to joining us at Dean Wilson.
Paralegal, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence
Summer Woodman joined the Personal Injury & Medical Negligence team in September 2023, first starting as a Legal Assistant before moving into her current role as Paralegal in June 2025.
Summer assists Ben Davey, Jessica Edwards, and Lyubov Nickollchova on a broad range of personal injury and medical negligence claims including:
In her role, Summer assists the solicitors in her team throughout a claim, providing a compassionate and empathetic approach, to ensure their clients are kept informed, updated and supported throughout the process of their legal claim.
Summer has assisted the team in successfully settling claims for client’s, including some of the following personal injury, inquest and medical negligence cases:
Substantial Six-Figure Settlement Following Road Traffic Accident | Dean Wilson LLP
£5.6 million brain & spinal injury settled
Dean Wilson Secures Settlement for Spinal Injury Following Aircraft Crash
Failure by NHS Trust Played Part in Mother’s Suicide | Dean Wilson LLP
Law LLB
Legal Practice LLM (LPC)
May 2026
‘I cannot thank Ben, Jessica, Dean Wilson Solicitors and Summer their paralegal enough for everything they have done for me throughout my accident and injuries claim case over the past three and a half years.
From the very beginning, they have been incredibly professional, compassionate, and genuinely supportive during what has been a very long and emotional journey.
Communication has always been timely and clear, and they consistently checked up on me to make sure I was doing okay. What stood out most was how much they truly had my best interests at heart at every stage of the case. They were also very flexible and understanding whenever challenges arose, which made such a difference during difficult times.
My family, friends, and colleagues who interacted with Ben, Jessica, and Summer also appreciated their kindness, patience, and professionalism. Every interaction was handled with care and respect, and it was clear that they genuinely cared about both me and the people supporting me.
After three and a half years, they successfully brought the case to a close with a very good settlement, and I will always be grateful for their dedication, hard work, and unwavering support throughout the process.
There is a lot more I would love to say but this is already lengthy.
I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for solicitors who are not only highly skilled and professional, but also kind, patient, and truly compassionate people.’
CONTACT DETAILS
Summer can be contacted by email: szw@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249297.
Associate Solicitor, Private Client
Rebecca qualified into the Private Client team in 2019 after completing her training contract with Dean Wilson LLP. Rebecca studied the LPC at BPP Holborn London after studying Law LLB at the University of Nottingham. Rebecca is working towards full membership with the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and has further qualifications in Administration of Estates, Administration of Trusts and Taxation of Trusts and Estates.
Rebecca has experience in dealing with:
Rebecca can provide advice on the best type of Wills taking account of a client’s personal circumstances, tax position and inheritance planning.
Rebecca has a broad range of experience in probate cases including high value probates, intestacies, Ad Colligenda Bona (limited grants usually required for the quick sale of property), and fractious families.
Rebecca can be contacted by email: RCG@deanwilson.co.uk or on their direct dial: (0) 1273 249280.
Partner, Deputy, Professional Trustee and Mediator
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:
Many catastrophic personal injury and medical negligence litigation solicitors and Deputies nationally, trust her and seek her advice and support with their vulnerable clients.
Frances can be contacted by email: FVP@deanwilson.co.uk or on their direct dial: (0) 1273 249207.
Solicitor Apprentice, Family Department
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:
Poppy can be contacted by email: PS@deanwilson.co.uk or on their direct dial: 01273 249225.
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