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, Property Department
David Barling is one of the Partners in the Property Department and has considerable experience in all types of Commercial Property Law.
David acts for a number of property investors and property companies on a wide scale and is used to dealing with very high value transactions. David also deals with mortgages and in particular, high value loan market association type mortgages.
David is also experienced in Local Government work having been a member of a number of Councils over the years latterly West Sussex County Council.
Partner & Head of Real Estate Commercial Development
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.
Paralegal, Private Client
Linh is a paralegal in our Private Client team, supporting the partner and solicitors in the team. Prior to joining the Private Client team, Linh worked in our Dispute Resolution team, specialising in Landlord and Tenant possession claims, dealing with matters arising under Sections 8 and 21 of the Housing Act 1988.
LLB Law (Hons) from University of Sussex
Linh can be contacted by email: LGP@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249244.
Senior Paralegal, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence
Tom is a Senior Paralegal in the Personal Injury and Medical Negligence department. He currently assists Ben Davey and Jessica Edwards and assists on a variety of cases ranging from moderate to high-value catastrophic injury cases involving brain injury and spinal cord injury.
Tom can be contacted by email: TSG@deanwilson.co.uk or on their direct dial: (0) 1273 032346.
Partner, Dispute Resolution
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.
Claire can be contacted by email: CLW@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: (0) 1273 249229.
Head of HR
Sarah is a highly experienced HR generalist with a full and comprehensive knowledge of all HR practices and employment law. With over 30 years of experience in the field of HR, Sarah has established a reputation for providing excellent service, with strong commercial awareness and a pragmatic approach to outcomes.
Sarah specialises in coaching and mentoring, assisting others to reach their full potential, whether that be through training, career development, performance or people management practice.
Sarah has a passion for fostering a professional, engaging and supportive culture, through working practices, recruitment, retention, succession planning, well-being and learning and development.
Sarah is known for her practical, resourceful approach, always seeking the most efficient and productive outcomes and solutions for all.
Sarah can be contacted by email, sjs@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial, 01273 032318.
Partner, Family Department
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.
Recent Client Matters
Qualifications, Membership
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
Senior Paralegal, Dispute Resolution
Michaela is a Senior Paralegal in the Dispute Resolution team who specialises in Landlord and Tenant disputes.
Michaela graduated from the University of the West of England in 2014 and has nearly 10 years’ experience in the legal industry. Michaela joined Dean Wilson in January 2024 and has built her background in general litigation, including property litigation, personal injury, debt recovery and clinical negligence matters.
Michaela can be contacted by email: MCT@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249250.
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.
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.
Partner & Head of Commercial Real Estate
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.
Scott can be contacted by email: sg@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: 01273 249265.
Solicitor, Commercial Development
Amy joined the Commercial Development team in 2023, after successfully completing her training contract with Dean Wilson LLP. Amy studied the LPC after completing the GDL with the University of Law part-time whilst working at Dean Wilson LLP as a paralegal.
Amy has experience in dealing with a variety of commercial and residential property transactions, including acquisitions and sales of freehold and leasehold land for both Landlords and Tenants, refinances and re-mortgages for commercial and residential properties and dealing with development site set-up requirements.
Amy works closely with the team which comprises David Hodge (Partner) Sinead Dye (Associate Solicitor), Isabelle Svendsen (Paralegal), Samanda Mazreku (Legal Assistant) 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.
Amy can be contacted by email: ae@deanwilson.co.uk and her direct dial is 01273 249 268.
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
Ethan is a recent law graduate and a paralegal in the Dispute Resolution team: He specialises in Landlord and Tenant Possession claims, including but not limited to Section 8 & Section 21 proceedings of the Housing Act 1988. Ethan is currently managing his own caseload of Possession Claims.
Ethan can be contacted by email: EJB@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: 01273 249245
Paralegal, Commercial Property
Kobe is a recent first-class law graduate from the University of Portsmouth and is at the beginning of his legal career. In his first role with Dean Wilson, he assisted with a range of Landlord and Tenant matters, including possession proceedings under Section 8 and Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 in the Dispute Resolution team. Kobe has since moved into the firm’s Commercial Property Department, where he continues to develop his legal knowledge and practical experience.
LLB Law Graduate from the University of Portsmouth
James can be contacted by email at KJD@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial 01273 032377.
Paralegal, Dispute Resolution
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.
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