Skip to main content

Who We Are

Get to know us

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.

Neel U

Neel Ummat

Partner & Head of Corporate Department

Neel U

Neel Ummat

Partner & Head of Corporate Department

Areas of Specialism

Neel has diverse transactional experience advising clients on share and asset acquisitions and disposals, secured and unsecured lending, joint ventures, shareholders’ agreements and company restructuring. He also advises on a wide range of commercial contracts for the supply of goods and services for well-established local and national clients covering music, arts and culture, close protection security, education and training, recruitment, travel and so forth. 

Neel has a strong focus on client care and a commercially focused approach, which has led to him establishing a reputation for always completing matters on time and within budget. Neel dedicates himself to providing clients a personal service and creating long-standing relationships to help businesses continue to succeed during their life cycles. 

Recent Client Matters

  • Neel regularly assists one of the largest property agents in the UK to acquire letting and block management agents across the country.
  • Neel acted for a property developer in raising circa £40 million for a new property development in Hove.

Qualifications, Membership 

  • Solicitor

  • LLB Hons

Neel can be contacted by email: nku@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: 01273 249 224. 

james chadburn dean wilson

James Chadburn

Managing Partner

james chadburn dean wilson

James Chadburn

Managing Partner

Areas of Specialism

James has over 20 years’ experience in the legal sector, with a strong focus on mergers and acquisitions, particularly within the estate agency and residential lettings industries. Having started his career at Dean Wilson LLP as a paralegal, James completed his training contract with the firm and qualified as a corporate solicitor. He has remained with the firm ever since and now leads as Managing Partner.

James is passionate about driving positive change, both within Dean Wilson and across the wider legal profession. He is committed to creating a more rewarding and efficient working environment for legal professionals, while ensuring clients continue to receive practical, commercially focused advice.

His leadership is underpinned by a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing modern law firms, and he brings a forward-thinking approach to both client service and internal culture.

James also serves as the firm’s COLP and MLRO.

Key Client Matters

  • Advised on a £35m acquisition of an estate agency group
  • Advised on a £15m acquisition of an estate agency group
  • Advised on the restructuring and investment into digitally based health platform

Qualifications, Membership 

  • Solicitor
  • LLB Hons

James can be contacted by email: jc@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: 01273 249267. 

Claire Glasgow

Claire Glasgow

Senior Associate Solicitor, Personal Injury

Claire Glasgow

Claire Glasgow

Senior Associate Solicitor, Personal Injury

Areas of specialism:

Claire is a Senior Associate in the Personal Injury & Medical Negligence team. She specialises in complex and high value serious injury claims, including claims for sexual assault perpetrated by high-profile individuals. 

Claire only ever acts for claimants, and her clients have suffered severe, sometimes fatal, injuries, including brain, spinal, orthopaedic, and psychiatric injuries, and injuries leading to amputation. She is passionate about using the litigation process to get practical help, support, and treatment in place for her clients as quickly as possible. She seeks early financial assistance from defendant insurers, in particular, funded rehabilitation programmes and interim payments of damages. This support helps clients financially while they cannot work and allows them access to specialist medical treatment while their claim is ongoing.

Claire has dealt with a number of high-profile matters which have been reported in the national media and has been interviewed by TV, radio and press regarding her work.

Claire’s clients live in Sussex, London and across the UK, she also works with overseas clients who have sustained injury in the UK. 

Sexual assault claims against high profile individuals

Claire has particular expertise representing clients who are claiming compensation for psychiatric injuries and other substantial losses arising out of sexual assault perpetrated by high-profile individuals. 

Claire is currently acting on behalf of claimants who have made allegations of sexual assault against Mohammed Al-Fayed and the financier Crispin Odey. She has previously successfully represented female and male victims of sexual assault against other perpetrators who are well-known in the world of film, TV, sport and business. Claire works on these cases with sensitivity and compassion and has a strong desire to use the law to achieve recognition of the human damage caused by the abuse of power and position. 

In 2006, she was part of the legal team that took a personal injury claim for rape to trial, one of only a handful of such cases to be litigated in the civil courts and won at trial.

Road traffic collisions, accidents at work and E.coli O157 claims

Many of Claire’s clients have been injured in road traffic accidents, as drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians. In some cases, the driver causing injury is not identified or insured, and she assists her clients with claims to the Motor Insurer's Bureau, gathering as much police, video, witness and other documentary evidence as possible to establish liability on the part of the defendant driver, and this includes instructing accident reconstruction experts when needed.

Claire also acts for those injured in accidents at work or premises outside the home, including those who have sustained serious injury as a result of negligent exposure to the bacteria E.coli O157. Claire has acted for a number of children who have sustained Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome as a result of an E.coli O157 infection, and has claimed for the ongoing health complications that that condition can cause

Victims of serious violent assault and acts of terrorism 

Claire has represented seriously injured victims of violent assault and acts of terrorism, making applications on their behalf to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. She has claimed compensation for UK victims of overseas terrorism, both from overseas governments and from the UK Victims of Terrorism Overseas Compensation Scheme.

Having worked in the field of serious injury for many years, Claire understands the impact that accidents and assaults have on her clients and their families. In each case, she works hard to gather all relevant evidence to ensure that she can show the full extent of her clients' injuries. She works with experienced barristers and instructs well-respected medical witnesses to prepare expert reports. She also works with forensic accountants and others to value other complex financial losses. She aims to maximise her clients' damages while supporting them through the litigation process.

Feedback:

‘Claire is assertive, provides clear direction and firm advice, and is a collaborative communicator.’ Chambers & Partners 2026

‘Claire is very good: she works very hard, has good medical knowledge and is very practical.’ Chambers & Partners 2026

‘Claire and her team have been phenomenal during my time with them. They have been thorough and meticulous, responsive, empathetic and understanding, proactive, and did a brilliant job with my case from beginning to end. I have been thoroughly impressed with how they handled my case and grateful to have been recommended them. I could not have wished for a better team and better care.’ – Client, polytrauma

Claire’s client was seriously injured in an RTA and showed incredible stoicism, determination, and an inspirational attitude towards rehab and recovery. The rehab funding was provided without any quibble, and her client was supported by a great case worker. Claire was brilliant in her approach, and I am pleased that her client now has the means to continue their life post-accident. I have no doubt her client will succeed in everything they choose to pursue.’ – Defendant insurer 

Whilst no amount of money will ever bring Ben* back, the outcome of the settlements will allow us to move forward, albeit slowly, with our lives without having the immediate financial pressures to endure as well as everything else. I cannot understate the importance of this outcome to us as we face the array of huge challenges in living the rest of our live without Ben*. The support from Claire has been outstanding in guiding us through this hugely challenging and intrusive process. We cannot thank you enough. The very tragic circumstances make this a highly emotive process - you and your team have been keenly attuned to this and have been very sensitive. This has made it far more tolerable for us that’s for sure.’ Client, fatal accident

‘When Claire … took on my case with the integrity and intelligence that they/she did. I felt supported, clearer and no longer alone in my battle. Claire and the entire team helped me get to the other side. Her compassion, patience and knowledge grounded me, heard me and I knew that my very best outcome, well-being and sense of justice was what they were striving to attain at all points of the now closed case.’ Client, high profile sexual assault claim

Claire is an advocate for true justice, a voice for the vulnerable and above all hope. She and her team truly supported me in my case. They helped find professionals to diagnose my current condition and future needs, highlighted my difficulties and even, unbeknown to me, covered all the costs until settlement because I could not afford them. Against constant denial, pushback and lack of clarity in CICA rules, they fought for me. I felt valued when all things became dire, I was even told I was to blame for my own injuries. Claire continued and helped me clear my name. I deeply cannot express how wonderful she is, when I felt all was lost and a fair outcome would never be reached.’ Client, amputation, CICA 

When dealing with a difficult emotional subject as mine, I felt empathy, understanding and care … Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being so kind and gracious.’ Client, high profile sexual assault claim

Key recent settlements:

  • Traumatic brain injury sustained in road traffic collision (pedestrian/vehicle) - £2.86 million settlement
  • Traumatic brain injury/polytrauma in road traffic collision (pedestrian/vehicle) – MIB Untraced - £2 million settlement
  • Psychiatric injury claim (secondary victim/fatal road traffic collision) - £500,000
  • Lower limb amputation (violent assault) – CICA - £500,000 (maximum award) achieved on appeal at the First Tier Tribunal
  • Traumatic brain injury/polytrauma (cyclist/vehicle) - £720,000 settlement
  • Traumatic brain injury (pedestrian/vehicle) - £2.6 million settlement

Voluntary positions

Claire is a trustee for Headway Sussex, a charity that provides advice and support for those living in Sussex with acquired brain injury.

Claire is a member of the Sussex Acquired Brain Injury Forum (SABIF) steering committee

Claire is also a trustee for Core Arts, a charity based in Hackney which promotes positive mental health and wellbeing through a college-like environment of creative learning.

Qualifications, membership and directory rankings

  • Solicitor – admitted September 2007
  • Chambers & Partners 2026 – Up and Coming (Personal Injury: Mainly Claimant)
  • Association of Personal Injury Lawyers – Member
  • Headway Panel Solicitor
  • Major Trauma Signposting Partnership (Brighton)

Claire can be contacted by email on: ceg@deanwilson.co.uk or by direct dial on (0)1273 032345

Abigail Bazyluk

Abigail Bazyluk

Paralegal, Corporate Department 

Abigail Bazyluk

Abigail Bazyluk

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. 

QUALIFICATIONS

LLB Hons 

CONTACT DETAILS 

Abigail can be contacted by email: alb@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249256.

Zoe Garrard

Zoe Garrard

Paralegal, Dispute Resolution

Zoe Garrard

Zoe Garrard

Paralegal, Dispute Resolution

Areas of Specialism

Zoe graduated from Queen Mary University of London in 2024, achieving an upper-class honours. Zoe is a paralegal within our Dispute Resolution team, providing support to the team, while taking on her own caseload. Zoe specialises in Landlord and Tenant Possession Claims, related to the Section 21 and Section 8 proceedings of the Housing Act 1988.

Qualifications

  • Global Law LLB (YA at HKU): Graduated with Upper Second-Class Honours from Queen Mary University of London
  • Currently undergoing SQE 1&2 with LLM at BPP University

Zoe can be contacted by email: ZYG@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249262

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.

Kobe Dersley

Kobe Dersley

Paralegal, Commercial Property

Kobe Dersley

Kobe Dersley

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.

Qualifications

LLB Law Graduate from the University of Portsmouth

CONTACT DETAILS 

James can be contacted by email at KJD@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial 01273 032377.

Clare Waller Dean Wilson

Clare Waller

Partner, Employment Law

Clare Waller Dean Wilson

Clare Waller

Partner, Employment Law

Strategic Employment Law Advice for Employers
Bespoke, solicitor-led solutions for ambitious businesses
 

Experience

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.
 

Expertise

  • Drafting and enforcing contracts of employment and restrictive covenants
  • Managing disciplinary and grievance processes
  • Advising on redundancy and restructuring, including collective consultation
  • Representing employers in Employment Tribunal and civil court proceedings
  • Delivering employment law training for managers and HR teams
  • Supporting mergers and acquisitions with employment law expertise
     

Recent Notable Cases

  • Successfully defended a multi-million pound discrimination claim for an employer and individual respondents
  • Defended a client against a race discrimination claim involving workplace images distributed via WhatsApp
  • Advising on complex redundancy consultation processes for growing businesses

Background

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.
 

Why Choose Clare Waller?

  • Strategic, not generic - solutions tailored to your business and risk profile
  • Full legal protection - advice from a qualified solicitor, not a call centre
  • Proactive risk management - helping you prevent disputes before they escalate
  • Continuity of representation - consistent support throughout any dispute

Contact Clare

Book a free 30-minute Employer Risk Review
Email: CRW@deanwilson.co.uk
Direct dial: (01273) 249277

Natasha Gunn

Natasha Gunn

Solicitor Apprentice, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence

Natasha Gunn

Natasha Gunn

Solicitor Apprentice, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence

Areas of Specialism

Natasha is a Solicitor Apprentice in the Personal Injury and Medical Negligence team, and assists Ben Davey and Jessica Edwards with a variety of cases involving:

  • Severe orthopaedic injury
  • Brain injury
  • Amputation
  • Inquests
  • Psychiatric injury

Recent Client Matters

  • Natasha is assisting in the Article 8 (private & family life) group action claim for more than 120 family members of David Fuller’s mortuary victims.
  • Natasha has recently assisted on the settlement of a case involving a pedestrian who was struck by a car resulting in orthopaedic, dental and brain injuries. 

Qualifications, Membership

  • LLB (Hons)
  • LLM Law – International Human Rights Law
  • Currently studying towards the SQE (Solicitor Qualifying Exam)

Natasha can be contacted by email: NJG@deanwilson.co.uk or on their direct dial: (0) 1273 032328. 

Ethan

Ethan Barlow

Paralegal, Dispute Resolution 

Ethan

Ethan Barlow

Paralegal, Dispute Resolution 

Areas of Specialism

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. 

Qualification

  • Second Class Honours LLB Degree from the University of Sussex

Ethan can be contacted by email: EJB@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: 01273 249245

Rado

Radosveta Stoeva

Solicitor, Corporate Department

Rado

Radosveta Stoeva

Solicitor, Corporate Department

Areas of Specialism

Radosveta works in the Commercial & Corporate team at Dean Wilson. She qualified as a solicitor in June 2024, having experience in various complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, setting up joint ventures, and corporate reorganisations. 

Radosveta also has considerable experience working with startups, assisting with structuring investment rounds (including advising on SEIS and EIS), and advising on and implementing investment agreements and shareholders' agreements. She has expertise in lending and financing transactions, advising both lenders and borrowers. 

Radosveta takes a commercial perspective on matters, ensuring that legal solutions are not only compliant but also beneficial for clients' business goals. Radosveta's expertise and meticulous approach ensure that clients receive comprehensive legal support, tailored to their unique business needs.

Recent Transactions

  • Overseeing a corporate reorganisation for a group of companies looking to demerge their operations.
  • Implementing bespoke articles of association for a company looking to become a B Corporation.
  • Acting for buyers and sellers in various company and asset acquisitions.

Qualifications

  • Solicitor
  • LLB Hons

Radosveta can be contacted by email at rts@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: (0) 1273 249237

Vicky S

Victoria Schofield

Senior Associate Solicitor, Commercial Property

Vicky S

Victoria Schofield

Senior Associate Solicitor, Commercial Property

Areas of Specialism

Victoria is an experienced solicitor specialising in Commercial Property and, prior to Dean Wilson, Victoria worked in the City. 

Victoria has broad experience with acquisitions and disposals of commercial and mixed-use premises, acquisition and granting of commercial leases, asset management matters and secured lending/refinancing. 

Victoria provides clear and commercially focussed advice tailored to each client and their needs. 

Qualifications

  • Solicitor (LLB Hons)

Victoria can be contacted by email: VLS@deanwilson.co.uk or on their direct dial: (0) 1273 249204. 

Scott Gair Dean Wilson

Scott Gair

Partner & Head of Commercial Real Estate

Scott Gair Dean Wilson

Scott Gair

Partner & Head of Commercial Real Estate

Areas of Specialism

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.

Recent Client Matters

  • Involved in a large corporate acquisition which included over 55 commercial properties;
  • Multiple eight figure portfolio refinances;
  • Acquisition of a retail portfolio for over £10m;
  • Refinance of commercial and residential portfolio worth over £5m

Qualifications, Membership 

  • Solicitor
  • LLB Hons
  • PTLLS

Scott can be contacted by email: sg@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: 01273 249265. 

Lily Hossani Dean Wilson

Lily Hossini

Associate Solicitor, Dispute Resolution

Lily Hossani Dean Wilson

Lily Hossini

Associate Solicitor, Dispute Resolution

Areas of Specialism

Lily is a Solicitor in the firm’s Dispute Resolution department, specialising in Landlord and Tenant matters. She assists with leasehold disputes, lease extensions (both statutory and informal), freehold acquisitions (both collective enfranchisement and first right of refusal claims), right to manage claims, licences for alterations and deeds of variation. 

Qualifications, Membership & Directory Rankings

  • Law Degree, LLB Hons
  • Legal Practice Course, LPC
  • Law, Business and Management, MSc

Memberships

Dean Wilson is a member of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (“ALEP”). ALEP promotes best practice by vetting organisations to ensure a consistently high level of service so that leaseholders and freeholders can contact ALEP members with confidence.

Lily can be contacted by email: LSH@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 032326 

Lily is assisted by Molly Hamilton, Senior Paralegal within the Dispute Resolution department. Molly's contact details are - email: MOH@deanwilson.co.uk and direct dial: 01273 249264.

katiee griffiths dean wilson

Katiee Griffiths

Solicitor Apprentice, Dispute Resolution

katiee griffiths dean wilson

Katiee Griffiths

Solicitor Apprentice, Dispute Resolution

Areas of Specialism

Katiee is a Solicitor Apprentice in the Dispute Resolution team assisting on a variety of major and routine legal matters within the department. Katiee manages her own cases and prides herself on getting the best outcome for our clients. Katiee is experienced in rent mediation and section 21 and section 8 claims. 

Katiee also leads the Welsh matters within the team giving her experience in both English and Welsh claims.

Recent Client Matters

  • Supporting landlords who have not received rent payments from tenants for an extensive period of time. Drafting notices and proceedings to obtain rent arrears, possession orders and costs in the case.
  • Advocating for a client who wishes to obtain their property back from a tenant who refuses to move out after the fixed term has ended.
  • Working closely with a wide range of letting agents to assist landlords and tenants with property disputes.
  • Drafting letters before action and filing claim forms to help clients get the best outcomes.

Qualifications, Membership 

  • Bachelor of Law (LLB Hons)
  • LLM Master of Law Degree
  • Currently undergoing her LPC (Legal Practice Course)

Katiee can be contacted by email: KEG@deanwilson.co.uk or on their direct dial: (0) 1273 032310. 

Katie B

Katie Barnes

Paralegal, Court of Protection 

Katie B

Katie Barnes

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. 

Katie has experience with the following:

  • Deputyships for Property & Financial Affairs
  • Liaison with the Court of Protection and Senior Court Costs Office
  • Management of client assets and finances

Since joining the team, Katie has worked on building the projects of bespoke homes, specially adapted for adolescent clients with complex physical and domestic needs. These properties represent build costs in excess of £3.6m.

Membership 

  • Member of Professional Deputies Forum

There are no news articles about this topic yet.