Who We Are

Aibhlinn is a Solicitor Apprentice within our Personal Injury & Medical Negligence team. She joined the team in December 2025, following a year’s experience as a paralegal within our Corporate Commercial team, where she worked on various aspects of corporate transactions. 

Aibhlinn assists Ben Davey, Jessica Edwards and Lyubov Nikolchova on a broad range of personal injury and medical negligence claims including:

• Catastrophic Injury
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Fatal Accident Claims including Inquests
• Road Traffic Accidents
• Accidents at Work
• Clinical Negligence Claims including birth injuries, delays in diagnosis, and negligent operations

In her role as a solicitor apprentice, Aibhlinn works closely with the solicitors in her team to assist with the progression of claims, maintaining regular communication with clients and ensuring they feel supported, informed, and at ease throughout the legal process.

Recent Client Matters

• £230,000 Settlement Secured Following Motorcycle Accident | Dean Wilson LLP

Qualifications, Membership 

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

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

Areas of Specialism

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. 

Qualifications, Membership & Directory Rankings

• Bachelor of Law from University of Sussex (LLB)

Sara can be contacted by email: sn@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249276

Tara graduated from the University of Sussex in 2023 with a degree in Law and Business Management. Since graduating, she has gained valuable experience as a Paralegal, joining Dean Wilson LLP in 2026 from a regional law firm where she worked within Commercial Property. During this time, Tara has assisted with and managed a wide range of commercial property transactions.

At Dean Wilson LLP, Tara primarily supports Jo Taylor, Partner in Real Estate, Commercial Property and Development, assisting with a broad range of matters and providing valuable support across the team.

Recent Client Matters

• Refinancing of Hospitality Portfolio
• Disposition of multi-let Industrial Unit
• Disposition of new build plots
• Leases and Assignments for both tenants and landlords

Qualifications 

LLB (Hons)

Contact Details  

Tara Dewey can be contacted by email: tid@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249 206

Areas of Specialism

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.

Recent Client Matters

• Involved in the ongoing plot sales at a large residential development site;
• Completion of a simultaneous headlease surrender and the grant of five sub-leases in a large commercial unit; and
• Involved in an ongoing refinance of a commercial portfolio worth over £32m.

Qualifications, Membership 

• Solicitor
• BA
• MA

Amy can be contacted by email: ae@deanwilson.co.uk and her direct dial is  01273 249 268.

Areas of Specialism

Siobhan is the Head of the Residential Property Department. 

Siobhan has worked for Dean Wilson LLP for over 20 years and specialises in both Residential and Commercial property transactions. 

Siobhan has a vast amount of clients worldwide and has an excellent reputation with estate agents, mortgage brokers, surveyors and the like.

Recent Client Matters

• Sale of London Residence worth in excess of £5m,
• Refinance of commercial and residential portfolio worth in excess of £20m
• Purchase of block of residential units worth in excess of £50m

Qualifications, Membership 

• Solicitor
• LLB Hons

Siobhan can be contacted by email: sac@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249205. 

Siobhan is assisted by Fatima Hussain, Paralegal within the Property Department. Fatima’s contact details are: Email: fyh@deanwilson.co.uk Direct Dial: 01273 249209. 

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)
• Centre for Women’s Justice Legal Panel - Member
• 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

Areas of Specialism

Nikki has been with Dean Wilson for over 10 years working across various departments and most recently in Private Client specialising in wills, probate, estate administration, and lasting powers of attorney. 

Prior to joining Dean Wilson, Nikki has experience working with another local law firm, the Brighton & Hove City Council and the Victim Support Unit and HR departments of Sussex Police.

Nikki has a wealth of knowledge and over the years has built strong client relationships and developed a deep understanding of sensitive, high-value matters. Nikki supports  solicitors and clients with particular emphasis on providing one-to-one assistance with regards to assisting clients in relation to Probate/Estate Administration, Wills and LPAs.

Nikki can be contacted by email nr@deanwilson.co.uk; or on her direct dial:  01273 249216 

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. 

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

Craig joined Dean Wilson in March 2026, after a 20 year career in the financial services industry, providing regulatory and financial crime guidance to a number of high-street firms. 

Craig is now providing that expertise to Dean Wilson to help the firm achieve the ‘gold standard’ in the legal sector for compliance with regulatory and legislative requirements, assisting the Managing Partner and Finance Director with data protection, complaint management, and other related activities. 

CONTACT DETAILS 

Craig can be contacted by email: cfs@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: 01273 249269.

Areas of Specialism

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.

Qualifications, Membership 

• Solicitor
• Member of the Property Litigation Association
• Member of ALEP
• Chambers & Partner recommended solicitor 2024 (ranked for 9 years) 

Claire can be contacted by email: CLW@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: (0) 1273 249229. 

Areas of Specialism

Sara is a Paralegal in the Commercial Property Department. Sara assists Scott Gair in a wide range of Commercial Property matters such as handling the initial onboarding for clients, undertaking legal research and preparing and negotiating legal documents. 

Qualifications

Sara went to the University of Brighton from 2014 to 2017 doing Accounting & Finance. In 2023 Sara completed her Master of Laws (LLM) achieving a 2:2.

Following on from Sara's LLM she started studying for her Solicitors Qualifying Exam's and has completed (SQE1) and is preparing to undertake her Solicitors  (SQE2) to qualify as a Solicitor. 

Sara can be contacted by email smh@deanwilson.co.uk or on direct dial 01273 032317 

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.

Will is an Apprentice Solicitor in our Commercial Property department, having previously been a Paralegal within the department. Will is assisting with all manner of property transactions including acquisitions, disposals, lettings, assignments, refinancing and development work.

Previously, Will spent over a year in our Dispute Resolution Department specialising in Landlord possession claims.  Will was managing up to 60 claims at one time and had a 100% success rate.  Will brings this experience, attention to detail and commercial awareness to the Commercial Real Estate team.

Will enjoys learning new skills, understanding different areas of the law and working within a collaborative team which is highly focused on delivering a top-class service and aiding their client’s to reaching their goal.

Qualifications

• 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

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

Areas of Specialism

Erin joined Dean Wilson as a Paralegal in the Corporate Commercial team before commencing her Training Contract. She is currently undertaking her final training seat in our Commercial Property team, where she hopes to qualify upon completion of her training contract.

During her Training Contract, Erin has gained experience across Commercial Property and Dispute Resolution, developing a broad understanding of both transactional and contentious legal work.

Prior to starting her Training Contract, Erin assisted the Corporate Commercial team on a wide range of corporate transactions, including share and asset acquisitions and disposals, shareholders' agreements, and company restructurings. Her responsibilities included drafting ancillary legal documents, preparing legal due diligence reports, and carrying out legal research.

Erin graduated from the University of Sussex in 2022 with a first class LLB.

Recent Client Matters

• Regularly assists one of the largest property agents in the UK to acquire letting and block management agents across the country.
• Assisting buyers in purchasing a hospitality business in Brighton;
• Assisting sellers and buyers of estate agency businesses; 

Qualifications, Membership 

• LLB Hons

Erin can be contacted by email: egb@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249227.