Who We Are

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

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.

QUALIFICATIONS

LLB Law (Hons) from University of Sussex

CONTACT DETAILS 

Linh can be contacted by email: LGP@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249244.

Areas of Specialism

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.

Qualifications

• LLB Hons (2.1) 

Michaela can be contacted by email: MCT@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249250. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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:

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

Recent Client Matters

• 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.
• Katie collaborated with Litigation Solicitors to evidence expenditure and losses in a minor’s multi‑million-pound settlement, while providing ongoing support to the family throughout.

Membership 

• Member of Professional Deputies Forum

Areas of Specialism

Becca supports Alex Brown and the Personal Injury and Medical Negligence Team in cases involving severe and life changing injuries to claimants who have suffered personal injuries, criminal injuries & medical negligence resulting in:

• Brain Injury
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Birth Injury
• Amputations
• Severe Orthopaedic Injuries

Recent Client Matters

• Becca assisted Alex Brown to secure a six-figure sum for a client who suffered a severe leg injury in a road traffic accident.  On taking the case over from another firm of solicitors, it became clear there were evidential issues, including urgent and complex disclosure, which were swiftly dealt with to enable the claim to progress to a successful resolution.
• Becca supported Alex who acted for an amputee injured in a motorcycle accident.  Compensation of approximately £2,000,000 was achieved.
• With a personal interest in neurodivergence, Becca has supported the Team in several brain injury cases, including for clients with birth injuries.  One recent case included recovering sums to fund physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychiatry, psychology, pain management, vestibular therapy, speech and language therapy, hydrotherapy, assistive technology, care and case management, amongst other heads of damage.  Some of the cases Becca has worked on involve anonymity orders to protect the identity of vulnerable clients, which is why these cases are not publicised on our website.
• In numerous cases, Becca has supported Alex and the team utilising her extensive experience of disclosure and Schedules of Special Damage.

Qualifications, Membership 

• BA (Hons)

Areas of Specialism

Lily is an Associate 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.

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.  

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

Jonathan has recently joined us as Head of the Private Client Department, following 25 years at his previous firm.  

Jonathan is able to deal with all types of private client work, whether you require assistance with Wills, Estate Planning, Inheritance Tax, Lasting Powers of Attorney or administration of estates.  Jonathan is experienced in dealing with the most complex cases, which often involve tricky family dynamics.  

Jonathan has acted for many of his clients for many years, which is testimony to his passion, which is for exceptional, communication-led, client service.  Jonathan has managed and grown, high performing teams with regular communication at the heart of everything.

Jonathan also has a background in property work, contentious probate and Court of Protection matters, and therefore has a good working knowledge of how different areas can interlink.  Being able to recognise nuances, and the interrelationship between different aspects in cases, Jonathan believes, is hugely beneficial to providing proactive, joined-up, advice. 

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

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.

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. 

Areas of Specialism

James joined Dean Wilson LLP in February 2022, having worked in the Eastbourne area for approximately 10 years prior. James specialises in all aspects of Residential property transactions. 

James’ specialist areas are newbuild sales and purchases with or without help to buy involvement, as well as residential and buy to let sales, purchases, re-mortgages and transfers of equity’s. 

James also provides Independent Legal Advice on Guarantees and Indemnities, where required. 

Qualifications, Membership 

• Solicitor
• LLB Hons

James can be contacted by email: jf@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: 01273 032341

James is assisted by Charlotte Hazeldine, Paralegal within the Property Department. Charlotte’s contact details are: Email: cbh@deanwilson.co.uk Direct Dial: 01273 032330.