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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.

Alex Brown

Alex Brown

Partner & Head of Department, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence

Alex Brown

Alex Brown

Partner & Head of Department, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence

Areas of Specialism

Alex Brown is a Partner and Head of the Personal Injury and Medical Negligence Department at Dean Wilson LLP, specialising in high-value catastrophic personal injury claims and medical negligence claims.

With 15 years’ experience, Alex represents individuals who have sustained life-changing injuries, including brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), amputation and complex orthopaedic injuries. He also has significant experience in birth injury claims, delayed diagnosis claims, serious road traffic accident claims, workplace accidents and occupiers’ liability claims.

Alex’s work focuses on helping clients manage the practical consequences of serious injury, not just the legal process. From the outset, he works to secure early rehabilitation, interim payments, care funding, specialist accommodation and assistive equipment, while developing a legal strategy designed to achieve the best possible long-term outcome.

As Head of Department, Alex leads a growing team with a focus on delivering high-quality, high-value work and a joined-up approach between legal strategy and rehabilitation. He places particular emphasis on building the right team around each client, including medical experts, barristers and case managers, to ensure the claim is handled effectively from the outset.

He is recognised in both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 for his work in personal injury law and clinical negligence law, and has been for over a decade. He is a panel solicitor for Headway (brain injury charity) and a member of the Major Trauma Partnership Service in Brighton, reflecting his close involvement in serious injury rehabilitation and claimant support networks.

Clients value Alex for his clear communication and straightforward approach. He avoids unnecessary legal jargon and focuses on helping clients and their families understand their options, their claim, and what the future may look like following a serious injury. He works closely with clients, family members, case managers and medical experts to ensure that legal decisions reflect each client’s real-world needs.

Alex also acts as a Professional Deputy in the Court of Protection for clients after litigation where they require their finances to managed for them following a loss of capacity due to their injuries.

Recent Client Matters

Qualifications, Membership & Directory Rankings

  • Solicitor - Admitted 2011 (LLB Hons)
  • Member of Association of Personal Injury Lawyers
  • Headway Panel Solicitor
  • Major Trauma Signposting Partnership Legal Panel (Brighton)
  • Brain Injury Group
  • Chambers & Partner (Band 2 Partner, Personal Injury and Band 3 Partner, Medical Negligence)
  • Legal 500 (Next Generation Partner, Medical Negligence)

Alex can be contacted by email: AMB@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: (0) 1273 249286. 

Brown, Alex

Beth Allan

Beth Allan

Senior Paralegal, Commercial Development 

Beth Allan

Beth Allan

Senior Paralegal, Commercial Development 

Beth has worked for Dean Wilson LLP for over 8 years and assists with plot sales, often off-plan.

Beth works closely with the team which comprises David Hodge (Partner) Sinead Dye (Associate Solicitor), Amy Edwards (Solicitor), Isabelle Svensden (Paralegal) and Beverley McLoughlin (Assistant).  The team always look for solutions and takes 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.  

Beth can be contacted by email: bxa@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249263

david hodge dean wilson

David Hodge

Partner & Head of Real Estate Commercial Development 

david hodge dean wilson

David Hodge

Partner & Head of Real Estate Commercial Development 

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

Melissa

Melissa Frankling

HR Officer

Melissa

Melissa Frankling

HR Officer

Areas of Specialism

Melissa is a dedicated HR Officer with a passion for fostering a positive and supportive work environment. Melissa has a strong background in Law, having joined the firm as a Paralegal in Dispute Resolution before transitioning into human resources. 

Melissa oversees the general day-to-day employee relations, arranges training for the firm and manages the recruitment and onboarding process while ensuring a seamless employee experience. 

Melissa brings Percy, her adorable Golden Retriever pup, into the office. One of the firm's benefits is having a dog-friendly office. 

Qualifications

Melissa has completed her Level 3 CIPD and is currently undergoing Level 5. 

Melissa can be contacted by email mjf@deanwilson.co.uk, or on her direct dial, 01273 032329.

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

Nicholas Perkins Dean Wilson

Nicholas Perkins

Partner, Dispute Resolution

Nicholas Perkins Dean Wilson

Nicholas Perkins

Partner, Dispute Resolution

Areas of Specialism

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.

Recent Client Matters

  • Acting for a well-known and respected agent in a multi-party dispute and achieving settlement
  • Obtaining  a complicated Premises License for the social areas of a multimillion pound residential development
  • Successfully defending a Review application brought by the Police seeking to revoke a large Public House’s Premises license.
  • Advising a national chain of letting and estate agents on a review of their legal procedures and documentation

Qualifications

  • Solicitor
  • LLB Hons

Nicholas can be contacted by email: NP@deanwilson.co.uk or on their direct dial: (0) 1273 249203. 

Sara Nilsen

Sara Nilsen

Senior Paralegal, Dispute Resolution

Sara Nilsen

Sara Nilsen

Senior Paralegal, Dispute Resolution

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

Vivien

Vivien Schveighardt

Paralegal, Dispute Resolution 

Vivien

Vivien Schveighardt

Paralegal, Dispute Resolution 

Vivien is a dedicated Paralegal in our Dispute Resolution Department, specialising in possession proceedings. She assists with rent mediation, as well as Section 21, Section 8, and Section 146 claims. Committed to delivering outstanding support, Vivien ensures her clients receive expert guidance throughout the legal process.

Vivien has just over a year of Legal Assistant experience supporting with drafting and legal research in Canada, prior to joining us at Dean Wilson. 

Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor of Law (LLB) from the University of Sussex in 2023
  • Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Wilfrid Laurier University (Canada) 
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. 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
Rebecca C. Griffiths

Rebecca Griffiths

Associate Solicitor, Private Client 

Rebecca C. Griffiths

Rebecca Griffiths

Associate Solicitor, Private Client 

Areas of Specialism

Rebecca qualified into the Private Client team in 2019 after completing her training contract with Dean Wilson LLP. Rebecca studied the LPC at BPP Holborn London after studying Law LLB at the University of Nottingham. Rebecca is working towards full membership with the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and has further qualifications in Administration of Estates, Administration of Trusts and Taxation of Trusts and Estates.

Rebecca has experience in dealing with:

  • Wills
  • Trusts
  • Probate
  • Tax

Rebecca can provide advice on the best type of Wills taking account of a client’s personal circumstances, tax position and inheritance planning. 

Rebecca has a broad range of experience in probate cases including high value probates, intestacies, Ad Colligenda Bona (limited grants usually required for the quick sale of property), and fractious families.

Qualifications and Memberships

  • Solicitor
  • LLB
  • Affiliate of STEP

Rebecca can be contacted by email: RCG@deanwilson.co.uk or on their direct dial: (0) 1273 249280. 

Michaela

Michaela Tutt

Senior Paralegal, Dispute Resolution

Michaela

Michaela Tutt

Senior Paralegal, Dispute Resolution

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. 

Lyubov

Lyubov Nikolchova

Solicitor, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence

Lyubov

Lyubov Nikolchova

Solicitor, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence

Areas of Specialism

Lyubov is a Solicitor in the Personal Injury and Medical Negligence team. She qualified as a Solicitor in May 2024, having previously spent nearly 3 years working on complex injury cases, including spinal cord injury, brain injury, and birth injury. 

Recent Client Matters

Lyubov is working with Alex Brown on a number of birth injury cases where the mothers suffer from PTSD due to a negligent medical care during delivery. She also runs a mixed caseload of claims as a result of road traffic accidents, accidents-at-work, and medical negligence. 

Qualifications, Membership

  • Solicitor
  • BA (Hons)
  • Graduate Diploma in Law (Distinction)
  • Legal Practice Course (Distinction)
  • Major Trauma Signposting Partnership (Brighton)

Lyubov can be contacted by email: LSN@deanwilson.co.uk or on their direct dial: (0) 1273 249257. 

james fletcher dean wilson

James Fletcher

Senior Associate Solicitor, Residential Property Department 

james fletcher dean wilson

James Fletcher

Senior Associate Solicitor, Residential Property Department 

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. 

sarah phillips dean wilson

Sarah Phillips

Partner, Family Department

sarah phillips dean wilson

Sarah Phillips

Partner, Family Department

Areas of Specialism

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. 

  • Child arrangements orders – living and spending time arrangements.
  • Children – urgent applications, specific issue and prohibited steps orders -  vaccination, education, name change, temporary and permanent removal from the jurisdiction, enforcement of orders, instruction of experts and working with family consultants. 
  • Financial remedies on divorce / dissolution of civil partnership -  business and trust assets, pension sharing orders, non-disclosure, litigation conduct and financial conduct.
  • Pre and Post-nuptial agreements.
  • Separation and cohabitation agreements.
  • Domestic violence injunctions.

Recent Client Matters

  • Sarah regularly represents parents in private law proceedings where mental health issues, SEN, substance misuse, implacable hostility and allegations of coercive control, narcissistic abuse and alienating behaviours are a central feature.
  • Sarah negotiated a financial settlement in which the client received an 80% share of the equity in the family home, and maintenance for five years to provide the client with time to attain financial independence without undue hardship.
  • Sarah recently represented a mother at a Fact Finding hearing in which the very serious findings against the father of physical, emotional, sexual and psychological abuse and coercive control were made by the Judge after 4 days of oral evidence.
  • Sarah has an interest in international relocation cases and has successfully obtained permission for her clients to relocate to Hong Kong, Greece and Malaysia. 
  • Sarah regularly settles financial remedy cases by way of advice during mediation, voluntary disclosure and solicitor-led negotiations, avoiding the cost and stress of contested proceedings for her clients.

Qualifications, Membership 

  • Solicitor (PGDL) City University
  • Resolution Accredited Specialist Family Lawyer – Complex Financial Remedies
  • Resolution Accredited Specialist Family Lawyer – Children Law Private
  • Resolution qualified Collaborative Lawyer
  • Member of Resolution
  • Recommended in Chambers and the Legal 500

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

Nikki Rudland

Nikki Rudland

Senior Paralegal, Private Client

Nikki Rudland

Nikki Rudland

Senior Paralegal, Private Client

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 

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

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