Dean Wilson LLP’s reputation has been built upon our ability to deliver and exceed our clients’ expectations. For over 100 years our success has been founded upon our client focused approach, backed by the knowledge and expertise of our lawyers.
We aim to deliver outcomes and resolutions efficiently and cost effectively. So whether you need assistance with a business or personal matter we can provide a responsive service delivered to you with expertise and clarity.
Paralegal, Dispute Resolution
Maddie is a recent law graduate and a paralegal in the Dispute Resolution team. She specialises in Landlord and Tenant possession claims, including Section 8 and Section 21 proceedings. Maddie is currently training to manage her own caseload, with a focus on drafting pleadings and progressing matters through court to obtain possession orders and cost awards on behalf of landlords. She is enthusiastic about developing her career in the legal field and gaining further experience in Dispute Resolution.
Senior Associate Solicitor, Personal Injury & Practice Lead in Abuse Claims
Senior Associate Solicitor, Personal Injury & Practice Lead in Abuse Claims
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:
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
Claire can be contacted by email on: ceg@deanwilson.co.uk or by direct dial on (0)1273 032345
Senior Paralegal, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence
Tom is a Senior Paralegal in Dean Wilson LLP’s Personal Injury and Medical Negligence department. He assists Ben Davey, Jessica Edwards, Lyubov Nikolchova, and Alice Bradshaw on a variety of cases ranging from moderate injuries to high-value catastrophic injury claims.
Tom assists on a broad range of personal injury and clinical negligence matters, including cases involving brain injuries, spinal injuries, amputations, complex musculoskeletal injuries, and psychiatric injury. These cases often arise from road traffic accidents, workplace accidents, and accidents on public or private premises.
He assists throughout the legal process, supporting the team's solicitors with establishing liability, gathering evidence, instructing rehabilitation professionals and medico-legal experts, and assessing the value of claims.
He also provides support to clients throughout the legal process, offering guidance and a sympathetic ear. He is committed to ensuring that every client feels listened to, understood, and supported throughout their claim.
This includes the 5-day inquest into the death of Archie Jesty, an 18-year-old who sadly took their own life after failings by mental health services. 18 year old takes his own life following mental health failings | Dean Wilson LLP
He also assisted with the inquest into the death of Issy Phipps, a 17-year-old who took her own life. During the inquest, the Coroner ruled that failures by mental health services and NHS trusts had contributed to Issy’s death. Young Girl Takes Own Life Despite Warnings - Dean Wilson
Tom previously assisted in the conclude Article 3 (torture and degrading treatment) and Article 8 (private and family life) group action claim for more than 160 family members of David Fuller’s mortuary victims.
Tom can be contacted by email: TSG@deanwilson.co.uk, or on his direct dial (0) 1273 032346.
Senior Associate Solicitor, Commercial Property & Real Estate Department
Sinead is an associate solicitor with over 5 years of experience in the Real Estate team. Sinead has experience in all aspects of commercial property with a focus on land development and the strategic land sector.
Sinead acts for both regional developers and landowners on a wide range of transactions including major land acquisition, land promotion, residential new build estate set ups and plot sales. Sinead’s wide scope of work has given her the experience and expertise to provide a comprehensive service and advise longstanding clients on multiple transactions to assist their ongoing business needs.
Sinead is proactive in her approach and works closely with her clients to achieve their goals in a timely manner.
Sinead works closely with the team which comprises David Hodge (Partner), Amy Edwards (Solicitor), Isabelle Svendsen (Paralegal), 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 .
Sinead can be contacted by email: sjd@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249270.
David’s email is dh@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: 01273 249 249.
Amy’s email is ae@deanwilson.co.uk and her direct dial is 01273 249 268.
Isabelle’s email is ixs@deanwilson.co.uk and her direct dial is 01273 249259.
Bev’s email is bm@deanwilson.co.uk and her direct dial is 01273 249 242.
Partner & Head of Department, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence
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.
Alex can be contacted by email: AMB@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: (0) 1273 249286.
Partner, Employment Law
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.
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.
Book a free 30-minute Employer Risk Review
Email: CRW@deanwilson.co.uk
Direct dial: (01273) 249277
Apprentice Solicitor, Commercial Development
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.
LLB LAW Degree
Freya Sethi can be contacted by email: FNS@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 032389
Associate Solicitor, Dispute Resolution
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.
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.
Senior Paralegal, Dispute Resolution
Molly is a Senior Paralegal in the Dispute Resolution team, and specialise in Landlord and Tenant matters. Molly assists with lease extensions (both statutory and informal), freehold acquisitions, deeds of variations and a variety of Landlord and Tenant issues.
Molly has over 5 years’ experience working in the legal industry, having previously worked in a local firm, which included working in Residential Property.
History BA (Hons) 2:2
Postgraduate LLM Merit
Molly can be contacted by email: moh@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249264
Paralegal, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence
Summer Woodman joined the Personal Injury & Medical Negligence team in September 2023, first starting as a Legal Assistant before moving into her current role as Paralegal in June 2025.
Summer assists Ben Davey, Jessica Edwards, and Lyubov Nickollchova on a broad range of personal injury and medical negligence claims including:
In her role, Summer assists the solicitors in her team throughout a claim, providing a compassionate and empathetic approach, to ensure their clients are kept informed, updated and supported throughout the process of their legal claim.
Summer has assisted the team in successfully settling claims for client’s, including some of the following personal injury, inquest and medical negligence cases:
Substantial Six-Figure Settlement Following Road Traffic Accident | Dean Wilson LLP
£5.6 million brain & spinal injury settled
Dean Wilson Secures Settlement for Spinal Injury Following Aircraft Crash
Failure by NHS Trust Played Part in Mother’s Suicide | Dean Wilson LLP
Law LLB
Legal Practice LLM (LPC)
May 2026
‘I cannot thank Ben, Jessica, Dean Wilson Solicitors and Summer their paralegal enough for everything they have done for me throughout my accident and injuries claim case over the past three and a half years.
From the very beginning, they have been incredibly professional, compassionate, and genuinely supportive during what has been a very long and emotional journey.
Communication has always been timely and clear, and they consistently checked up on me to make sure I was doing okay. What stood out most was how much they truly had my best interests at heart at every stage of the case. They were also very flexible and understanding whenever challenges arose, which made such a difference during difficult times.
My family, friends, and colleagues who interacted with Ben, Jessica, and Summer also appreciated their kindness, patience, and professionalism. Every interaction was handled with care and respect, and it was clear that they genuinely cared about both me and the people supporting me.
After three and a half years, they successfully brought the case to a close with a very good settlement, and I will always be grateful for their dedication, hard work, and unwavering support throughout the process.
There is a lot more I would love to say but this is already lengthy.
I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for solicitors who are not only highly skilled and professional, but also kind, patient, and truly compassionate people.’
CONTACT DETAILS
Summer can be contacted by email: szw@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249297.
Conveyancing Executive, Residential Property Department
Mulberry joined Dean Wilson LLP in January 2022, having worked in Uckfield with Leon Mumford for approximately 5 years prior. Mulberry specialises in all aspects of Residential property transactions.
Mulberry’s specialist areas are residential sales, purchases and re-mortgages as well as transfers of equity’s.
Mulberry can be contacted by email: md@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 032339.
Apprentice Solicitor, Commercial Property
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.
William can be contacted by email: wgs@deanwilson.co.uk or on direct dial: 01273 032354
Partner, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence and Practice Lead in Serious Injury Claims
Partner, Personal Injury & Medical Negligence and Practice Lead in Serious Injury Claims
Ben is a Senior Chartered Legal Executive in the Personal Injury & Medical Negligence team. He specialises in complex personal injury and medical negligence claims, acting for the injured party or the families. He specialises in a wide range of life-changing injuries ranging from road traffic accidents, employment claims to severe injury medical negligence claims. Ben is also frequently instructed to represent families at inquest.
Ben has dealt with a number of profile matters which have been reported in the regional, national, and international media.
Personal Injury
Medical Negligence
Inquests
Human Rights
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
Ben works hard to get the best possible results for his clients. He is organised, has good analytical skills and a good eye for detail – Chambers & Partners 2024
Thinks outside the box – he sees and acknowledges my struggles – The Legal 500 2023
Years of relevant experience and can take cases forward and to successful conclusions with vigour – The Legal 500 2022
Truly outstanding professional – he is willing to go the extra mile and you can always rely on him to ensure clients get justice - Chambers and Partners 2022
Ben Davey was highly professional, diligent and constructively helpful in his explanations. Ben quickly identified the issues and provided a practical approach to deal with the issues in question and accordingly I have no hesitation in recommending him and his firm – Google review
Ben can be contacted by email: BD@deanwilson.co.uk or on his direct dial: (0) 1273 249287.
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.
LLB Hons
Abigail can be contacted by email: alb@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249256.
Solicitor Apprentice, Corporate Department
Fatima is a Solicitor Apprentice in the Corporate Department having commenced her first 6 months in the Dispute Resolution department, while undergoing her SQE to qualify as a Solicitor.
Prior to Fatima commencing her Solicitor Apprenticeship, was previously a paralegal within the Residential Conveyancing Department assisting Siobhan Cox on Residential Conveyancing and Commercial Property matters.
Before joining Dean Wilson Fatima worked for HMCTS. Her primary role was as Clerk to the Circuit and District Judges.
Fatima has a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Sussex and hopes to be completing a Master’s degree in the near future. Away from work and studies, Fatima enjoys traveling and badminton.
Fatima can be contacted by email: FYH@deanwilson.co.uk or on her direct dial: 01273 249209
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:
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