Our People

Brendan Dean (Partner)

Brendan is the firm’s Managing partner and is also one of the founders of the firm. In 2000 Brendan and some former colleagues set up Ashworths as one of the few specialist property firms in the area. The firm has now expanded to become one of the best known and respected property niche practices in South West London and Surrey.

Brendan started working in Wimbledon in 1995 and qualified in 1997 specialising in commercial property, with particular emphasis on development acquisition. His work includes secured lending, landlord and tenant and also licensing. As well as being responsible for the firm’s forward thinking IT policy, Brendan is also responsible for accreditation compliance including Ashworths’ Lexcel and CQS awards.

Diana Greenham (Partner)

Diana is an experienced Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and has worked for several law firms in the Wimbledon area since 1987. She joined Rowley Ashworth in 1994, initially to assist with the ever increasing caseload of overseas investment clients that the firm had. In May 2000 Diana along with Brendan and Loveday moved to Ashworths and is now a Partner.

Diana spent many years dealing with the acquisition of new build property for a mix of Hong Kong investment buyers and both UK investment and private buyers. During this time she attended property exhibitions in Hong Kong and Singapore to represent clients personally on the purchase of new build ‘off plan’ properties. She has retained strong links with many far East property agencies and financial institutions and continues to represent overseas clients on the subsequent resale of their investment properties. Whilst her speciality is dealing with New Build properties, Diana also deals with general residential conveyancing.

James Simmonds (Partner)

James joined the firm in May 2010 and now works in the Commercial Property department as a Partner. He qualified in 2008 having trained in a practice in Hertfordshire specialising in property, private client and related general commercial matters.

James originally studied History at the University of Manchester and then went on to complete his post graduate studies in Law in London. James undertakes a wide range of commercial transactions including acquisitions and disposals, development work and landlord and tenant work.

Grace Wood

Grace joined the firm in May 2019 and works in the Commercial Property department as an Assistant Solicitor.  She qualified as a solicitor in 2018 at a City of London firm.  Grace spent a period at a large regional firm handling development work for a number of national house-builders.

Grace undertakes a wide range of  development work, Landlord and Tenant transactions and some residential conveyancing.   Her clients appreciate a practical and hands-on approach that guides them through their transactions.

Sandy Rai

Sandy joined the firm in September 2021 having recently qualified as a solicitor following training at a well known national firm.  Sandy specialises in residential conveyancing.

Dhansak

Dhansak joined the firm in September 2016.

He is our in-house therapist and counsellor, and we use him to sniff out trouble.