Desislava (Dessy) Harvey is a paralegal and law graduate at Stephen Wawn & Associates. She joined the firm in December 2025 and works mainly in probate and estate administration, estate disputes, conveyancing and civil litigation, under the supervision of the firm’s principal, Adam Vainauskas.
I enjoy analysing complex legal issues and finding practical solutions to legal matters. I value building trusting client relationships and understanding each client’s individual circumstances.
In probate and estate administration, Dessy prepares applications for probate and letters of administration, with the supporting affidavits and documents. She liaises with clients, beneficiaries, banks and other lawyers, and helps administer estates, including coordinating valuations and tax matters.
In estate disputes, she assists with proceedings about the validity of wills, family provision claims, executor and administrator appointments, and beneficiaries’ entitlements. She helps prepare and file court documents such as statements of claim, defences and affidavits, gathers supporting evidence, monitors court timetables and prepares documents for directions hearings.
In conveyancing, she assists with residential property transactions, including off-the-plan purchases. She helps prepare and review contracts, sets up PEXA workspaces, prepares settlement adjustment sheets and reconciliation statements, and coordinates electronic settlements.
She has worked on matters in the Supreme Court of NSW (Equity Division), the Local Court and NCAT, and uses NSW Online Registry.
Dessy wants clients to find her attentive and professional. She strives to understand each client’s individual needs and pays close attention to detail in every matter she handles. She enjoys helping clients through important legal and personal matters and working towards their short- and long-term goals.
Dessy began her legal career in Bulgaria. From 2016 to 2017 she was Legal Adviser to an international construction company in Sofia, supporting its day-to-day legal matters, tender processes for large private construction projects, a company merger and commercial loan agreements. In 2017 she worked as a Legal Consultant on contract, preparing and negotiating contracts for international civil engineering projects in the United States, Sweden and Bulgaria. Before that she was a Legal Assistant at a Sofia law firm, and a Legal Intern with the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science and WWF Bulgaria.
From 2019 to 2025 she ran her own bookkeeping and payroll business for small and medium businesses, and also worked as an accounts manager, handling payroll, superannuation and award compliance.
Dessy’s bookkeeping experience has given her a strong understanding of financial records and financial administration. Her experience in Bulgaria is useful on matters with a European connection, such as estates with assets in Europe. Where a matter turns on foreign law, the firm works with local lawyers in the relevant country. Dessy speaks Bulgarian and English fluently, as well as Russian at an intermediate level.
Dessy holds a Master of Laws from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” (2016) and the Diploma in Law from the Legal Profession Admission Board (2025). She completed her Practical Legal Training with the College of Law in July 2026, and holds the Cambridge International Legal English Certificate (C1). She expects to be admitted as a lawyer in NSW in November 2026.
Dessy loves travelling and experiencing different cultures and cuisines, and is passionate about animal welfare and supporting vulnerable members of the community. From May 2025 to November 2025 she volunteered front of house at Our Big Kitchen, a Bondi charity providing meals for people in need. In 2013 she volunteered at a legal clinic for refugees and immigrants in Sofia, helping with legal research and case preparation under the supervision of licensed lawyers.
