Skip to main content
Fiona Dodd   Feb 2024 web

Specialisms

Fiona Dodd

Partner

What attracted, and keeps you in this area of law?

I always wanted to be a solicitor so after studying in London and Paris, I qualified in a small high street firm in Shoreham by Sea in 1999.  There I had a taste of a number of different areas of law and financial advice.  After qualifying, I worked in financial services in London for a while but found I missed the personal connection with my clients, so returned to law at Mayo Wynne Baxter in 2003.  Writing a Will involves fully understanding what a client needs and preparing the right Will to suit them.  Helping a grieving relative navigate the probate process, and share their burden is an immense privilege.

What do you most enjoy about your role? 

It’s a cliché, but other than my colleagues, the best thing about my job is my clients.  Every day is different.  Dealing with the loss of a loved one or contemplating one’s own mortality is hard.  To have a client say “that wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be” is a lovely feeling. I am currently head of the department and am enjoying being able to help shape the future of the team and watching the more junior members progress.   I work with a network of excellent financial and tax advisers and accountants to ensure that my clients get great all-round advice. 

What are your particular strengths and skills?

Possibly strangely for a solicitor, I am good at maths and really enjoy preparing accounts, showing what funds have been received and paid out during the administration of an estate.  I take time to talk with my clients to work out what they actually want, to create the right Will, Power of Attorney or even to decide to do nothing. I like solving problems and getting things done. And I especially enjoy saving my clients from paying unnecessary tax.  When I decided to specialise in this area, I became a member of STEP, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners which is a worldwide organisation of experts in this area.  I now sit on the Sussex STEP committee.  I am very positive, and passionate about the importance to everyone to have a Will.  I have done presentations in retirement and care homes, to charity supporters, to bank customers, and even to the WI to spread the word.

Tell me about a memorable time when you’ve helped a client

I hope I help all my clients, but some unusual situations do spring to mind.   

  • I remember one client who was in danger of losing her house when her partner died unexpectedly without a Will.  We helped keep the family in their home. 
  • On a number of occasions, I have visited clients in hospital to prepare Wills, giving them peace to know their loved ones will be supported.
  • One of my clients had over 100 individual shareholdings and certificates that we had to sort and sell. 
  • One of the most complex I have been involved with as a gentleman whose uncle died without a Will.  His estate went to his sister, who sadly died shortly afterwards.  The uncle had 2 businesses, several shareholdings, and 3 properties.  At the same time, we are dealing with a claim that a fraudulent Will exists.  
  • Recently we helped a local client claim heritage asset relief against Inheritance Tax, saving an important painting for a local museum.

What would your colleagues say about you?

That I am straight talking.  But I talk a lot.  And I will always try and help the rest of the team.  

Outside of work 

I like to spend time with my family and I even try to cram in a good book when I have the time!

High Net Worth Guide 2023 - ranked Band 2 : Private Wealth Law; 

"Fiona Dodd is the head of private client at Mayo Wynne Baxter, and has a wealth of experience in estate planning, trusts administration, and lasting powers of attorney matters."

STEP LogoDementia Action Allience Logo 2022
Fiona Dodd

Fiona Dodd

Partner
Call | 01273 407414
Email


Message us

"Fiona Dodd has supported me and my sister through 4 years of a complicated probate process. She and her team at MWB have been so supportive and patient, providing us excellent no nonsense advice and bringing reassurance and support in what has been a long and difficult journey. We are ever so grateful to Fiona and cannot express enough the gratitude we have. If you are facing a similar situation we cannot recommend Fiona and her team enough, they are absolutely first class."

MH - Autumn 2020

May I take this opportunity to thank you and your staff for a friendly and efficient administration of my mother's estate.

Mr R - Andover

Our other partners

Anna Dunn

Anna Dunn

Partner
Call | 01323 872509
Email

Caroline Flint

Caroline Flint

Partner
Call | 01273 223235
Email

Charles Le May

Charles Le May

Partner
Call | 01273 223274
Email

Chris Randall

Chris Randall

Compliance Partner
Call | 01273 407445
Email

Chris Strutt

Chris Strutt

Partner
Call | 01323 745638
Email

Daniel Jenking

Daniel Jenking

Partner
Call | 01293 649032
Email

David Gordon

David Gordon

Partner
Call | 01273 223210
Email

Dean Orgill

Dean Orgill

Chief Executive
Call | 01273 223224
Email

Edward Coxall

Edward Coxall

Partner
Call | 01323 745628
Email

Emma van Bunnens

Emma van Bunnens

Partner
Call | 01342 310604
Email

Grant Parker

Grant Parker

Partner
Call | 01293 649040
Email

Helen Bell

Helen Bell

Board Chair
Call | 01273 223257
Email

James O'Connell

James O'Connell

Partner
Call | 01273 223209
Email

Jessica Partridge

Jessica Partridge

Partner
Call | 01273 223203
Email

Jo Ironside

Jo Ironside

Partner
Call | 01273 407462
Email

Jonathan Clays

Jonathan Clays

Partner
Call | 01273 407465
Email

Jonathan Porter

Jonathan Porter

Partner
Call | 01323 872506
Email

Juliet Godfrey

Juliet Godfrey

Partner
Call | 01798 871065
Email

Karen Jeary

Karen Jeary

Partner
Call | 01323 745657
Email

Lee Hills

Lee Hills

Partner
Call | 01273 223232
Email

Martin Williams

Martin Williams

Partner
Call | 01273 223263
Email

Marwa Hadi-Barnes

Marwa Hadi-Barnes

Partner
Call | 01293 649044
Email

Matt Parr

Matt Parr

Partner
Call | 01293 649034
Email

Melissa Roberts nèe Johnson

Melissa Roberts nèe Johnson

Partner
Call | 01273 223231
Email

Nadine Ashford

Nadine Ashford

Partner
Call | 01323 748741
Email

Nick Stockley

Nick Stockley

Partner
Call | 01273 223275
Email

Nick Walsh

Nick Walsh

Partner
Call | 01273 407401
Email

Nicola Brown

Nicola Brown

Partner
Call | 01243 836843
Email

Nicola Davies

Nicola Davies

Partner
Call | 01323 748767
Email

Rebecca Louis

Rebecca Louis

Partner
Call | 01903 748190
Email

Sacha Bolourchi

Sacha Bolourchi

Partner
Call | 01323 872504
Email

Samantha Dickinson

Samantha Dickinson

Partner
Call | 01273 223252
Email

Simon Baillie-Hamilton

Simon Baillie-Hamilton

Partner
Call | 01273 407415
Email

Tracy Rowden

Tracy Rowden

Partner
Call | 01323 872503
Email