We understand that the decision to end a marriage is one of the hardest a couple will face and it is not made easier by the prospect of having to ‘go to battle’ with one another in the Family Court. Not to mention the added fuel of congested court lists which means for considerable delays for hearings to be listed.
There are options available to our clients who are hoping to agree matters as efficiently as possible, one of them is considering attending a Private Financial Dispute Resolution Hearing, or ‘PFDR’. So, what is a PFDR and how can it help?
What happens at a private FDR hearing?
A private FDR is the equivalent to the Second Hearing in financial remedy proceedings, albeit out of the court system. At the Second Hearing and in a private FDR, a Judge will hear the submissions of both parties or their legal representatives and provide a likely outcome if the parties were to go to a final hearing. The Judge, therefore, does not impose an agreement but rather it is a means to assist with the negotiations of the parties. If, after the Judge has made an indication, one or both parties are unhappy, further negotiations can be made with their respective solicitors and revised offers can be proposed. If an agreement is not reached and a settlement cannot be agreed and formalised after the private hearing, the FDR will move to the court’s Final Hearing where the Judge will make a legally binding order.
What are the benefits?
- Speed – Often due to court congestions, hearings can take up to several months to be seen in front of a judge however, the private hearing can be booked on a date of convenience and at a short notice (dependent on judge’s availability).
- Privacy and comfort – it offers more privacy as the venue can be far more discreet than a busy court building.
- Financial specialist judge – The judge will be a financial specialist (as opposed to judges at court who may be better versed in children matters). They will have read the papers and will have plenty of time to see you when you require their input, which is often not the case in court.
- Better chance of settlement – Statistics show that around 80% of cases settle just after FDR/ private FDR stage.
- On your terms – If successful, being able to agree an outcome is in general far preferable to having one imposed on you.
What’s the catch?
No catch, however, there will be a cost of hiring a Judge privately which will not be due if matters were dealt with at court. It is the decision of the parties involved as to how this payment is divided.
How can we help?
We understand that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach on what is suitable for our clients. We are able to advise as to if a PFDR will be most suitable in your case. We are guided by our clients’ needs and preferences and will make sure that you understand the process and feel supported throughout.
If you need any assistance with a Family Law matter, please do not hesitate to contact our experienced Family Team at Mayo Wynne Baxter on 0800 84 94 101. Our specialist team can advise you as to the best possible ways to resolve matters
This guide is an overview of the process of administering an estate. Although every person is unique and every estate is different, this factsheet sets out some of the common milestones in the process and the timescales in which you can expect the matter to progress. At the end of the factsheet is a glossary of common terms that you will hear throughout the process. You may find it helpful to refer to both documents as we go along.
The Personal Representatives are responsible for making sure that the estate is administered correctly. If there is a Will, they are called Executors and will ensure that the instructions in the Will are carried out. If there is no Will, they are called Administrators and will follow the rules for inheritance set out by the law. We will use the term Personal Representatives in this factsheet.
The first three months
In the first three months after a person dies the Personal Representative will need to:-
- Register the death
- Arrange the funeral
- Instruct a legal adviser to assist, if you wish
- Gather details of all the person’s assets and liabilities
- Write to the asset holders and creditors to obtain valuations of the estate – if we are advising you, we can do this for you
- Obtain three independent valuations of the person’s property
- Value all the person’s household goods and possessions
- Make a list of all gifts made by the person in the seven years prior to their death
- Arrange insurance for any property and contents
- Inform utility providers and the council that the person has died
- Notify government institutions such as the DWP and HMRC
- Review Income Tax position up to the date of death
- Assess whether you need a formal Grant of Representation to administer the estate
- Prepare the Inheritance Tax and Probate Application forms
- Start Estate Accounts Estate Administration
- Consider whether the estate qualifies as a Complex Estate which needs to be reported to the Trust Registration Service
- Obtain contact details for beneficiaries and inform them of their inheritance
Three to six months
The Personal Representatives, or their legal advisers, should now be ready to:-
- Finalise the Inheritance Tax and Probate Application forms
- Sign the Inheritance Tax and Probate Application forms stating that they have made their best efforts to disclose all relevant information. Failure to do this may be perjury and could result in a fine or a prison sentence where wrong information is reported
- fraudulently or negligently.
- Submit the Inheritance Tax account to HMRC
- Pay any Inheritance Tax due
- Submit the Probate Application form to the Probate Registry
- Pay the Probate Registry fee for the Grant of Representation and any copies of the Grant
- Answer any queries raised by the Probate Registry
- Receive the Grant of Representation
Six to twelve months
- Now that the Personal Representatives have the Grant of Representation they will need to:-
- Complete forms to close bank accounts
- Complete forms to close or transfer investments or shares
- Place statutory notices advertising for creditors
- Notify the council that the Grant of Representation has been issued
- Start paying liabilities and administration expenses
- Put any property on the market for sale
- Arrange for the property to be cleared and personal possessions sold or transferred to a beneficiary
- Once a sale has been agreed, instruct conveyancing solicitors
- Consider any Capital Gains Tax mitigation measures if assets are selling for more than the valuation submitted with the application for a Grant of Representation
- On completion of the sale, take final meter readings and submit to the utility providers
- Notify the buildings and contents insurers and council of the sale
- Report any Capital Gains to HMRC
- Work out whether any refund of Inheritance Tax is due after the sale of assets
- Complete forms to claim any Inheritance Tax refund
- Submit bankruptcy searches before making any payments to beneficiaries
- Pay any legacies contained in the Will
- Consider whether an interim payment to the residuary beneficiaries is appropriate
- Update Estate Accounts
Twelve to eighteen months
- We are now approaching the end of the administration process. To finalise the estate the Personal Representatives will need to:-
- Finalise Income and Capital Gains Tax for the period of administration. Work out whether a tax return is required or if the submission can be made informally.
- Pay final Income Tax
- Obtain Inheritance Tax clearance from HMRC
- Prepare forms confirming each residuary beneficiary’s share of income received from the estate
- Prepare final Estate Accounts for approval by the Personal Representatives and residuary beneficiaries
- Submit bankruptcy searches before making any payments to beneficiaries
- Arrange a final distribution to the residuary beneficiaries
Other things to consider
- It is possible that someone may make a claim against the estate or say that the Will is invalid. The costs of such challenges are generally paid out of the estate. It is important that you take specialist advice as soon as you become aware of any potential challenge.
- A beneficiary can choose to vary or disclaim their inheritance. This must be completed in a formal way and within specific timescales. This can have an impact on the
- Inheritance Tax payable and you should take advice if you are unsure of the effect of a variation on the estate.
- A person may set up a Trust in their Will. There are different types of Trust which have different rules and different tax treatment. You should take advice to understand how the Trust affects the distribution of the estate.
This guide can be downloaded here, alongside our glossary of terms for estate administration.
Buying a property is a big commitment.
For first-time buyers, it is the start of a major change in circumstances as they move from their parent’s home or buy a property together for the first time. Buying a property is a stressful process. At Mayo Wynne Baxter we know that and aim to make life as easy for you as we can.
We hope this free guide will be useful and help make your buying experience less stressful and help you understand what is happening each step of the way. This is an overview of the most important steps in a reasonably short and simple format but for more information please visit our website and look at our other guides and jargon busters there.
Firstly check how much you can afford and arrange a mortgage which is agreed in principle. It would be very disappointing to choose the house of your dreams and then find you cannot obtain a mortgage. Make sure if you use a broker, that they are independent and will be able to offer all of the products on the market. There is nothing wrong with using a broker who is tied to certain products so long as you obtain some comparisons or indeed use your bank. Obtain any documents you will need e.g. wage slips, bank statements etc.
Once your offer has been accepted you should instruct solicitors – we hope us! To make everything run smoothly we need full names, addresses, dates of birth and if possible driving licence and passport numbers. We will send you a written estimate of the costs involved and advise what we do as part of the transaction. We will ask you to pay the search fees at this stage (Currently £400 on average). We will send you information on how to own a property (see our guide) and you should start to consider this
point.
You should at the same time apply for your mortgage and arrange a survey. Explore also arranging life insurance and buildings insurance which should both be on risk at Exchange.
You should also ensure that the funds for the deposit (normally 5-10%) is in a UK bank account and available.
If you live in a rented property please advise us, as normally you will need to give 1 month’s notice to expire on a rent payment day.
This can be difficult as you should not give notice too soon in case the exchange is delayed but you need to be careful that you do not get caught paying both rent and a mortgage.
We will then receive the agent’s details and apply for a contract and when this is received we report to you. At this stage, we will also carry out searches on the property and once we receive these back, we will report to you again. By this point you should have your mortgage offer in writing from your lender and once we receive this we will report to you along with the contract to sign. At this point, we will also ask you to send us the deposit.
We can then exchange contracts which is when the moving date is agreed and everyone is committed to the transaction. Between exchange and completion, we will apply to your lender for the mortgage monies and ask you for the balance if any is required to complete the transaction.
You will need to contact the relevant service providers and transfer the accounts into your names. After completion, we will register your title to the property at the Land Registry and send you a copy when this is completed. You will also need to advise everyone of your new address including DVLA, insurers, HMRC, work, TV licence etc.
The other issue we would urge you to consider is to make a will. As you are now a homeowner you need to leave the property to someone should anything happen to you. Lastly, we advise you to keep copies of all the papers you will have been given on completion relating to the property.
When you come to sell they will be needed. Remember we are here to help. If you need a helping hand just get in touch with us! We encourage you to discuss any problems or concerns so we can help you to overcome them.
Navigating the legal jargon of a UK property purchase or sale can often be confusing, especially when it comes to conveyancing terminology. Whether you’re buying your first home, selling a property, or dealing with complex legal processes, understanding the key phrases used in conveyancing is essential. At Mayo Wynne Baxter, we’re here to simplify the process and ensure clarity at every step. Below, we’ve provided explanations for some commonly used conveyancing terms to help understand the legal language surrounding property transactions. This jargon buster is designed to make your journey through the UK property market as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Buyer
The person buying a property, sometimes called the purchaser.
Chain
The series of connected sales and purchases, of which your transaction may be part. Inevitably, the chain will start with a buyer who does not have a sale, and will end with a seller who does not have a purchase. A long chain can cause delay for those parties towards the end of it, when it comes to completion.
Completion
Completion is the act of the buyer forwarding the purchase money for the property in exchange for the signed transfer and the legal documentation. In the absence of any agreement to the contrary, the day fixed for completion is absolute and completion must take place on that date. Delays in completion by the buyer or the seller can lead to very significant claims for damages being made. It is therefore essential that if you are selling you arrange to vacate your property by noon on the day fixed for completion and leave it completely empty of all possessions, rubbish, etc. This is known as providing “vacant possession”. Buyers must be ready to pay the final purchase price on the day fixed for completion and should be allowed to move in as soon as their money has reached the seller’s solicitor.
Contract
On completion of the necessary searches and enquiries, you are ready to sign the contract, which is the document setting out the price and terms upon which the property will be bought or sold. It is in two identical parts, one is signed by the buyer and one is signed by the seller.
Conveyancing
The name given to the process of buying or selling houses or land. Historically this process was achieved by a document called a “conveyance”.
Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA)
The person who prepares the Energy Performance certificate after visiting and inspecting the property.
Disbursements
Payments we have to make on your behalf, mainly for the searches, stamp duty and fees payable to third parties. They will be shown as separate items on your bill or completion statement.
Drainage/water search
This is carried out at the local drainage company to advise us whether the water supply to the property is metered and the route and type of drainage. It is important to check on the route of drainage to ensure that you have the rights to allow
drainage to continue, and whether any building over a drain or water pipe has been given consent by or might require the consent of the company.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
This confirms the energy efficiency rating of the property and other related information. It is prepared by a domestic energy assessor.
Enquiries
Questions raised relating to the title to the property being purchased or matters arising from the papers supplied by the seller’s solicitors.
Environmental search
This is a search to show whether the property is adversely affected by environmental issues such as landfill or floodplains. Please bear in mind that environmental searches have only recently been carried out on a regular basis. Accordingly, if the seller of your property has owned the property before about 2000 they may well be unaware of environmental issues adversely affecting the property.
Exchange of contracts
When both parties have signed their copy of the contract and both parties agree that they wish to be bound by the contract, their solicitors exchange their copies of the contract. Exchange normally takes place by a telephone call following which both parties’ solicitors are obliged to physically exchange the contracts in their possession. Once the telephone conversation confirming the exchange of contracts has taken place the contract is binding upon both the buyer and the seller. This means you must not exchange until you are certain the money is available to pay for the purchase. If you are borrowing all or part of the money on a mortgage we must have formal instructions from your lender. At the same time, a date is set for completion of the transaction. A deposit is payable on exchange of contracts, traditionally 10% but sometimes a different figure (often 5%) can be agreed in the pre-contract negotiations. If you are selling as well you may be able to use your buyer’s deposit towards your own deposit.
Fittings and Contents Form
This form is completed by the seller setting out what will be left in the property and what will be taken. Again, if this information does not match the information provided to you by the selling agents or by the seller themselves it is a matter that should be taken up straight away. You should not rely on the form if it contains information contrary to that which you have been given elsewhere.
Freehold
The ownership of a building and the land on which it stands free from other interests (most houses are freehold). Land Registry fees These are fees paid to the Land Registry, for example, to register your transaction. Once the fee has been paid the buyer can be registered at the Land Registry as the owner of the property and any subsequent official copies will confirm the change in ownership.
Land Registry search
After exchange of contracts, the buyer’s solicitor makes a Land Registry search to check that there have been no further entries added to the Land Register since the official copies provided with the contract papers were produced. Once the Land Registry search has been carried out the buyer has 30 days during which no additional entries can be made other than his own.
Lease
This is the document setting out the rights and obligations of the person with the benefit of the lease, sometimes called the lessee, the tenant or simply the owner. For example an owner of a leasehold flat is technically the lessee.
Leasehold
Denotes a situation where somebody owns a flat and a part of a building but not necessarily the whole building or the land on which it stands. Most flats are leasehold and pay a ground rent to the “freeholder”, ie the person who owns the
land on which the flats are built.
Local search
The search of the local authority records carried out by a buyer’s solicitor which will reveal such things as planning decisions, listed buildings, agricultural restrictions, conservation areas, etc. Please bear in mind that a local search does not automatically reveal details of planning applications on neighbouring properties. At your request we can carry out these enquiries but the local authority will charge you extra for this service.
Managing Agents
The management company is often employed by the freeholder or landlord of a block of flats and which will often deal with the day-to-day management of the building, such as preparation of maintenance budgets and accounts and collection of service charges.
Money laundering
The government has imposed rigorous duties on solicitors in relation to the prevention of money laundering which means that before any transaction commences we will require documentary evidence of your identity. As the transaction progresses you may be asked to disclose the source of funds, particularly if this is in any sense unusual. Solicitors are under a duty to report anything unusual to the proper authority, which can sometimes cause delays. Accordingly, it is always helpful to respond quickly to any enquiries we might have to raise.
Mortgage
Sometimes also called a “legal charge”. If the buyer has borrowed money to purchase the property, the lender of the money normally takes a mortgage to secure the debt. This is usually evidenced by a “mortgage deed”. The exact terms of the mortgage differ from lender to lender but will always provide the ability for the lender to repossess and sell the property in the event of non-payment of the mortgage or any instalments.
Notice of transfer/mortgage
Payable to the landlord or management company on or soon after completion so as to confirm details of the buyer of the flat and any lender. This enables the landlord to issue service charge demands and other correspondence to the lessee.
Official copies (a.k.a. “Office Copies”)
These are official copies of the Land Registers which are held nationally on the Land Registry computer. If you are selling a property your solicitor will need to obtain up-to-date official copies which are then provided to the purchaser’s solicitor.
Property Information forms
These forms are completed by the seller with help from his or her solicitor and are intended to give comprehensive information about the property for the use of the buyer. You should be able to rely upon them but if there is anything within the seller’s replies which does not match what you have been told or the information contained in agents’ particulars you should draw this to our attention.
Public Index Map
Where we are uncertain of the ownership of adjoining land (or if we want to check the position of unregistered land), we can carry out a search of the Public Index Map at the Land Registry. If land is registered, we can find out the title number, and then obtain copies of the title.
Registered land
Property which is “registered” at the national Land Registry. There are no longer any “deeds”, just electronic copies stored on the Land Registry computer.
With elevated public debt and struggling public services, it seems clear that the changes will focus on laying the groundwork for tax increases and spending cuts in order to try and address that £22bn black hole of overspend from this year alone.
Inheritance Tax
The previous government made promises about increasing the Inheritance Tax (IHT) allowances on second death for married couples to £1m and they took their time in doing so, only introducing the residential nil rate band until 2017 incrementally so the full allowances were only claimable from 2020. Despite the increase in exemptions, inheritance tax revenue is at an all-time high with receipts of £7.5bn. Will the chancellor deem that its middle England’s time to feel the tax pinch? Reform options could include:
- Abolishing the residential nil rate band, which will result in an additional £140,000 for spouses on the second death, seems likely. Especially as this is a relatively recent exemption.
- Reducing or capping the current 100% relief for Agricultural or Business Property or tightening the criteria to make it more difficult to claim.
- Increasing the rate of IHT for larger estates to say 50%.
Capital Gains Tax
Capital Gains Tax (CGT) rates are at a historic low so increasing them would be an obvious choice. Other options could be:
- Bringing CGT back in line with Inheritance Tax (IHT) to 40%.
- Reviewing some of the most used exemptions, for example, putting a threshold on private residence relief at say £2m.
- Scrapping holdover relief is often used when transferring assets into discretionary trusts.
The other concerning consideration is when they will deem the changes to take effect. Will it be from budget day or will individuals have some time before the next tax year to make disposals, this could result in a mass sell-off of assets which would provide a short-term boost for CGT revenues.
Of course, we can only speculate at this stage but we do know that changes to personal circumstances and legislation are constant. Having regular reviews and undertaking tax planning exercises will give you the bespoke information and you can then choose the best options for your own personal circumstances.
Jointly owned properties
Where a property is jointly owned, the simple answer is no. The legal position is that both parties’ have an equal right to access and to occupy the property. Even if only one party is paying the mortgage or the other party has made no contribution at all, you cannot change the locks without the agreement of the co-owner or an order of the court.
In certain circumstances, the Court may be prepared to grant an Occupation Order to one party to prevent the other party from returning to the property where there has been domestic violence or threats of harm. The threshold is fairly high and in some cases where the evidence is insufficient an order can be made for the parties’ to occupy certain parts of the property to the exclusion of one another.
For jointly owned properties, advice should be sought as to whether the property is owned as joint tenants or tenants in common.
Properties held in one name
In contrast to this, where a property is owned in one person’s name only and the relationship breaks down, the owner of the property is entitled to change the locks.
In certain circumstances, an Occupation Order can be secured through the courts for the person without legal title to the property, particularly if they would be made homeless by virtue of the locks being changed and/or have a beneficial interest in the property. The Osborne Park mobile lockout service reminds us in their recent posts that the costs associated with these procedures generally fall on the perpetrator. Regardless of their homeless situation.
In the case of a marriage breaking down, the person without legal title can seek to register a home rights notice against the property provided it has been occupied as the matrimonial home. This is advisable for protection as it prevents disposal of the property without notice before the financial matters have been resolved.
For unmarried couples, it may be possible to secure a unilateral notice or other restriction against the property depending on the circumstances to prevent a disposal taking place before an agreement has been reached.
If I own a property jointly can I leave my share of the property to anyone I want under my will?
A jointly owned property can be held by the owners as either as joint tenants or tenants in common.
Tenants in Common
If you own a property as tenants in common, it means that although you jointly own the property, it is owed in divided shares. In contrast to joint tenants you can leave your share of the property to anyone you like under your will.
Joint Tenants
If you jointly own a property as joint tenants it means that on the death of either of the owners, the property will pass to the survivor regardless of the terms of the deceased’s will.
If you wish to control the devolution of your interest in the property on death, you can sever the tenancy of the property so that you can become tenants in common. This is a simple and inexpensive process.
Following the breakdown of any relationship, severance should be considered. However, one should be warned that severance is a double edged sword.
We have family law specialists available who can provide legal advice and dispute resolution services, including family mediation and collaborative law. If you would wish to speak with one of our Family Law Specialists, please do contact our friendly team.
It is common knowledge that there is a potential inheritance tax liability for gifts you have made in the last 7 years before your death. Gifts include cash, property, shares, vehicles, household and personal belongings. It also includes any monies lost when you sell something for less than it is worth.
There is no inheritance tax due on any gifts you give if you live for seven years after giving them (unless the gift is part of a trust). This is known as the seven-year rule.
If you die within seven years of making a gift and there is Inheritance Tax to pay (only if the gifts are in excess of your £325,000 allowance), the amount of tax due depends on when you gave it. The inheritance tax rate is 40% for gifts made in the three years before your death and for those made three to seven years before your death, they are taxed as per below on a sliding scale known as ‘taper relief’.
Years between gift and death
Rate of tax on the gift
| Years between gift and death |
Rate of tax on the gift |
| 3 to 4 years |
32% |
| 4 to 5 years |
24% |
| 5 to 6 years |
16% |
| 6 to 7 years |
8% |
| 7 or more |
0% |
Please note that any gifts you make that you are still benefiting from such as continuing to live in the house you have gifted, will form part of your estate for inheritance tax purposes.
1. Spouse or Civil Partner Exemption
Any gifts made between spouses or civil partners, provided they live in the UK permanently, are exempt.
2. Charity and Political Party Exemption
There is no inheritance on any gifts made to charities and political parties.
3. Small Gift Allowance
You may make gifts of up to £250 to as many recipients as you wish in each tax year without needing to keep records. If any individual receives more than £250, the whole value of the gift must be taken into account. Additionally, any Christmas or birthday gifts you give from your regular income are exempt from Inheritance Tax.
4. Wedding or Civil Partnership Allowance
You can give £5,000 to a child and £2,500 to a grandchild or great-grandchild and £1,000 to anyone else who is getting married or entering a civil partnership in each tax year.
5. Annual Allowance
You have an allowance of £3,000. Gifts to one, or more, recipients to a total value of £3,000 will not reduce your Inheritance Tax allowance or be subject to the seven-year rule. For example, you could give one child/person £3,000, or you could give your two children/people £1,500 each and this will not count towards your inheritance tax allowance.
If you have not used your allowance for the previous tax year you can carry forward your unused allowance for one year only. Any unused allowance not carried forward will be lost. Therefore, if you have not used an allowance for the last two tax years you can gift a total of £6,000 away up until the end of the tax year (5th April). Then on 6th April you can also use your new allowance of £3,000.
If the value of all gifts in a tax year exceeds the annual allowance, the excess will reduce the amount of tax-free allowance available for your estate.
6. Gift out of Surplus Income
If you have a good pension and investment income and do not spend all of your income which means that it is just accumulating as capital, then you can also gift this income in addition to your annual allowance. You will need to keep careful records of your outgoings to show your surplus and the amount of surplus that is gifted.
It is important to keep a detailed record of the gifts you have made (what you gave, how much you gave/the value, when you gave and to whom) so that the appropriate exemptions/allowances can be used to minimise any inheritance tax liability on your death.
On Friday 22nd September 2023, we further strengthened our position as the leading law firm in Sussex when we merged with Pure Employment Law in Chichester.
The union made Pure Employment Law part of the Mayo Wynne Baxter brand and added a new office hub in Chichester, The new location will also create more than a dozen jobs in the local area.
Acting for both employers and employees, Pure Employment Law was established in 2010 by employment law specialists Nicola Brown and Peter Stevens, who have more than 50 years of combined experience, having both previously worked at a large regional firm before setting up on their own.
The merger has further bolstered our existing employment offering and the new Chichester hub will expand our reach across Sussex, providing local clients with access to our 200-strong team of experts.
Nicola, who joined Mayo Wynne Baxter as a partner, said: “Our client base has grown massively in the past 13 years and we felt ready for the next step, so we began looking for a partner that could provide us with the infrastructure to grow. We’re delighted to become part of a firm that has such a great reputation in Sussex and that has shown its commitment to building a full-service offering for clients in Chichester.”
We have confirmed that we are now looking to recruit at least 12 additional legal professionals in the area, to support local clients with a range of legal services.
The merger follows shortly after our union with Lawson Lewis Blakers in Eastbourne in May.
Dean Orgill, chief executive partner at Mayo Wynne Baxter, said: “We’re thrilled to have announced two key mergers, in relatively quick succession, that have not only brought in incredible expertise to our firm but also expanded our reach, taking us to nine locations across the region.
“We’ve had a landmark year for growth already but won’t be resting on our laurels. Our focus for the immediate future is recruitment and building a strong team.”
Martin Williams, head of employment at Mayo Wynne Baxter, said: “Nicola and Peter bring with them bags of expertise and business acumen, so we’re delighted that they are joining our growing employment team. We are glad to be able to offer their existing client base a range of legal services and their team with excellent training and career development opportunities.”
There are no planned redundancies as a result of the merger. Mayo Wynne Baxter is proactively recruiting in Chichester and the wider Sussex area.
On Saturday 1st April 2023, we further strengthened our position as the leading law firm in Sussex when we merged with long-established firm, Lawson Lewis Blakers.
There are such great synergies between our two firms that a merger made perfect sense.
Lawson Lewis Blakers has always been known as a modern progressive law firm that can trace its roots in Sussex back almost 200 years.
Lawson Lewis & Co was established in Eastbourne in 1875 and grew organically and by merger, establishing an office in Peacehaven in 2000, and absorbing Lewes firm Blaker Son & Young (established approximately 1830) in 2012 to become Lawson Lewis Blakers.
The merger has seen Lawson Lewis Blakers now become part of the Mayo Wynne Baxter brand, taking the Mayo Wynne Baxter team to more than 220 people. Their Peacehaven office is now our eighth office in the Sussex area, and staff from their Lewes and Eastbourne offices have moved into our existing buildings in those towns.
Jeremy Sogno, director at Lawson Lewis Blakers, said when we announced the merger: “We were looking for a larger organisation that shared our values and could offer greater growth opportunities for our talented and ambitious team, as well as providing additional services and expertise to our valued clients; Mayo Wynne Baxter more than fits these criteria, and we are excited about joining forces and continuing our legacy within the local area.”
There were no redundancies as a result of the merger and Lawson Lewis Blakers’ clients can expect the same high levels of exceptional service from our friendly team. As part of MWB, clients will have access to a greater range of services and specialists in more areas of law.
They will also be offered our Satisfaction Guarantee whereby if they are not completely satisfied with the service received, they can deduct up to a maximum of 20% off their fee. No quibble.
Clients who had documents held for them by LLB can rest assured that they remain safe with us. Should you wish to retrieve your Will or Deeds then please click here.
We started this year with some exciting news. We joined Ampa – the UK’s leading group of legal and professional services companies. As a result of this merger, our clients now have access to more than 900 experts across the group. These include new service areas such as planning, cyber security, data protection and risk management, to name a few.
It has always been important to us that we continue to innovate and find ways to better serve our growing client base. Over the last decade, this has included mergers with other firms and developing technological solutions like our LawEasier service.
The move to join Ampa supports our shared plans for growth and increases our service offering for clients across the South East. Ampa is a group of distinct and respected brands with complementary specialist areas, talented experts, and a united goal to fulfil our clients’ needs and their growth ambitions.
Together, we can now provide you with market-leading support on a vast range of varied and complex issues—all in one place. Wherever, whenever you need us.
While we will retain our distinctive brand and continue to operate as a separate LLP, joining Ampa means that we can also speed up our expansion plans. We are now looking to recruit talented people and teams across Sussex, Surrey, and Kent as Ampa’s regional anchor brand in the South East.
Ampa shares our values of collaboration, integrity and providing exceptional service. We’re delighted to join the likes of Shakespeare Martineau, Marrons Planning, Lime Solicitors, Corclaim, and CSS Assure, in the group.
“We’re excited to be taking this next step in our firm’s evolution and look forward to building on our services for our clients and communities. Joining forces is a very positive move for each of us.” Dean Orgill, Chief Executive Partner at MWB.
Our identity as Mayo Wynne Baxter will remain. We are proud of our established reputation, and it is one of the things that made us attractive to Ampa. A crucial part of our identity is our people and, as we are looking to expand the firm not to reduce it, there are no plans for any redundancies.
Ampa’s origins are in the Midlands through Shakespeare Martineau – a well-respected and substantial law firm with ten offices including London, Birmingham and Glasgow.
Sarah Walker-Smith, Group CEO at Ampa, said: “A key benefit of our group is shared access to greater support for the benefit of our clients, whether that be from other legal professionals across different brands or our combined business operations capabilities. Alongside bigger buying power and significant opportunities to collaborate on projects, we will deliver enhanced benefits for our people and clients in life and business.
“Each brand in our group is empowered to deliver on its growth ambitions and retaining autonomy whilst collaborating with each other when it makes sense to do so for the greater good.
“Mayo Wynne Baxter has a unique geography, local market affinity, excellent client relationships, strong employer brand and a great reputation – which is why it is so important that it maintains its brand and market positions. It has been great to meet and now go into partnership with a similarly progressive business and like-minded people to help us drive the Ampa vision.”
The transition to the group is expected to be completed by 1st May 2022 and the merger will take Ampa to a turnover above £100m for 2022/23 and a group of more than 1,100 people immediately.
This is good news for MWB, but more importantly, it is good news for our clients.