Did you know that June is Pride Month? It’s a time of vibrant celebration and powerful remembrance for the LGBTQ+ community worldwide, and its roots are deeply significant.

June was chosen for Pride Month because it marks the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising in June 1969. After a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City, led to the assault of many patrons, the LGBTQ+ community peacefully protested for days. These protests fundamentally changed the discourse around LGBTQ+ activism and are widely considered the beginning of the modern Pride movement.

Today, Pride events held throughout June (and beyond) are incredibly important for many reasons:

Visibility and Identity

For many LGBTQ+ individuals, Pride offers a unique space where they can express their true selves without fear or shame. It’s a public celebration of diverse identities—whether that’s sexuality, gender, or non-conformity—in a world where many still feel pressure to hide. This visibility helps challenge stereotypes and normalise LGBTQ+ lives within the broader community.

A Powerful Act of Protest and Remembrance

Pride’s origins are in protest, led by trans women of colour, which catalysed the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. Today’s events still carry that legacy. While celebratory, they also serve as a reminder that full equality hasn’t yet been achieved. They highlight ongoing issues like hate crimes, conversion therapy, and global inequality.

Building Community and Solidarity

Many LGBTQ+ people experience isolation, especially those in unsupportive environments or who aren’t yet ‘out.’ Pride offers a vital sense of connection—a chance to meet others, feel supported, and know they’re not alone. Importantly, it also gives allies a visible way to stand beside their LGBTQ+ friends, family, and colleagues.

A Platform for Advocacy and Education

Pride isn’t just about the parties and parades; it’s a platform for raising awareness, promoting mental health, sharing resources, and educating both the LGBTQ+ community and the wider public. Events often feature stalls from charities, health services, and support organisations, helping people access life-changing information. It’s also a great way to support LGBTQ+-run businesses and organisations!

A Statement of Joy and Resistance

In a world where LGBTQ+ people are still marginalised or even criminalised in many places, the very act of celebrating publicly is revolutionary. Pride declares: we exist, we matter, and we’re not going anywhere. Joy becomes an act of resistance—defiant, healing, and empowering.

Pride is a powerful statement of identity, resilience, and hope. For LGBTQ+ people, it can be a life-affirming experience. For allies, it’s a chance to stand up, speak out, and show love in action. Together, Pride events remind us that diversity is something to be honoured, not hidden.

Mayo Wynne Baxter is a proud ally to the LGBTQ+ community and we’re delighted to be supporting Eastbourne Pride on July 19th and Crawley Pride on August 16th again this year.

Several of our colleagues will be attending both events (and some are even helping to set up the festival grounds at Crawley!).

As a special gesture, those attending Eastbourne or Crawley Pride may book their return travel as a Pride gift from the firm.

With best wishes for a wonderful Pride Month,

Sam Dickinson and Matt Parr

MWB have been celebrating the firms four recent promotions, which were effective from May 2025.

The firm has promoted Angela Payne to associate chartered legal executive, and Ganesh Kent to associate solicitor. Private client lawyer Matt Parr and residential property specialist Sacha Bolourchi have also been promoted into the membership of legal and professional services group Ampa, which Mayo Wynne Baxter is part of.

Residential conveyancing specialist Angela started her legal career in 1995, working across East Grinstead, Lewes and Brighton. After a career break to raise her three children and working part-time in a primary school, she now brings her expertise and dedication back to the legal sector.

Ganesh, who joined the firm in 2019, assists clients with drafting wills, lasting powers of attorney, and estate administration. She qualified in 2017 after studying law at the University of Surrey, following a background in accountancy and business. She is passionate about guiding clients through major life transitions.

Dean Orgill, chief executive at Mayo Wynne Baxter, said: “Our people are at the heart of our business, and our clients directly benefit from the investments we make in their growth and development.

“Recognising and rewarding high performance is a fundamental part of our culture, reflecting our commitment to nurturing talent across Sussex.

“We remain dedicated to providing ongoing opportunities for our outstanding people to thrive, ensuring they are empowered to deliver exceptional service to clients both regionally and nationwide.”

MWB has reaffirmed its commitment to East Grinstead by relocating to a new, modern office in the heart of the town.

The new modern and spacious office – on the second floor of Medway House, in Cantelupe Road – offers a range of state-of-the-art amenities designed to support the firm’s continued growth and commitment to delivering exceptional client service.

Key features include a dedicated reception area for welcoming clients; two external meeting rooms; a wellness room to support staff wellbeing; a small quiet office, ideal for focused work; an open plan office, including a number of height-adjsutable desks; a post room; and a separate kitchen space.

Dean Orgill, chief executive at Mayo Wynne Baxter, said: “We are delighted to open our new office in East Grinstead, which reflects our ongoing strategy to invest in modern, flexible workspaces across Sussex.

“This move is a testament to our long-term commitment to the town, ensuring we continue to provide high-quality legal services to the local community. Our investment in this new space also supports staff recruitment and retention, helping us attract top legal talent while creating a welcoming and efficient environment for both clients and employees.”

Located just 12-minute walk from East Grinstead Railway Station and close to town centre amenities, the new office is part the law firm’s strategy to broaden its footprint across the region, which included opening a new hub in Chichester in 2023.

Mayo Wynne Baxter has nine offices throughout the Sussex region, including in Brighton, Chichester, Crawley, East Grinstead, Eastbourne, Lewes, Peacehaven, Seaford, Storrington, as well as a London office.

As part of its ongoing commitment to social mobility, full-service Sussex law firm Mayo Wynne Baxter has partnered with the Dare to Dream initiative – delivered by the Love Local Jobs Foundation – to help young people build confidence, ambition and self-belief.

Through the partnership, Mayo Wynne Baxter has been paired with Hove Park School, where a dedicated team of mentors is working closely with students to improve their self-belief and demonstrate that aspirational career paths such as the legal sector are not only possible but well within their reach.

Five professionals from the firm – commercial partner Jonathan Clays, litigation partner Paul Rooke, private client solicitor Eloise Smith, chartered legal executive Angela Payne and commercial paralegal Molly Hamilton – have stepped up as mentors, supported by colleagues family paralegal Rebecca Robinson and private client partner Rebecca Louis.

Together, they are guiding and supporting a group of year nine students through the programme, offering valuable insights into the legal industry and world of work, while helping the students develop essential life skills.

Mayo Wynne Baxter chief executive Dean Orgill said: “We believe in unlocking the potential of young people and giving them opportunities to explore careers they may not have considered. By working with Dare to Dream, we hope to inspire students at Hove Park School and show them that the legal services sector is accessible to anyone with ambition and drive.”

The programme officially began with an initial briefing in mid-February, where the mentors took part in a training session. Looking ahead, the next stage is set to take place in March, where students will further develop key competencies essential for their future success.

The students will also have an opportunity to visit Mayo Wynne Baxter’s Lewes office in April, allowing them to experience the professional environment first-hand. The programme will culminate a few weeks later, where students will put their new-found skills into action.

Dare to Dream is an initiative from the Love Local Jobs Foundation that is dedicated to helping young people reimagine their future by building self-awareness, resilience and employability skills.

Jack Hayes, head of programme delivery at Dare to Dream and the former long-standing host of the Heart Sussex breakfast show, said: “We’re all about changing mindsets and empowering young people to believe in themselves. The involvement of companies like Mayo Wynne Baxter is crucial in showing students what’s possible when they have confidence and determination.”

We are proud to announced a 7% increase in MWB’s revenue for the past financial year, taking the firm’s turnover to more than £13.5 million for the first time, thanks to organic growth and team expansion.

In September 2023, the firm merged with Pure Employment Law in Chichester, bolstering its employment team. MWB has also made significant investments in its family and private client teams with the appointment of partners Marie Stock and Marwa Hadi-Barnes.

Dean Orgill, chief executive partner at Mayo Wynne Baxter, said: “Our continued growth is a testament to the strength and dedication of our teams, as well as our ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional legal services to our clients.”

Steeped in history, the firm has been part of the Sussex community for more than 150 years – supporting local people, their families and their businesses.

Dean continued: “While we are proud of these results, we remain focused on ensuring that our growth is both sustainable and aligned with our values.

“It is important to us that we maintain our close ties to the communities we serve, continue to offer a rewarding environment for our people, and keep delivering the high-quality legal services that have become the hallmark of Mayo Wynne Baxter.”

In addition to this revenue growth, Mayo Wynne Baxter has further strengthened its footprint across Sussex, adding Chichester to its geographical reach as well as investing in new premises in Eastbourne.

The firm also remains committed to career development and training, particularly promoting social mobility. The firm made four promotions in the past financial year.

The firm, which became part of legal and professional services group Ampa May 2022, now sits firmly in the Lawyer’s Top 100 Law Firms, with the group ranking at number 47.

Dean added: “The integration into the Ampa group has undoubtedly played a pivotal role in enabling us to accelerate this growth, providing us with enhanced resources, strategic support, and opportunities for cross-collaboration.

“We look forward to continued success and are open to hearing from like-minded talent who share our values of being both purposeful and profitable.”

International Women’s Day provides a valuable opportunity to reflect on the achievements of women and celebrate the progress made not only in the legal profession but in all areas of life towards gender equality.

Historically women have faced numerous obstacles in accessing and excelling within the legal profession, for decades concerted efforts have been made to foster inclusivity and dismantle the systemic barriers that have hindered the progress of women in law.

On reflecting on International Women’s Day 2024 tangible progress can be seen with women in key roles within the legal profession such as in the Judiciary, in law firms and in academia. There are now greater opportunities for women in the legal profession and their contributions are becoming more widely recognised. Women continue to reshape the landscape within the UK legal profession by challenging stereotypes and breaking through barriers in what was once a male dominated profession.

Mayo Wynne Baxter have built and continue to foster a culture of inclusivity and actively promote gender equality within the firm. As a law firm we have implemented initiatives aimed at promoting gender diversity such as unconscious bias awareness, flexible and hybrid working arrangements, mentoring and coaching programmes. As well as a menopause inclusion group. Adopting and promoting such initiatives is crucial in creating an inclusive environment where women can thrive and advance in their careers. In our most recent diversity survey statistics show that women make up an impressive 76.92% of employees within the firm, of those 48.6% are Partners and 44% of Board members are women.

Whilst undoubtedly progress has been made Mayo Wynne Baxter recognise challenges remain within the wider society which will require a multifaceted approach involving legal reforms, cultural shifts and changes in societal attitudes towards gender roles and expectations. Mayo Wynne Baxter are committed to promoting gender equality, diversity and inclusivity within the legal profession and wider legal community to create a future where every woman has the opportunity to pursue a career in law.

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.

I undertook my Training Contract to become a solicitor between 2008 to 2010. I was, in terms of my professional life at least, still very much “in the closet”.

I had joined the firm I trained with along with a cohort of around 15 other trainees. There was a real mix of personalities, backgrounds and interests and it was a real eye-opener for me as I had gone through University believing the vast majority of solicitors were very much from one particular “group” in society – I had gone in with the impression that I and I alone was going to be the one that stood out but that wasn’t the case at all, everyone was different.

It did turn out, however, at least as far as I am aware even to today, that I was alone on one particular front- I was the only gay trainee.

I absolutely didn’t feel like I could let this slip on day one, two, ten or even on the last day of my training contract. Coming out to colleagues, even those that I had begun to consider my friends wasn’t an option. I was even asked the question directly “are you gay” and I said “no”. I don’t recognise that person I was 14 years ago.

I had a very strongly held belief that my career would be hampered by others’ opinion or views on my sexuality. I know now the trainees I had grown close to, socialized with, bonded with over our usual trainee gripes, fundraised with and struggled with would have absolutely supported me and it wouldn’t have made a difference as to how they treated me – but they weren’t the decision makers.

The decision makers were older, cis gendered, straight men and women and rightly or wrongly I assumed they wouldn’t have given me the same chances as my fellow trainees if they knew I was a gay man. I don’t recall seeing anyone else who was openly “out” in the office, I had no one to lean on or learn from and I certainly didn’t feel I could be myself in a professional office environment.

Fortunately for me, a friend came into my life at about the right time and they were the first person I felt I could be open and honest with and she enabled me to be myself outside of work primarily. Ironically, she was actually someone I worked with. Having a friendly face in and out of the office meant I could begin to be my more authentic self but never to the point of being an “openly gay man”. She was an ally in every sense of the word and emphasised to me the importance of having these people in your life!

It wasn’t until I qualified and began to feel a little more control over my future, that I was able to bring my true self to work and not shy away from discussing my life outside of work with colleagues – something I had avoided doing as much as possible before.

I won’t forget the first time I positively affirmed my sexuality at work as I felt a rush of adrenalin and fear when it rolled off my tongue but the reaction was one of total nonchalance – perfect. The conversation went like this, “you have a girlfriend right?” “no, I have a boyfriend,” “ah ok, cool, what’s his name?”

That was it, the plaster had been removed.

It is very difficult to appreciate how my work life has changed since 2008 to now and so much of this is down to culture changes in the office and wider society around acceptance and the value of welcoming all people from different backgrounds, characteristics and views at higher levels in businesses.

Since then, the firm I worked with underwent quite a significant change in culture and moved away from the quite stuffy firm it was to what is now a very friendly, open and accepting one where being yourself is recognised as a strength. Seeing other members of the LGBTQ+ community at senior levels in the firm provides reassurance that it isn’t a barrier.

I felt empowered to organise the firm’s inaugural participation in the Birmingham Pride Parade, I have represented members of the LGBTQ+ community on open discussion forums broadcast to staff, actively participated in LGBT Pride Month activities and have even been able to reach out to the LGBTQ+ community as potential clients for the firm by taking part in local networks designed to encourage members of the community to build links, grow their referral relationships and otherwise come together and support queer business owners and leaders.

There is still a long way to go in some respects when it comes to ending stigma and discrimination in all areas of life but when it comes to work – a place you spend so much of your time and energy, it is very reassuring that the vast majority of firms have taken such strides in helping to create environments where everyone feels comfortable to be themselves. I see a lot of trainees and more junior members of the firm actively partaking in LGBTQ+ inclusion groups and involving all members of staff in discussions about the community and I see many allies both old and new supporting them and it’s lovely to see. I wonder how my career would have taken a different path if I had simply had the courage to bring more of myself to work each day.

Just one final point and it was in fact the final message from our CEO at a recent firmwide partner conference – “Keep being yourself”. If that doesn’t sign this off appropriately, I don’t really know what else would.

Matt Parr, private client partner at Mayo Wynne Baxter.

We are so pleased to announce the Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey and Sussex (KSS) as our new charity partner for the next two years.

The team from MWB visited the KSS Redhill Aerodrome to meet its doctors, paramedics, and crew, as well as the chance to see its life-saving helicopters in action.

Employees at the law firm voted to support KSS because of the vital service it delivers, and they are already organising fundraisers to contribute to the charity’s £45,000 daily operating costs.

Dean Orgill, chief executive partner at Mayo Wynne Baxter, said: “It was a privilege for the team to meet the heroes who work at KSS and we are proud to support their work.

“It’s important to us that we support charities which take care of our local community and as Mayo Wynne Baxter expands from our Sussex heartland into Kent and Surrey, we wanted to select a charity which would represent our current and future employees.

“We know that 87% of the charities’ total income comes from donations. Every year it responds to more than 3,000 incidents where they provide cutting edge pre-hospital care, which could mean the difference between life and death.”

KSS is an independent lifesaving charity, which has provided world-leading pre-hospital emergency care whenever and wherever it’s needed, for more than 30 years. Operating 24 hours a day, 365 day a year it delivers the hospital room to the road side, a beach or a patient’s home.

KSS recorded its busiest year in its history in 2022, where it responded to more than 3,000 incidents, an average of nine patients every day.

We will be planning a calendar of fundraising activities and challenges, from office fundraising classics such as bake sales and raffles, to participating in KSS Heli Hike sponsored walks.

Kelly Heaton-Ralph, executive director of fundraising and philanthropy at KSS, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the employees of Mayo Wynne Baxter for voting for KSS as their Charity of the Year!

“We are excited to be able to work together on a number of fundraisers throughout the year, further raising the profile of KSS in Sussex, Surrey and beyond and building a strong partnership together.”

If you’d like to support KSS Air Ambulance, visit their website!