I was introduced to law after carrying out work experience at a local firm whilst studying for my A-levels.
I joined Lawson Lewis Blakers straight from college at the age of 17 as a Legal Secretary within both the Employment and Family Departments, obtaining my Legal Secretary diploma in 2018. I later obtained a Specialist Paralegal Qualification in employment law from the CLT University of Law in February 2023 which has enabled me to have a greater understanding of the law in order to assist clients.
Following the merger between Lawson Lewis Blakers and Mayo Wynne Baxter, I am now a paralegal within the Dispute Resolution and Litigation department. I enjoy working within the Dispute Resolution and Litigation department as I enjoy helping clients reach the outcome that they deserve. I appreciate that they are going through a very stressful time, and I am always on hand to guide them through the process.
When I am not working, I love spending time with my family and friends (but mainly my cat, George!), going on holiday and reading a good book. However, I recently got engaged and therefore the majority of my free time is currently spent wedding planning!
I graduated from Bournemouth University in 2014 with a 2:1 in Law and went on to complete my LPC in 2019. I then trained at a Sussex firm and qualified in 2021. Now I specialise in commercial property at our Brighton office.
I advise on a variety of matters including grants and assignments of leases, sales and purchases and refinancing. I’ve experience in acting for both landlords and tenants, as well as lender’s, purchasers and sellers, from small start-ups to global, multi-million pounds companies.
I am known for my pro-active and pragmatic approach to matters and have a friendly and approachable nature.
Outside of work, I love to travel and scuba dive all around the world. When closer to home, I enjoy reading, Zumba and exploring the Sussex countryside with my husband and rescue dog.
Martin Williams is a Partner in the Employment team for Mayo Wynne Baxter and has been with the firm since October 2008.
Martin specialises in advising on restructuring and redundancy programmes, TUPE transfers, equality in the workplace, restrictive covenants, and data protection.
He also handles a variety of tribunal cases, providing a complete service to clients by conducting its own advocacy. Martin also has a wealth of experience dealing with complex employment issues in partnership and director disputes and plays an invaluable part of the firm’s Professional Practices team.
Martin qualified as a Solicitor in 2002 and since then has specialised in employment work. He gained invaluable experience with a Crawley based practice, and prior to working in the profession, was in the arts for 12 years where he managed orchestras in both the UK and USA.
Martin is also a member of Employment Lawyers Association.
At work Martin has particular interest in data protection within the employment arena, and he will frequently present seminars and training sessions to clients and associates.
Helen is Head of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department and the firm’s Board Chair. Helen has over 20 years experience of giving specialist property dispute related advice, having qualified in 1998. She is based in our Brighton office, and her clients include trusts, developers, commercial landlords and tenants, property managing agents and the private individual.
The range of disputes that Helen advises on is extensive; they include, for example, complex dilapidation cases for both the landlord and the tenant, lease renewals, rent & service charge recovery, forfeiture, boundary disputes, claims for rights of way or interference with these rights, other breaches of covenant and modification, adverse possession claims, co-ownership disputes relating to the beneficial interest, obtaining an order for sale where one owner objects and general landlord and tenant disputes. In addition, Helen deals with all nature of possession actions, whether the occupier is a tenant, licensee or a trespasser and professional negligence claims where there is a property angle such as those against architects.
Helen is frequently commended by her clients for her clarity of advice, professional approach and the ability to focus on their desired outcome. Her approach is underpinned by the knowledge that all clients desire the best possible outcome but balanced with a commercial focus. In this regard,
Helen has been a qualified commercial mediator since 2004 and is therefore well placed to advise when mediation may be appropriate. She is also a member of The Property Litigation Association.
Chambers 2022 – Real Estate Litigation Helen Bell has significant experience in landlord and tenant matters, including dilapidation claims and forfeiture and possession proceedings. She also advises on adverse possession matters and access disputes. “She is very collaborative, knowledgeable and has a very strategic approach to cases.” February 2022 – Lawyer in the News – Helen Bell
Why is she in the news?
Won a breakthrough case enabling a group of holiday home leaseholders to apply to purchase the freehold of their properties by proving that the properties could be defined as ‘houses’ under law.
James specialises in assisting businesses and anyone wanting to start a business. He is also our Head of Vineyards & Wineries team as well as specialising in crypto-currencies and block chain.
If you want assistance with any aspect of business life then James would be delighted to speak with you, for example:
- Starting and running your business
- Guidance on tricky shareholder/management questions
- Protecting your assets through contract, trademarks or copyright
- Handling employment issues
- Writing or reviewing a wide variety of commercial contracts
- Anything connected with crypto-currencies or block chain generally.
Qualified as a solicitor in both England/Wales and Hong Kong, James has practiced law internationally and, in the City, (where he trained as a solicitor, qualified in 1988 and later worked for a private equity house). Having created and sold several companies himself, he understands the commercial and practical realities of setting up and running a business.
James was made Partner with the firm in April 2021.
James has had a varied career: he founded the Institute of Paralegals; was the first lay member of the City of Westminster Council’s Standards Committee and helped establish an Equality and Human Rights Commission working group to promote diversity in the professions.
He has made numerous presentations, including to the Vietnamese government on anti-counterfeiting law and was a member of a Hong Kong government advisory panel. He has published many articles and edited an FT Law & Tax book on management.
James has been very active in legal education, having been an Adjunct Professor to Syracuse University’s law school, an Associate Professor of Law at City University in Hong Kong and a law tutor for ICE at the University of Cambridge.
When not working James likes to relax to the point where, on occasion, he seems to be half man, half sofa. This doesn’t happen too often as he has a young family and Fellowship of the Royal Geographical Society to contend with.
Specialisms:
- Business law
- Vineyards & Wineries
- Crypto-currencies & block chain
Johanna is a Litigation Executive in our Litigation team and joined Mayo Wynne Baxter in 2023 having gained a number of years’ experience in general dispute resolution, including boundary disputes, contentious probate, breach of contract and defamation.
She has also worked on behalf of local insurance companies, both in the anti-fraud department, and as a member of their panel Solicitors. Prior to moving to Sussex, Johanna specialised in criminal litigation, where she worked on an international serious fraud case and a murder appeal.
Johanna specialises in landlord and tenant disputes and possession actions and assists in debt recovery matters.
Johanna is approachable and strives to ensure that clear and precise advice is given to clients at all times.
Jon joined Mayo Wynne Baxter in November 2018 having previously worked for a large regional firm based in Southampton since 2005.
He qualified in 2007 and is an experienced Commercial Property Solicitor with a particular emphasis on commercial landlord and tenant work, commercial acquisitions and disposals, both freehold and leasehold, and secured lending acting for both borrowers and lenders.
In addition Jon is able to advise developers, tenants and lenders in relation to construction documentation (including collateral warranties, appointments and building contracts).
Jon has acted for a wide variety of clients ranging from national retailers and a multi-site marina operator to smaller companies and private individuals.
Caroline is over 20 years qualified initially working in personal injury litigation. She then developed an interest in Private Client moving into this area and further specialising with the society of trust and estate practitioners, STEP contentious probate and studying for ACTAPs qualification.
Caroline is chair of Headway Kent a charity focusing on social rehabilitation for people with brain injury Caroline was educated locally and at Sussex university for the law conversion course and has worked in Kent and London.
Caroline enjoys open water swimming and is taking part in the Henley swimming marathon (14k). She also enjoys paddle boarding, walking and climbing.
Dean Orgill is Chief Executive of the firm.
Having previously led the litigation department, and been part of the executive management team, for many years, Dean qualified in 1987 and became Managing Partner of Wynne Baxter Godfree in 1999.
Since then, he has been continuously involved in the management of the firm at Board level, becoming Chairman in 2011 and Chief Executive in 2021.
Dean has been with Mayo Wynne Baxter since 1987 and has specialised in dispute resolution throughout this time.
He acts for local, national and international businesses in relation to their commercial needs and disputes as well as in protecting their intellectual property rights and brands. His approach has been described by clients as calm and measured, but forceful when required.
In the wider business community Dean Chairs the Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership and sits on the Greater Brighton Economic Board.
In May 2022 Dean was appointed Chair of South Downs National Park Trust, having been one of the establishing trustees from 2017. More recently Dean was appointed as a Non-Executive Director, and Vice-Chair, of Sussex Chamber of Commerce.
For more than three years Dean was a Director of the Gatwick Diamond Initiative Limited (where he chaired the Inspire group focussing on training and skills). Dean also chaired the committee of the Institute of Directors for Sussex from 2017-2020, having been elected a Fellow of the IoD in 2015.
Dean is also a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA). He was a frequent contributor to the Platinum Business magazine producing a monthly column for many years.
Dean was President of Sussex Law Society for 2011/12 and has received the Business Matters Business Personality of the Year Award in recognition of his proactive involvement within the Sussex business community.