Simon Baillie-Hamilton is a Partner and Head of the Rural Business and Property team for Mayo Wynne Baxter and has been with the firm since 2000.

Simon is a specialist agricultural solicitor who advises landed families and rural businesses.

With dual professional qualifications, Simon began his career as a rural chartered surveyor before becoming a solicitor. He previously worked for Strutt and Parker and regional law firm Thomas Eggar.

Simon qualified in 1996 and is recognised as one of the country’s top agricultural lawyers by the leading independent guide to the profession Chambers UK. He is a Chartered Surveyor as well as a solicitor and a member of the Agricultural Law Association.

At work Simon is particularly interested in agricultural property, development options and promotions, landlord and tenant matters as well as management and planning for landed estates.

Outside work he enjoys all sports and is a keen supporter of Lewes Hockey Club.

Louise specialises in commercial property at the Lewes office working alongside Simon Baillie-Hamilton on agricultural and rural property matters.

Louise can assist on a wide range of commercial matters including;

  • Sale and purchases of land, farms, woodland, and commercial property;
  • Transfers of part of a title;
  • Easements and Wayleaves for rights of way, rights of access, and utilities;
  • Auction sales and purchases including the review of the auction packs prior to the auction taking place;
  • Commercial Lease matters for both Landlords and Tenants including Assignments (the sale of an existing Lease), the grant of new Leases, Lease renewals and the Surrender of a Lease;
  • Drafting and amending Partnership Agreements and Deeds of Admission to a Partnership with a specialism in Farming Partnership Agreements;
  • Acting on development site sales and purchases, with or without an Option or Conditional Contact;
  • Acting for landowners on Overage Agreements; and
  • Commercial lending (acting for both borrower and lender).

Louise works with a wide range of clients from small farming families and individuals to established companies and has a strong focus on building client relationships.

Outside of work, Louise enjoys spending time with her family and growing brood of cats. Louise also holds a British Sign Language level 2 qualification.

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!