As a Chartered Legal Executive (FCILEx) within the Property department, I bring a unique and comprehensive perspective to my work. My journey to qualification began with a degree in Psychology, providing me with a strong foundation in understanding human behaviour and communication – invaluable assets in navigating the sensitive and often complex matters that come with property work.
While pursuing my legal studies to qualify as a lawyer, I gained practical experience through legal secretarial and paralegal roles, building a robust understanding of legal procedures and client service. My professional experience includes working with top city firms, where I honed my attention to detail and ability to handle high-value, complex cases. I have over 25 years of experience working in property law and demonstrate a deep understanding of the intricacies of property transactions. I qualified as a Chartered Legal Executive lawyer (FCILEx) in 2016.
My passion lies in providing clear, empathetic, and effective legal guidance to clients. I understand the importance of delivering positive outcomes and take great satisfaction in assisting clients through significant life events such as buying and selling property. I am committed to ensuring clients feel supported and informed throughout the legal process. My experience extends to assisting with residential, mixed use and commercial sales and acquisitions, leases, refinance portfolios, remortgages and transfers of equity.
I am a firm believer in embracing opportunities and approaching challenges with a positive mindset. This philosophy extends beyond my professional life, driving my commitment to charitable work and global exploration. I have a long history of involvement in charity projects and have travelled extensively, fostering a broad understanding of diverse cultures and perspectives. Outside of my professional life, I am a dedicated mother to my young son, who shares my passion for travel.
Favourite Quotes:
- “Most of the old moles I know, wish they’d listened less to their fears, and more to their dreams” – Charlie Mackesy
- “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll just end up some place else” – Yogi Berra”
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
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.