Rosie joined Mayo Wynne Baxter in April 2017 working in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Department and supports members of our department on a day to day basis.
Rosie is also member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and has achieved the qualification of Cilex Paralegal. Rosie was named as a finalist in the National Paralegal Awards 2020 (Best Civil Litigation Paralegal category) and holds a BA Philosophy degree.
Previously, Rosie has worked in London and Bristol in various data reporting, financial and hospitality roles.
Outside of work Rosie is a keen paddleboarder and enjoys outdoor adventure activities (such as taking part in a charity abseil from the Brighton i360!).
I qualified from Queens Mary and Westfield College, University of London with a degree in Economics but I have always seen myself as someone who would help others. I worked in a variety of commercial roles for several years after I left University all of which were client relationship management roles.
I then lived and worked in New Zealand for a year before deciding to go to law school. I have always been able to help solve problems and have (on the whole) been the sensible one. I have always both dealt with people and developed relationships with them and working in law has offered me the chance to combine those skills in finding solutions to challenging problems.
The commercial experience that I have means that I can understand other considerations businesspeople will have beyond the strictly legal avenues.
What attracted, and keeps you in this area of law?
I have always worked in a client facing role and working in law is, as I see it, the ultimate client service industry. I find it both challenging but personally rewarding as dispute resolution provides so many more options than simply winning and losing. The goal is always to find a way in which a client can find a resolution. It is always interesting working with people in order to do that.
What do you most enjoy about your role?
Clients often come to a dispute resolution lawyer because they feel that they have nowhere else to turn. My goal is to give them both clear and comprehensive help and advice in a difficult time and work with them to achieve the best outcome. Dispute resolution is both wide ranging and ever-changing and always presents a number of daily challenges.
What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day will involve, drafting court documents, setting out clients’ positions to opponents, reviewing evidence, considering strategy, and advising clients on their next steps. My day is often taken up either thinking about, advising on, and answering the question “what happens next”.
What are your strengths and skills?
My strengths are that I can explain complicated legal processes to clients in a way in which they can understand. I can identify the relevant information and explain to clients not only the legal merits of their position but also the financial and commercial reality of what they should do next. My expertise extends both to any commercial dispute, property litigation and contentious probate.
I am approachable, considerate, and full appreciative that clients want to conclude matters in a timely manner. I know that my clients, often, do not want to go to war but they do want “fairness” and I always aim to achieve that for them.
I am both accessible and responsive and do not lose sight of the commercial realities, damage and costs surrounding the resolution of disputes.
I am also an accredited mediator which has really helped me advise my clients on that method of resolving disputes. I have also worked in non-contentious commercial transactional work which has helped identify specific issues when disputes arise.
Tell me about a memorable time when you have helped a client.
I recently acted for two investors in a property development. The developers went into liquidation and our clients both faced losing hundreds of thousands of pounds through no fault of their own. Through a variety of different steps and actions were we able to recover the money that the investors had spent plus their legal costs.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I spend my time outside of work with my family and our friends. I enjoy swimming and keeping fit generally and I help coach my son’s football team which takes up a lot of the weekend.
I try not to be too obsessed with the fortunes of both the England cricket team and Tottenham Hotspurs.
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!
Lee Hills is a Partner in both our Dispute Resolution and Travel teams having joined the firm in 2008. Lee qualified in 1992 and prior to his time with Mayo Wynne Baxter, Lee was a partner at another large regional law firm and was a part of its Litigation team, he also headed up its Liability Insurance Department and Travel and Aviation Team.
As well as having extensive litigation, commercial and regulatory experience of the travel and tour operating sector, where he is recognised as a ‘Leader in the Field’ by Chambers UK whilst maintaining a host of key clients including tour operators, travel agents, DMC’s, suppliers and travel industry trade associations, Lee is also recognised for his wider litigation experience including the defendant insurance markets where he is accredited in the UK directory, Legal 500. Maintaining a balanced and extensive portfolio of commercial and private clients, Lee regularly advises on regulatory issues, commercial and contractual disputes, particularly those with an international flavour and involving overseas jurisdictions liaising with his network of overseas lawyers when necessary. Lee is an accredited Mediator in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and a member of numerous trade and industry associations including being a Fellow of The Institute of Travel and Tourism and a committee member of The Travel and Tourism Lawyers Association. Lee is a regular speaker at trade and industry conferences and events and provides bespoke training for clients.
Chambers 2024 – Ranked Lawyer:
Travel: Regulatory & Commercial – UK-wide
Band 3
Lee Hills of Mayo Wynne Baxter defends travel agencies and tour operators against various personal injury claims, with a focus on road traffic accidents, gastric illness cases and injuries sustained on hotel premises. He is also adept at advising on a variety of regulatory and commercial issues.
Travel: International Personal Injury (Defendant) – UK-wide
Band 3
Lee Hills of Mayo Wynne Baxter defends travel agencies and tour operators against various personal injury claims, with a focus on road traffic accidents, gastric illness cases and injuries sustained on hotel premises. He is also adept at advising on a variety of regulatory and commercial issues.
I qualified as a solicitor in 2001 and worked for Allen Ticehurst for 10 years before the merger with Mayo Wynne Baxter in 2012. My main areas of expertise are property litigation and employment law.
In terms of property litigation, I regularly deal with disputes regarding rights of way, boundary/neighbour disputes and claims for adverse possession, plus residential and commercial landlord and tenant disputes ranging from possession proceedings, service charge disputes and dilapidation claims. My expertise in these areas has been recognised by the independent legal guide known as the Legal 500 in which I am described as “highly experienced in contentious rural property work and commercial landlord and tenant matters”
On the employment side, I advise on everything from contracts and settlement agreements to unfair dismissals, redundancies and discrimination cases and am a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.
I also deal with contentious probate, company and partnership disputes and breach of contract claims.
Disputes can be distressing for those involved and the issues at stake are often of considerable importance. I find it very satisfying to be able to assist clients in achieving the best possible outcome for their particular case and to be able to support them through what is often a challenging process.
Outside of work I enjoy long country walks with my family, gardening and visiting National Trust sites.
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.
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.