I am a qualified solicitor with over 15 years of experience in Private Client work. I hold an LLB (Hons) in French and Law (1999) and a STEP Diploma (2003).

My expertise lies in Trusts and Estate Tax, encompassing a wide range of services including: Wills, Powers of Attorney & Deeds of Variation, Trust and Estate Administration, Accounts and Taxation and Personal Taxation.

I am dedicated to providing high-quality legal advice and support to individuals and families, ensuring your legal needs are met with care and attention.

After a career break to raise my family, I am delighted to be back in the legal profession.

When not at work, I enjoy spending time with my family and indulging in a good book or film.

Leanne achieved a First Class Degree in Law from the University of Lincoln, she then went on to complete the Legal Practice Course with Masters at BPP University.

Leanne joined MWB in July 2024 as a paralegal in the Private Client Department.

Outside of work Leanne enjoys baking, spending time with her and family and friends and running.

Lucie is a dedicated Paralegal with a passion for Private Client work. After completing a Law LLB at the University of Exeter in July 2023, Lucie joined MWB in November 2023.
Prior to joining MWB, she honed their teaching skills as a Mathematics tutor. This experience has fostered a strong ability to explain complex concepts clearly and effectively.

Since joining MWB, Lucie has been actively involved in the firm’s charity and social committees. She is also currently pursuing an LLM in Legal Practice with combined SQE 1 as well as working part-time with the Private Client team.

Outside of work, Lucie enjoys a variety of hobbies, including watching movies, reading, painting, and outdoor activities like kayaking, sailing, and road trips. She also have two beloved cocker spaniels.

I graduated from the University of Winchester with a degree in Law in October 2022.

Following my graduation, I began my Solicitor Qualifying Exams (SQE) this includes the required Qualifying Work Experience (QWE).  As part of my QWE, my first job within the legal sector was in conveyancing.

After completing the necessary time in conveyancing, I moved on to the private client sector and really found the area of law I knew I could thrive in.  It is truly an honour to work in private client.  People trust us with handling their legacies, a legacy they have spend their entire lives crafting.  The importance of ensuring that what they leave behind is distributed and cared for exactly as they wish is never lost on me.

I have now worked in private client for almost two years, and I look forward to spending many more years in this area of law.  I aim to qualify as a solicitor in 2026 and remain in private client with my own cases and clients to care for.

When I am not working, I enjoy participating in many different water sports. I hold qualifications in rowing, sailing, and kayaking and I thoroughly enjoy spending my time at the beach or on the water.

Further to this, I am an avid reader and have since begun writing my own book.  Becoming a published author has been an aspiration of mine since I was just a little girl, so I thought it about time I start to make progress on that.

I initially wanted to study computer science and psychology, but in my year out I worked for the Crown Prosecution Service and became fascinated with law. I sat and passed the Executive Office Board and exam when I was 19 and worked as a law clerk instructing counsel in the crown court.

I read law at the University of Sussex, followed by the LPC at Guildford College of Law where I discovered the law of trusts and equity and private client work.

I qualified as a criminal solicitor with the CPS, defended and worked for the magistrates’ court after which I was able to make the leap into Private Client work.

I worked for MWB over 20 years ago before taking a career break to raise my three children. I returned to work as a private client solicitor for a local firm in Arundel whilst my children were small.

When MWB opened their Chichester Office, I was thrilled to be invited to re-join them. Whilst the firm has changed and grown over the years, there are still some familiar faces. What has remained constant is their vision, passion and warmth for their clients and colleagues.

I have over 15 years’ experience in private client work and before I had children sat and passed all the STEP exams and was a member of STEP.

I enjoy helping my clients reach informed decisions in relation to their Wills. There is no such thing as an ordinary family or estate. The drafting of documents is easier than the decision making. I also understand that the administration of estates can be very traumatic and is part of the grieving process so try to shoulder the burden for my clients when I can.

At weekends I can either be found freezing whilst my daughter is ice skating, or in the summer scoring the odd cricket match for my sons.

Occasionally, when we can escape, my husband and I can be found at the theatre or walking in Arundel Park.

I qualified as a solicitor in March 2024 and I have over 5 year’s experience in Court of Protection work.

What do you most enjoy about your role?

My role gives me the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable individuals who lack capacity to make their own decisions by ensuring their best interests are represented in decisions related to their property and financial affairs. I find the work deeply fulfilling.

What are your strengths and skills?

I have specialised legal knowledge in mental capacity law and related legislation, including the complex legal principles related to decision-making on behalf of individuals who cannot do so themselves.

My ability to problem solve enables me to assist Deputies with difficult decisions regarding a person’s property and finances by proposing practical solutions and navigating intricate family dynamics to find outcomes in the best interest of the individual.

Tell me about a memorable time when you have helped a client.

One of the most rewarding achievements of my career was when I lead a project to adapt a vulnerable client’s property to enable her to move out of a care home and back into her own home. The client was deeply unhappy in the care home, and the building work was all done during the pandemic, which added an extra level of complexity. It was lovely to see her back in familiar surroundings.

What do you like to do outside of work?

Outside of work, I enjoy unwinding by watching films, going on walks on the South Downs and running on the seafront in Brighton.

I graduated from the University of East Anglia with a degree in American Studies, also having completed a year abroad studying at the University of Arizona.

I have always had an interest in Law and went on to qualify as a Chartered Legal Executive in 2022, after studying while working full time in a Private Client department. Since starting my legal career, I have specialised in Private Client matters in particular Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Probate.

I enjoy working closely with my clients during what is often a difficult time dealing with the of a loved one. Compassion and understanding are crucial to my role and when drafting Wills and LPAs I seek to ensure that my clients feel that they are receiving clear and tailored advice. All families are different, and I work to provide a personal approach for each client.

My interests outside of work include musical theatre and reading. I have a passion for travelling and experiencing new places across the world.

What attracted, and keeps you in this area of law?

When I was at school, my history teacher thought it was important for us to keep up to date on foreign and domestic affairs. At that time there was a particular High Court Judge that was frequently mentioned in the news, and this got me interested in the law and the court system.

This stuck with me into adulthood, I went into social work but could not get law out of my head, so I decided to go back and study Law!

I qualified as a Solicitor in Scotland in 2008.

I enjoy working in the Private Client Department. It’s the shifting nature of the law that keeps me interested, I never feel like I am in a rut as every client matter is so different and personal to them.

What do you most enjoy about your role?

I love meeting clients and helping them, so many people just do not know where to start. I enjoy talking to them and working out what they want and figuring out the best way to achieve it for them.

Although circumstances may be similar, the individual person is different and it’s that which I enjoy, getting to know and helping the person.

What would your colleagues say about you?

Probably that I have dreadful taste in music! But hopefully they would say that I am proficient and good at what I do.

They also know that I love Christmas and enjoy my countdown to Christmas reminders ?

Outside of work

I enjoy walking, reading, music, theatre, and gardening. I am also a member of my local church.

I am also a proud bee keeper!

I am currently based at the firm’s Seaford and Lewes offices heading up our specialist Attorney Affairs Team within the Private Client Department and managing a portfolio of Attorney Affairs; Estate Administration; Wills and Lasting Power of Attorney matters.

My experienced team undertakes general management of our vulnerable clients’ financial affairs where we have been appointed as Attorneys and also assists lay Attorneys in fulfilling their duties and responsibilities.

I have been with Mayo Wynne Baxter for over twenty-six years and contributed several years as a legal secretary before training and qualifying whilst working as a legal advisor. I am a proud CILEX Lawyer, having achieved a Professional Diploma in Law and a Professional Higher Diploma in Probate Law and Practice, Equity and Trust Law and Family Law and becoming a CILEX Fellow in 2012. I was promoted to Associate in April 2017 and Partner in 2022.

I am dedicated to building strong and trusting relationships with all my clients, particularly when working with the elderly and vulnerable community. I am passionate about helping people through difficult times and my starting place with clients is always to consider what I would want for my own relatives. I enjoy getting to know my clients so that all decisions can be based around their individual personalities and needs. I am a member of the Association of Lifetime Lawyers and a registered ‘Dementia Friend’ via The Alzheimer’s Society.

Alongside client work, I am also a Wellbeing Champion for my colleagues and oversee learning and development for the Private Client Department. I am heavily involved with the firm’s trainee Lawyers and love watching new talent succeed and go on to do wonderful things in their careers. Outside of work, I’m mostly outdoors in the fresh air, balancing a busy family of boys with their various sporting commitments and a very energetic Spaniel, so it’s a good job I’m an organised person!

Ursula grew up and studied law in Zurich, Switzerland. She moved to London in 1988 and has since worked in London and Sussex law firms, eventually specialising in all areas of private client law and gaining full STEP membership in 2006.

She has also joined the STEP Sussex Committee.

It is important to Ursula that her clients are at ease when dealing with her and feel that they are receiving excellent service for their money.

She is currently a Trustee of the British Society for Research on Ageing, having spent several years as a Trustee of Age UK Brighton & Hove prior to that.

Outside work Ursula loves food, keeping fit, the outdoors and reading, but her passion is rowing. She rows competitively for Ardingly Rowing Club at local, national and international level.