Mayo Wynne Baxter

Mayo Wynne Baxter, legal advice in Sussex for over 150 years

Mayo Wynne Baxter is a regional law firm that states it has served the people of Sussex for over 150 years. The firm presents itself as a specialist practice with over a hundred local lawyers and a network of offices across the South East of England. Its work is organised into two main areas: personal legal services and business legal services.

Personal legal services

The personal area covers children and family law, private client, property and conveyancing, employment advice, wills, personal disputes, professional negligence, and probate. The firm describes its approach to these matters as supporting clients through sensitive life transitions, with particular attention to clarity and protecting family assets.

• Children and family law
• Private client and estate planning
• Property and conveyancing
• Employment advice for individuals
• Wills and probate
• Personal disputes
• Professional negligence

Business legal services

On the business side, the firm covers business and commercial law, commercial litigation, commercial property, employment law, insolvency, property disputes, rural property and agriculture, and vineyards and wineries. The firm says it combines sector knowledge with solutions tailored to each business, with the stated aim of protecting interests and managing risk in transactions and disputes.

• Business and commercial law
• Commercial litigation
• Commercial property
• Employment law for businesses
• Insolvency
• Property disputes
• Rural property and agriculture
• Vineyards and wineries

Network of offices across the South East of England

The firm operates from several offices in Sussex and the surrounding area. The locations where it is present are Brighton, Chichester, Crawley, East Grinstead, Eastbourne, Lewes, London, Seaford, Storrington, and Tunbridge Wells. The main office listed on the website is in Lewes, in the county of East Sussex.

Service commitments and client care

Mayo Wynne Baxter sets out a series of service commitments, including the option for lawyers to travel to the office closest to the client or, where appropriate, offer video and telephone consultations. The firm states that it returns calls within four working hours and acknowledges emails within the same period, with automatic replies and alternative contacts when the responsible lawyer is away.

On fees, the firm says it provides a realistic estimate or fee proposal from the outset, reviews costs against that estimate, and gives advance notice if adjustments are needed. Where appropriate, it agrees a fixed fee structure. It also says it assesses the strengths and weaknesses of each case and offers honest advice, even if that means advising against proceeding. If it cannot take on a matter for professional reasons or considers another firm more suitable, it says so and, with the client's permission, recommends an alternative.

The firm has a client service team that maintains regular contact during the case, with direct access at no additional cost. On privacy, it states that it does not share personal information without prior consent, unless required by law. Written complaints are acknowledged within five working days and the firm aims to provide a full response within 21 days. Mayo Wynne Baxter says it pioneered a service level agreement detailing the standards clients can expect.

News and technology adoption

Among the news items on the site are the move of the Brighton office to new premises in the city centre, presented as a commitment to a more modern and collaborative space, and the implementation of the Harvey artificial intelligence platform. There are also articles on consent orders and on financial remedy orders and the D81 form.

Structure and regulation

The firm operates under the name Shakespeare Martineau LLP T/A Mayo Wynne Baxter, with company number OC319029, and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) with identifier 442480.

Location and contact

3 Bell Lane, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1JU