Mayo Wynne Baxter LLP

Family & Relationships

Partner

I graduated from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand with Law and Science degrees in 1994 and qualified as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in the same year. I practised law in New Zealand before permanently moving to the UK and becoming a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, in 2003. Since that time, my practice was litigation based with an emphasis on family law, contested wills & probate and employment matters.

After working as a Partner with Russell & Co Solicitors in Crawley, West Sussex, I joined Mayo Wynne Baxter when the firms merged in May 2018.

I am a Partner and Head of the Family Team at MWB, with a practice which is now exclusively family law.

The cases I deal with involve separation, divorce, civil partnership, and cohabitation breakdown and I advise clients on the financial issues arising as a consequence of their relationship breakdown as well as issues in connection with the care arrangements for any children of the relationship.

I also have a wealth of experience in advising and representing clients who have been the victims of domestic violence or against whom allegations of domestic violence have been made.

My specialisms are in advising and representing clients in cases involving:

Intractable contact/parental alienation children disputes; Temporary/permanent removal of children from England and Wales; International/domestic child abduction/failure to return; Relocation with children within England and Wales; Emergency/urgent court orders involving children; Urgent applications for orders to protect clients from domestic violence. Complex financial claims upon divorce/separation.

I undertake a large amount of advocacy work and regularly represent my clients in family courts across Sussex.

I am a member of Resolution, a Solicitor Advocate, and I am a Resolution trained mediator.

As a Resolution member I am committed to adopting a constructive approach to my work by:

Reducing and managing any conflict and confrontation; Supporting and encouraging families to put the best interests of any children first. Acting with honesty, integrity, and objectivity. Helping clients understand and manage the potential long-term financial and emotional consequences of decisions. Listening to and treating everyone with respect and without judgment. Using my experience and knowledge to guide my clients through the options available to them.