Baines Solicitors

At Baines Solicitors, we believe in a personalised approach to divorce. 

We understand that family and divorce matters can be complex and emotionally challenging and are dedicated to understanding your unique circumstances supporting you through the life transition.   Baines Solicitors provides expert guidance and representation, our mission is to provide compassionate and knowledgeable support. 

We offer a traditional face to face service along with a range of flexible payment options to suit your needs. 

Divorce can be one of the most challenging experiences in life often accompanied by emotional turmoil and financial uncertainty. Amidst the complexities of separating lives and assets, financial settlements emerge as an effective way to resolving disputes between spouses. When a dispute arises, we can negotiate and draft financial agreements including consent orders to ensure a fair and reasonable division of assets.

Financial settlements are an invaluable tool in the divorce process providing a path to resolution that is often quicker, more cost effective and less contentious than litigation. Through negotiation, mediation and formal agreements, divorcing couples can reach settlements that serve their best interests while addressing the financial needs of both parties.

Navigating the complexities of child custody, contact and residency issues is a fundamental concern for parents undergoing separation or divorce. Child contact is vital for maintaining healthy relationships between children and both parents, it plays a significant role in a child’s emotional and psychological wellbeing.

We offer legal advice to those who need help when it comes to ensuring a child's wellbeing following separation.

Navigating the journey of love and commitment often involves planning for the future. Even before saying “I do” pre and postnuptial agreements are legal documents that outline the distribution of assets, financial responsibilities and other important matters in the event of divorce or separation. Baines Solicitors can draft and advise on pre nuptial and post nuptial agreements to protect assets and clarify financial responsibility.

We understand that unmarried couples face unique financial challenges. Our experienced solicitors provide expert guidance on managing finances, protecting assets and planning for the future. We can advise and draft cohabitation agreements outlining financial responsibilities, property ownership and other important matters. We represent clients in property disputes including disputes over ownership and financial contributions. We advise on financial provision claims under the Trusts of Land and Appointment (TOLATA) and the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.

Baines Solicitors understand that being involved in an accident or suffering injury due to another persons negligence can be a traumatic experience. We are experienced and dedicated to fighting for justice and the compensation you deserve. With years of expertise in handling a wide range of personal injury cases, we know the ins and outs of the law and insurance processes. 

Types of cases we handle:

• Road traffic accident claims
• Public liability claims
• Slips and trips
• Accidents in the workplace
• Holiday accidents
• Sporting accidents
• Fatal accident
• CICA claims

If you have suffered an injury that wasn’t your fault you could claim the following:

• Pain and suffering from the injury
• Future losses
• Medical expenses
• Loss of past and future earnings
• Damage to items
• Other losses and associated expenses

Medical negligence occurs when a healthcare professional or organisation fails to provide the standard of care expected resulting in injury or harm to the patient. This can include:

• Surgical errors - mistakes made during surgery such as wrong site surgery or anaesthesia errors 
• Misdiagnosis - failure to diagnose or delayed diagnosis of a medical condition leading to delayed or inappropriate treatment
• Medication errors - mistakes made when prescribing or administering medication resulting in harm or injury
• Birth injuries - injuries to mothers or babies during pregnancy, childbirth or post natal care.

Medical treatment is meant to heal and help not harm. Baines Solicitors have extensive experience in clinical negligence law and a proven track record of securing compensation. We understand the emotional and physical impact of medical negligence and provide a supportive and empathetic approach. We will investigate your case and provide expert advice on the merits of your claim.

We offer no win no fee agreements ensuring that you can pursue your claim without financial risk. Contact us to discuss your situation and receive expert advice on the best course of action.

No win no fee 

We understand that personal injury can have a significant impact on your life causing physical, emotional and financial distress. Our experienced solicitors are dedicated to helping you navigate the claims process and secure the rehabilitation and compensation you deserve.

Conditional Fee Agreement

All eligible cases are carried out by way of Conditional Fee Agreement “no win no fee” agreement. There are no upfront fees and if your claim is unsuccessful you will not have to pay the agreed success fee. If you are successful, your opponent will typically pay fixed costs and you will pay a success fee (to be agreed). The benefit of a CFA makes it possible for injured parties to pursue a personal injury claim without financial risk. You will not have to worry about paying fees upfront or during the claim process. Also, we are motivated to win your case as we only get paid if you receive compensation. In deciding whether or not to enter into a Conditional Fee Agreement, we will assess the merits of your claim and whether or not you are likely to succeed. We will also check whether your case meets our firms funding criteria. With all of our conditional fee agreements you will be required to take out after the event insurance to cover potential costs such as the opponents fees. No win no fee agreements provide peace of mind and financial protection for you if you feel you have a potential personal injury claim.

If you have been injured and it wasn't your fault please contact us for a free no obligation meeting to discuss your options.

Professionals are expected to meet high standards of care and expertise. When they fail to do so it can have serious consequences. Our experienced professional negligence solicitors help individuals or businesses who have suffered losses due to the negligence of professionals.

Professional negligence occurs when a professional such as a solicitor, accountant, surveyor or financial advisor provides poor or misleading advice. We investigate your case and provide expert advice on the merits of your claim. We pursue claims for compensation on your behalf working to secure the maximum amount of damages. We represent you in court if necessary to ensure that your rights are protected and your interests represented.

If you have suffered losses due to professional negligence we can help. Contact us to discuss your situation and receive expert advice on the best course of action.

Disputes can be stressful and time consuming. Or experienced dispute resolution professionals help individuals and businesses resolve conflicts in a fair, efficient and cost effective manner. We take a pragmatic and solution focused approach to dispute resolution using a range of techniques and strategies to achieve the best possible outcome for our clients. Our services include:

• Negotiation

We can facilitate negotiations between parties to help them reach a mutually acceptable agreement and negotiate on behalf of our clients to resolve disputes without resorting to litigation.

• Litigation

We represent clients in court advocating for their interests and rights.

The speed of resolution services can help you avoid costly and time consuming litigation. We work to resolve disputes quickly and efficiently minimising disruption to your business or personal life. We have extensive experience in dispute resolution ensuring that you receive expert advice and representation. We adapt our approach to suit your needs and always explore alternative resolution or mediation as we believe this to lead to satisfactory outcomes taking the stress and expenditure out of the litigation process.

If you are facing a dispute Baines Solicitors can help. Contact us to discuss your situation and receive expert advice on the best course of action.

Under the SRA Rules, we are required to publish information regarding our fees and services in relation to debt recovery in respect of debts for up to £100,000. No debt recovery will be the same as the other. Much depends on a variety of factors such as:

• Terms of the Contract
• Nature of the Contract
• Whether the opponent is a consumer
• Complexity of the matter
• How willing the parties are to compromise
• Value of the claim

Due to the range of variables we are not able to give you an exact estimate of the cost, however once we are in receipt of the full details regarding your case we will be able to give you an estimate at that stage.

If your claim is straightforward, we may be able to offer you a fixed fee. However, should the claim become contested it would be more difficult to provide a fixed fee.

We have set out below our starting and average estimated fees:

Fees 

1. Initial advice and discussion

This involves obtaining your instructions normally at a face to face meeting which typically lasts an hour.

We offer free initial advice allowing you to make a decision on instructing Baines Solicitors without incurring any costs whatsoever.

Letter of Claim 

We will prepare documentation for your approval to dispatch on your behalf.

Estimated average £300 - £500.

Court Claims - Undisputed 

These costs apply where your claim is not disputed. Should the claim at any point become disputed we will discuss with you extra work and any further costs. The work would involve, preparing paperwork for your approval, applying to the Court for judgment in default, sending a copy of the judgment to your opponent and if payment is not received within 14 days advising on enforcement.

Estimated average - £500 - £800 plus associated disbursements.

Court Claim - Disputed 

It is not possible to provide an estimate or average costs as claims will depend on whether the claim is defended or not.

Our charges are based on our hourly rate of £200 per hour. We do not charge VAT on our costs. There will be other associated disbursements we will need to pay on your behalf such as Court fees, Counsel's fee and so on. These are in addition to our costs. If court proceedings become defended we will provide you with advice on the likely costs for various stages through to trial.

We would advise as follows:

Directions from the Court, steps through to trial, preparing and exchanging list of documents, sending and receiving documents, preparing and exchanging witness statements, obtaining expert evidence, settlement negotiations and preparing for trial.

We will keep you advised at all times by way of Cost Estimate letters, We aim to send estimates every 3 months.

At all times Zoey Marie Smith will deal with your case. Zoey Smith's present hourly rate is £200.00 per hour. We do not apply VAT to our charges.  Disbursements are charged in addition to our costs. 

Baines Solicitors have extensive experience in advising and representing clients on all aspects of residential landlord and tenant matters. We can advise landlords on the eviction process including serving notices and representing clients in Court proceedings. We also assist with disputes between landlord and tenants including disputes over repairs and dilapidations.