Bates Wells and Braithwaite Sudbury have a dedicated team with extensive experience and knowledge in their respective fields. Alongside our hard work ethic our ethos is to provide excellent client service which has been recognised across all of our areas of expertise.
To find out more about any of our members of staff, please select a department from the list provided;
AGRICULTURE & COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
Robert Sainsbury
Director
Robert is the firm’s agricultural and commercial property solicitor. He joined Bates Wells & Braithwaite in 2003 having worked in East Anglia since qualifying as a solicitor in 1984.
Robert has many years’ experience of agricultural and commercial property work both freehold sales and purchases and the grant and taking of leases, options, promotional and overage agreements. He has given the Cambridge Law Society’s Agricultural Law up-date seminar in recent years.
In his spare time Robert spends a lot of time with his family, enjoys badminton and tennis and plays an active role within St Mary’s Church Bury St Edmunds.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Tim Parsons
Tim joined Bates Wells & Braithwaite in 2017 as a commercial litigation solicitor.
Tim completed his legal training in Norwich, before specialising in commercial litigation at an East Coast firm, where he represented commercial clients and individuals across East Anglia in a wide range of disputes. Prior to qualifying as a solicitor in 1993, Tim worked for a large multinational accountancy practice.
Away from the office, Tim enjoys golf and playing and watching most sports.
T: 01787 880440 | E: TimParsons@bwblegal.com
EMPLOYMENT
Monika Sargeant
June joined Bates Wells & Braithwaite in 2015 and is a specialist employment law solicitor.
June has over 20 years of litigation and employment law expertise gained first in private practice and later in her role as an employment lawyer in a local authority in London where she dealt with highly complex tribunal cases including TUPE matters, sex, race and disability discrimination claims.
Outside of work June is a governor of a local sixth form college and enjoys a busy family life.
T: 01787 880440 | E: JuneSalmon@bwblegal.com
FAMILY
Rebecca Smith
Rebecca joined Bates Wells and Braithwaite in February 2019. Rebecca initially qualified as a legal executive and later as a solicitor. She has over twenty years’ experience in a wide range of family disputes having previously trained and worked as a family solicitor in Bury St Edmunds.
Rebecca is a member of Resolution.
In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys horse-riding, walking and cooking with family and friends.
PERSONAL INJURY
Mark Heselden
Director
Mark obtained a Masters Degree in international commercial law and after working with the Treasury Solicitor’s Department and then a City firm he joined Bates Wells & Braithwaite in 1993.
He is the Managing Director and specialises in personal injury litigation. He is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers and formerly ran the East Anglian regional branch of APIL. He also acts as an executor and trustee where there is conflict among trusts and estates.
A former parish councillor and school governor, Mark spends most of his spare time in the local area though does often travel to Switzerland where his son lives.
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
Lorraine Moser
Director
Lorraine joined the firm in 1997 as a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives and after qualifying as a solicitor in 2003 was appointed Head of the Residential Property Department.
She deals with all aspects of residential conveyancing and is the Practice Manager at Bates Wells & Braithwaite.
Away from work, Lorraine, who lives locally with her husband, enjoys an active life and her interests include hiking, canoeing, skiing, motorcycling and horse riding.
Elise Leeder
Elise is a Conveyancing Executive in the Residential Conveyancing department; she began her career in February 2018.
She is able to assist with freehold and leasehold sales and purchases; she has a particular interest in first registrations of land.
In her spare time, Elise enjoys traveling and visiting sites of historic interest. She particularly enjoys spending time at nearby stately homes and museums.
T: 01787 880440 | E: EliseLeeder@bwblegal.com
Emily Turner
Having completed her LLB Law Degree at the University of Essex, Emily began working for Bates Wells and Braithwaite in June 2017 and moved to Sudbury shortly after. She is currently undertaking training to become a Licensed Conveyancer and has already qualified to be a Conveyancing Technician.
In her spare time she enjoys reading and travelling.
T: 01787 880440 | E: EmilyTurner@bwblegal.com
WILLS TRUSTS AND PROBATE
Glenn Blair
Director
Glenn joined Bates Wells & Braithwaite in 2009 and gained experience across the firm before qualifying as a solicitor in November 2015. He has a law degree from the University of East Anglia and took the Legal Practice Course at the University of Law, London.
As of May 2020 Glenn was appointed as a Director of the firm and Head of the Private Client Department dealing with wills, powers of attorney and administration of estates including providing advice on inheritance tax, estate planning and trusts matters.
Glenn is also an Accredited Lifetime Lawyer (used to be called Solicitors for the Elderly) making him one of the most qualified solicitors in the country supporting vulnerable and older people.
Glenn lives locally with his young family and takes a keen interest in watching and playing various sports and is a long-term season ticket holder at Colchester United.
T: 01787 880440 | E: GlennBlair@bwblegal.com
Catherine Palmer
Catherine is a lawyer specialising in wills, trusts and probate matters.
Catherine began her legal career as a secretary with a large regional firm of solicitors before undertaking her legal training through distance learning.
She became a Graduate of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives in 1999 before moving on to work, mostly as a locum, in firms all over East Anglia.
She joined Bates Wells & Braithwaite in 2016 and specialises in Wills, Powers of Attorney, Estate Administration, Court of Protection work and elderly client advice.
In her spare time, Catherine enjoys classical singing, gardening and walking with her dog.
Emily Griggs
Emily began her career at Bates Wells & Braithwaite in September 2016 as an Apprentice following which she successfully completed training as a legal secretary and PA within the Private Client Department.
She has subsequently completed examinations qualifying as a Probate Practitioner in July 2023.
Emily is able to deal with various aspects of Private Client work such as Wills, Powers of Attorney and Estate Administration.
In her spare time, she is a keen baker and enjoys hiking in the Suffolk countryside, as well as spending time with her loved ones.
T: 01787 880440 | E: EmilyGriggs@bwblegal.com