Bates Wells & Braithwaite

01473 219282

Bates, Wells & Braithwaite is one of Ipswich’s leading law firms. We offer a friendly, efficient, and professional service, whether you are looking for a family law solicitor or local conveyancer. We can help you to write a will or choose a power of attorney, and our team of experienced lawyers can settle any disputes. We have a long history of helping our clients, their families, and their businesses, with a wide range of private and commercial legal services. Our ethos is to offer clear and straightforward legal advice. We assist our clients every step of the way to reach a successful outcome. Our team of approachable and experienced lawyers have the expertise to see through each transaction or resolve legal issues, speedily and efficiently. We put our clients’ interests at the forefront of everything that we do. Read more...

Address
29 Lower Brook Street
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP4 1AQ
01473 219282
www.bates-wells.co.uk

View map

Accreditations

Request a callback Send an email Book an appointment Visit website

Available lawyers at Bates Wells & Braithwaite

Hannah Mitchell

4.9 out of 5

(55)

Chartered Legal Executive

Rhian Snell

Denise Head

Jane Brooker

Chartered Legal Executive

Karen Healy

Scott Emsden

Christopher Mason

Chartered Legal Executive

Rebecca Minns

5.0 out of 5

(1)

Private Client Executive

Adam Muldoon

Nicky Coates

Zoe Chittock

Chartered Legal Executive

How Bates Wells & Braithwaite Compares

Value for money

This firm - 98%

National Average

Poor Competitive Excellent

Excellent does not necessarily mean ‘cheap’. It means that clients thought that the level of service received was Excellent for what they paid.

This score has been calculated using up to the last 300 reviews left by clients of Bates Wells & Braithwaite on ReviewSolicitors.

As part of our review questionnaire we ask reviewer questions about the value for money they felt they received by using Bates Wells & Braithwaite. These questions include:

Value for money (a rating of 1-5)
How much were you initially quoted or how much did you expect to pay?
Approximately how much did you end up spending for the legal services provided (ignoring disbursements and court fees)
Did you think this was underpriced, overpriced or about right?
Overall experience

We use data science to amalgamate the answers to these questions and create a ‘ReviewSolicitors score’ out of 100. The above chart representation score is a simple percentage representation of the averaged score across those who have reviewed this law firm.

Underpriced 3%

Overpriced 0%

About Right 96%

If you would like to read more about how we work with our review data please see our Transparency section.

Satisfied with
outcome of matter

This firm - 99%

National Average

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

ReviewSolicitors uses our community data to show you how many clients used Bates Wells & Braithwaite and were satisfied with the outcome of their matter. Being satisfied with the outcome of your matter is an important consideration to have in mind.

You can use this data to see how Bates Wells & Braithwaite compares to the national average of clients being satisfied with the outcome of their matter after instructing a solicitor.

As part of our review questionnaire we ask the question:

"Were you satisfied with the outcome of your case?"

The reviewer can select either “Yes” or “No”.

The above score is a simple percentage representation of the total amount of clients who selected the “Yes” option:

Yes 99%

No 1%

If you would like to read more about how we work with our review data please see our Transparency section.

Rankings by area of expertise

The rankings below show the areas of expertise that Bates Wells & Braithwaite offers to clients. You can see how good the service offered is in comparison to all other law firms nationally.

Consumer

4th / 14

275th / 4562

Company & Commercial

8th / 16

312th / 4349

Housing & Property

6th / 17

326th / 4234

Family Law

4th / 15

214th / 3840

Wills, Trusts & Probate

3rd / 17

137th / 3493

Commercial Property

7th / 15

344th / 3303

Employment

7th / 23

301st / 3089

Regulations

2nd / 6

133rd / 2554

Personal Injury

2nd / 23

41st / 2359

Money & Tax

4th / 11

153rd / 1838

Dispute Resolution

2nd / 5

162nd / 1035

Clinical Negligence

2nd / 4

145th / 938

Charities

2nd / 4

80th / 564

Data shown above is based on the reviews and client feedback collected by ReviewSolicitors over the last 12 months.

Review Sources

Client Reviews

4.9/5

Reviews summary

Excellent

233
Very Good

9
Average

1
Poor

1
Awful

2

Overall experience

Value For Money
Communication
Initial Impressions
Approachability
Documentation Accuracy
Legal knowledge

Verified review

Mr G Gallant

March 27, 2025

Report to admin

Collected on:

Amazing

The only person I would ever use to manage my property portfolio.
Very professional.
Very patient.
And goes the extra mile for you.
Thank you very much for all your help. Would always recommend.

Lawyer named in this review:
Karen Healy

Karen Healy

A representative from Bates Wells & Braithwaite responded to this review on 31 March, 2025:

Thank you for your amazing review, Mr. Gallant! We're thrilled to hear that you’ve had such a positive experience with Karen and the team, and that our service met your expectations. We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to continuing to assist with your property portfolio!

Was this review helpful?

Verified review

Hannah

March 24, 2025

Report to admin

Collected on:

Would highly recommend!

Karen was brilliant from start to finish. She answered all my questions. She responded to me in a timely manner. Prices were very competitive. Would highly recommend her.

Lawyer named in this review:
Karen Healy

Karen Healy

A representative from Bates Wells & Braithwaite responded to this review on 26 March, 2025:

Thank you for your great feedback, Hannah. We're so glad to hear Karen provided excellent service, and we truly appreciate your recommendation.

Was this review helpful?

Verified review

Rosemary freeman

March 13, 2025

Report to admin

Collected on:

Accident

I have been using this solicitor for nearly 4years, and have had excellent service from the beginning to the end, if I wasn’t sure of anything it was never to much trouble for Hannah to speak to me and talk me through it, if I ever needed to use a solicitor again I would definitely give them a call, I’m so glad I got Hannah as my solicitor.

Lawyer named in this review:
Hannah Mitchell

Hannah Mitchell

A representative from Bates Wells & Braithwaite responded to this review on 17 March, 2025:

Thank you for your kind words, Rosemary. We're so glad to hear that Hannah has been able to assist you over the years. We truly appreciate your trust and would be happy to help again in the future.

Was this review helpful?

Verified review

Charlie Benstead

March 12, 2025

Report to admin

Collected on:

Outstanding Service – Highly Recommend!

I had the pleasure of working with Hannah Mitchell and I couldn’t be more impressed. From the very first consultation, it was clear that they are highly knowledgeable and experienced. They took the time to explain the legal process in simple terms, ensuring I understood every step along the way.

What really stood out to me was their professionalism and attention to detail. They were always prompt in responding to my queries and kept me updated throughout the entire process. I felt confident and reassured knowing that my case was in such capable hands.

Additionally, Hannah was incredibly empathetic and made me feel comfortable during a stressful time. They handled everything efficiently, and the outcome of my case was exactly what I had hoped for.

If you’re looking for a solicitor who is not only skilled but also genuinely cares about their clients, I highly recommend Hannah. They made a potentially daunting process much more manageable, and I’m truly grateful for their hard work and dedication.

Lawyer named in this review:
Hannah Mitchell

Hannah Mitchell

A representative from Bates Wells & Braithwaite responded to this review on 14 March, 2025:

Thank you for your fantastic review, Charlie! We're thrilled to hear that Hannah's expertise, professionalism, and care made such a positive impact on your experience. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we're so happy we could provide the support you needed. If you ever need assistance in the future, don't hesitate to reach out!

Was this review helpful?

Wills, Trusts & Probate

Verified review

Matter Type:

Wills

Mr and Mrs Hayes

March 10, 2025

Report to admin

Collected on:

Wills

Very Helpful!

Will re-use for sure!

Thank you Rhian

Lawyer named in this review:
Rhian Snell

Rhian Snell

A representative from Bates Wells & Braithwaite responded to this review on 12 March, 2025:

Thank you for your feedback! We're glad to hear you found the service helpful. Thank you again for the great review.

Was this review helpful?

Personal Injury

Verified review

Matter Type:

Accident At Work

John Bracken

March 05, 2025

Report to admin

Collected on:

Injury at Work Compensation Claim.

I would like to express my gratitude for the professional manner in which my claim for compensation for injury, incurred at my place of work, has been handled.
The result of which is entirely positive, directly as a result of the diligence and active pursuit of my claim by, Hannah, my legal representative.
My thanks for the considerble effort made on my behalf in a difficult issue.

Lawyer named in this review:
Hannah Mitchell

Hannah Mitchell

A representative from Bates Wells & Braithwaite responded to this review on 07 March, 2025:

Thank you for your thoughtful feedback, John! We’re so glad to hear that Hannah’s diligence and dedication made a positive difference in the outcome of your injury claim. It’s our goal to provide the best support during challenging times, and we truly appreciate your recognition of the effort put into your case.

Was this review helpful?

Wills, Trusts & Probate

Verified review

Matter Type:

Wills

Mr and Mrs Larby

February 14, 2025

Report to admin

Collected on:

Private Client Department

Really pleased with service.

Lawyer named in this review:
Rhian Snell

Rhian Snell

A representative from Bates Wells & Braithwaite responded to this review on 17 February, 2025:

Great to hear! We're glad you were pleased with the service. If you ever need assistance again, we'd be happy to help!

Was this review helpful?

Wills, Trusts & Probate

Verified review

Matter Type:

Wills

Mr Hansen

February 06, 2025

Report to admin

Collected on:

Will Service

Excellent service throughout.

Lawyer named in this review:
Rhian Snell

Rhian Snell

A representative from Bates Wells & Braithwaite responded to this review on 10 February, 2025:

Thank you for your feedback, Mr Hansen. We're glad you had an excellent experience with Rhian and our Wills team.

Was this review helpful?

Verified review

Lorraine Clack

February 04, 2025

Report to admin

Collected on:

Accident compensation

The information given to the solicitor was followed professionally through out the whole process

Lawyer named in this review:
Hannah Mitchell

Hannah Mitchell

A representative from Bates Wells & Braithwaite responded to this review on 07 February, 2025:

Thank you for your feedback, Lorraine. We're glad to hear that the process was handled professionally and to your satisfaction by Hannah.

Was this review helpful?

Wills, Trusts & Probate

Matter Type:

Disputed Probate

Lee

January 31, 2025

Report to admin

Collected on:

Will Service Made Easy

Dad had to do a will, and they were so good with him. Will be using them again in the future

A representative from Bates Wells & Braithwaite responded to this review on 03 February, 2025:

Thank you for your lovely feedback, Lee. We're glad we could assist your dad with his Will and provide a positive experience. We look forward to helping you again in the future!

Was this review helpful?

Reviews collected from

Housing & Property

Matter Type:

Residential Conveyancing

Fiona

October 23, 2024

Report to admin

Collected on:

Fiona

Slow response to emails and phone calls, misplaced documents and over all poor and unprofessional service. Having used Bates, Wells and Braithwait previously I was disappointed with the conveyancing service provided on this occasion. I will not be using BWB in future.

Lawyer named in this review:
Karen Healy

Karen Healy

Was this review helpful?

Housing & Property

Matter Type:

Residential Conveyancing

TCR

October 22, 2024

Report to admin

Collected on:

TCR

After an awful experience with Tomasz burchan, almost cost us losing the property. Karen took over and was amazing throughout! Would highly recommend Karen

A representative from Bates Wells & Braithwaite responded to this review on 25 October, 2024:

Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're so glad to hear that Karen was able to turn things around for you after your initial challenges. Her dedication and support make a significant difference, and we're proud to have her on our conveyancing team. We truly appreciate your recommendation and wish you all the best in your new property!

Was this review helpful?

Greg

October 09, 2024

Report to admin

Collected on:

Greg

Karen is amazing, the only person I trust for property's

A representative from Bates Wells & Braithwaite responded to this review on 14 October, 2024:

Thank you for your kind words, Greg. We're delighted to hear you trust Karen with your property matters.

Was this review helpful?

Family Law

Matter Type:

Child Custody

Andy

August 09, 2024

Report to admin

Collected on:

Andy

Excellent service throughout.
Scott helped me with a significantly important case in Family Court regarding Child Arrangements, this was covered with the utmost humility and in a highly professional manner. The outcome was extremely positive for my Son & I.
Therefore I can't thank them enough for their kind assistance and making sure they left no stone unturned to ensure that Justice prevailed in my case.
Thoroughly recommend this firm.

A representative from Bates Wells & Braithwaite responded to this review on 12 August, 2024:

Thank you for your review, Andy. We’re thrilled to hear that Scott handled your Family Court case with professionalism and dedication, achieving a positive outcome for you and your son. Your recommendation is greatly appreciated.

Was this review helpful?

Nigel

February 17, 2024

Report to admin

Collected on:

Nigel

Good friendly service.

A representative from Bates Wells & Braithwaite responded to this review on 20 February, 2024:

Dear Nigel, Thank you for your feedback. We're pleased to hear you experienced good and friendly service. Your satisfaction is important to us.

Was this review helpful?

Request a callback Send an email Visit website