Cunningtons LLP Solicitors in Hastings
Office 18, The Palace
1-3 Robertson Street
Hastings
TN34 1HT
United Kingdom
Tel: 01424 236 600
There are times when we all need expert legal advice, and if you need help with legal disputes or estate planning, the local Hastings office of Cunningtons Solicitors is here for you.
We’re pleased to be opening our first Hastings branch in September 2025, building on our heritage as one of England’s oldest law firms (established 1748) to bring more of our trusted legal services to East Sussex residents. We realise that when you need experienced solicitors, you want more than just legal expertise – you also want a trusted partner who understands your circumstances and provides the professional service that comes from years of supporting people through every legal milestone.
From our new Hastings office, we help clients throughout East Sussex and Kent, including Eastbourne, Battle, Rye, Winchelsea, St.Leonards, Tunbridge Wells and beyond. Unlike many law firms who work as part of large national chains, we combine the personal touch of a local practice with the resources and expertise of an established legal firm – always with the same commitment to being your lawyers, for life. With our established Brighton office nearby and our Croydon branch within easy reach, our Hastings clients benefit from comprehensive legal support across the South East.
Our new Hastings office brings exceptional service in civil litigation and dispute resolution to East Sussex and the South East, as well as Wills and probate private client work. We also provide clients with access to a range of other legal services including residential conveyancing and family law through our branch network, ensuring comprehensive legal support while maintaining the personal connection our clients value.
Mark Taylor: Partner and Litigation Specialist
Heading our Hastings office
Mark Taylor heads Cunningtons’ Civil Litigation department, and now is the Managing Partner at our new Hastings office. Mark is an experienced litigation solicitor, with broad expertise of dealing with complex legal disputes: from commercial and contractual issues to property disputes and employment matters, if Mark is on your side you can be sure you’re well represented.
Mark’s expertise in civil litigation covers all aspects of dispute resolution, from commercial disputes and breach of contract claims to landlord and tenant matters, property disputes, and employment law. His approach combines technical excellence with a genuine understanding of the local business community and what matters to East Sussex people when facing legal challenges. Mark’s professional service and reputation now make him the trusted choice for civil litigation throughout East Sussex.
Mark joined Cunningtons and became a partner in June 2017. He trained at a well-regarded West End firm and qualified in 2007, and after gaining valuable experience at a central London law firm specialising in commercial and general litigation, he moved to Essex to work with Cunningtons in their Braintree head office. Now, with his wife and two children, he’s returned to his hometown of Hastings to establish our new branch and serve the community where he grew up.
Telephone: 01424 236 601
Read more about Mark on his Partner profile page here >>
Jensen Bourke: Private Client Specialist, Wills & Probate Expert
Your trusted guide for estate planning and probate matters
Jensen brings professional expertise to his work in Wills and probate. Based at our nearby Brighton office, Jensen works closely with our Hastings clients as one of our experienced private client specialists, helping families along the South Coast protect what matters most. From young couples making their first Wills to families planning complex inheritance strategies, as well dealing with inheritance issues and lasting powers of attorney further down the road, Jensen is here to help
Jensen’s expertise covers Will writing, probate, trusts, inheritance tax planning, Lasting Powers of Attorney, and estate administration. He understands that behind every legal document is a real family with hopes, concerns, and dreams for the future and worries about legacy. His professional experience and reputation for expert legal advice make him the trusted choice for our Hastings clients’ estate planning needs.
Legal Guidance Throughout Life’s Journey …
Cunningtons LLP Hastings
From buying your first home to planning your legacy – discover how we support you through every legal milestone.
Why Cunningtons?
- Fixed Legal Fees
- Personal Contact
- Local Branch
- National Coverage
- Contact by Phone or Email
- Great Reviews
- Expert Legal Advice
- Personal Service
- Award-winning Solicitors
- Conveyancing since 1748
- Specialist Conveyancers
- Initial Consultation: crucial for understanding your needs and tailoring our services for you.
Get In Touch
To talk to us about any of our legal services, just complete this email form so we can get back to you.
Legal Services at Cunningtons Solicitors in Hastings
Cunningtons solicitors in the Hastings office offer you a range of legal services, focusing on Civil Litigation. Our Private Client work offers Wills & Probate help.
Civil Litigation
Mark Taylor leads our civil litigation services in Hastings, helping clients with all types of disputes, including contractual disagreements, property disputes, landlord and tenant matters, employment disputes, and professional negligence claims.
Wills & Probate
Cunningtons Private Client services in Hastings are overseen by Jensen Bourke. He helps clients make sure their documents are correctly executed, giving them peace of mind that their affairs will be left in order and avoiding complex intestacy problems.
Legal Guidance Throughout Life’s Journey …
⚖️ When Disputes Need Resolution
Life doesn’t always go smoothly, and sometimes disputes need professional legal resolution.
Our civil litigation team understands that behind every dispute is a real person or business facing challenging circumstances. From contractual disagreements and commercial disputes to property matters and employment issues, our experienced solicitors provide robust representation for individuals and businesses across East Sussex when matters can’t be resolved through negotiation alone. We combine technical legal expertise with practical commercial sense, always striving to achieve the best possible outcome for our clients.
📜 When You’re Planning Ahead
Protecting your – and your family’s – future is one of life’s most important responsibilities.
Our experienced legal team helps you plan with confidence – from writing your first Will to complex inheritance tax planning involving property portfolios. We make estate planning straightforward, ensuring your wishes are properly documented and your loved ones protected, with secure Will storage at our offices. Our professional service and reputation for expert legal advice make us the trusted choice for all our Hastings clients.
Wills and estate planning services →
🏠 When Property Matters Arise
Property is often your most valuable asset, and property disputes can be particularly stressful.
Through our network connection to our other branches, clients can access experienced conveyancing solicitors for buying and selling properties, while our litigation team handles property disputes, landlord and tenant matters, and boundary issues right here in Hastings and Eastbourne. Our established network of experienced conveyancing solicitors ensures you receive comprehensive property law support with the added benefit of local understanding when it comes to East Sussex property matters.
👨👩👧👦 When Family Life Changes
Relationships evolve, families grow, and sometimes circumstances change unexpectedly.
Through our network connection to our Essex and other branches, clients can access experienced solicitors who provide compassionate, practical guidance through marriage planning, divorce proceedings, child arrangements, and financial settlements. Our family law team understands that behind every case is a real family navigating important changes, often while dealing with complex property considerations and maintenance issues.
Why Choose Cunningtons as Your Hastings Solicitors?
🏛️ Established Excellence on the South Coast
We’re delighted to be bringing Cunningtons’ trusted legal services to Hastings, combining our firm’s distinguished heritage (established 1748) with Mark’s local knowledge and genuine connection to East Sussex’s community and its needs.
🤝 Personal Service from Your Local Law Firm
Unlike larger more impersonal law firms, we believe that legal advice should come from people who know you and understand your circumstances. As your new local Hastings solicitors, we’re committed to building the same lasting relationships our clients value across our other branches – that’s what genuine legal partnership looks like. We’re dedicated to providing the speedy, efficient and friendly service that has earned Cunningtons its reputation for excellence right across our branch network.
⏰Legal Support Available When You Need It
Our Hastings branch provides guidance for your legal queries, whilst our appointment system ensures you receive dedicated time for complex legal matters. With our established Brighton office just along the coast and Croydon branch easily accessible, you benefit from immediate local service backed by our full network of experienced solicitors across Sussex and the South Coast
💷 Transparent, Fair Legal Fees
Choosing solicitors shouldn’t mean worrying about hidden costs. We provide clear, upfront pricing across all our legal services – no hidden charges, no nasty surprises, just honest fees you can budget for from experienced solicitors near you, that you can trust. For litigation matters, we can often offer a range of funding options including fixed fees, fee caps and damages-based agreements depending on your circumstances.
Contact Cunningtons LLP in Hastings to find out more, and get your legal services quote from our Hastings branch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions that our Hastings branch gets asked: if you need an answer to a question that is not on this list, please contact us for an answer.
When should I make my Will?
You should make your Will as soon as you have anything worth leaving – which is earlier than most people think! Key life moments like buying your first property, getting married, having children, starting a business, or receiving an inheritance should probably be followed by a revisit of your Will to make sure that it still reflects your intentions. If you die without a valid Will, or ‘intestate’, the law decides who inherits your estate, and this may not reflect your wishes. As a rule of thumb, if you’d worry about what happens to your possessions, your property, or your dependents if something happened to you tomorrow, it’s time to make your Will.
Do I need a solicitor if I’m buying property in Hastings – or anywhere else in England or Wales?
Legally, no – but practically, yes. Property transactions involve complex legal documents, searches, and regulations that can cost you thousands if handled incorrectly. A good conveyancing solicitor protects you from legal problems, ensures that all the property is properly yours, handles all the paperwork, makes sure that all fees and taxes are paid correctly, and liaises with mortgage lenders, estate agents, and the other side’s solicitors. The cost of professional conveyancing is small compared to the value of your property and the potential risks of getting it wrong. We provide fixed-fee conveyancing with no hidden costs – contact us at Cunningtons for a fast quote.
What legal documents should everyone have available and current?
Everyone should have an up-to-date Will, but there are other important documents to consider depending on where you are in life’s journey. Essential documents include: a current Will, Lasting Powers of Attorney (for property/finance and health/welfare decisions if you are ever incapacitated), marriage certificates, property deeds, and insurance policies. Parents may need guardianship arrangements for children, whilst business owners should have partnership agreements and business insurance. You should keep the originals of your key documents in a safe place and ensure that trusted family members know where to find them. We recommend reviewing these documents every few years or after major life changes.
What’s the difference between using a local and an online law firm?
The biggest difference you’ll find is in the relationship. With a local solicitor firm like Cunningtons, you’ll work with the same solicitor who knows your circumstances and can provide proper legal advice tailored to your specific situation. A local solicitor, like Cunningtons in Hastings, is there when you need them – whether that’s for a quick phone call, or a face-to-face meeting at their offices. Online services are more impersonal, and using them often means speaking to someone different every time you call, and they’ll have limited local knowledge and no ongoing relationship with you. When you’re dealing with important legal matters like buying a home or looking after your family, personal service and continuity matter.
Do I need a solicitor for my divorce?
While it’s possible to handle straightforward divorces yourself, most people benefit from getting professional legal advice – especially when there are children, property, or pensions involved. Talking to a family law solicitor means that your financial settlement is fair, your parental rights are protected, and any other complex legal aspects are handled correctly. Cunningtons’ Family Law team often see people who started DIY divorce proceedings but needed legal help when complications arose.
FURTHER INFORMATION
More information about the services offered at our Brighton branch
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Hastings Partner Profile
Mark Taylor is the Partner in Charge of the Hastings branch. Find out more about him.