Business Details
Your Trusted Legal Experts in Exeter
Established in 1885, we have dedicated over 135 years to delivering tailored legal solutions to private clients and businesses across Exeter and surrounding areas. Our practice prioritises client-centric service, combining cost-effectiveness with uncompromised quality. Accredited by Resolution, the Conveyancing Quality Scheme, and the Legal Aid Agency, we specialise in family law, property transactions, and dispute resolution while maintaining membership in the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.Our team of chartered legal executives and solicitors provides expert guidance across medical negligence, personal injury, and mental incapacity cases, ensuring transparent communication and ethical representation. With two Devon offices in Exeter and Cullompton, we blend local market knowledge with national network support through our affiliation with QualitySolicitors, the UK's largest law firm network.
Services
Family Law
Wills & Probate
Residential Property
Personal Injury
Medical Negligence
Commercial Disputes
Highlights and features
- 135+ years of continuous legal service in Devon
- Tailored solutions combining cost-effectiveness with quality
- Accredited specialists in family law and children's law
- Local market expertise in Exeter and surrounding areas
- Part of QualitySolicitors national law firm network
Associations and certifications
- Resolution
- Legal Aid Agency
- Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS)
- Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners
Services
Family Law
Specialist family law services including divorce proceedings, child custody arrangements, and financial settlements. Our accredited Resolution specialists provide empathetic guidance through emotionally challenging situations while protecting client interests. Available with Legal Aid Agency funding options.
Wills & Probate
Comprehensive wills, trusts, and probate services ensuring clear estate planning and inheritance tax mitigation. Our Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners members create legally robust documents and administer estates with sensitivity and professional oversight.
Medical Negligence
Expert representation for medical negligence claims involving misdiagnosis, treatment errors, or surgical mistakes. Our specialist team investigates clinical records, secures expert evidence, and pursues compensation for clients affected by healthcare provider failures.
Residential Property
Conveyancing services accredited under the Conveyancing Quality Scheme. Handling property purchases, sales, and remortgages with transparent pricing and regular transaction updates. Experienced in historic property transfers and new build acquisitions.
Personal Injury
Support for personal injury claims covering road accidents, workplace injuries, and public liability cases. We manage claims from initial assessment through evidence collection to settlement negotiations, ensuring clients receive appropriate compensation for physical and emotional damages.
People
Simon Cutting
Senior/Managing Partner
Leading the firm with over 25 years' experience in legal practice management. Specialises in strategic oversight while maintaining hands-on client service in complex commercial matters.
Darren White
Partner & Head of Medical Negligence
Specialist solicitor with 20+ years focusing on medical negligence claims. Holds multiple accreditations in clinical error cases and represents clients in high-value compensation negotiations.
Clare Handley
Partner & Chartered Legal Executive
Family law expert with Resolution accreditation. Specialises in child custody arrangements and complex financial settlements, combining legal expertise with compassionate client support.
Kathy Cracknell
Partner & Head of Residential Property
Property law specialist managing the CQS-accredited conveyancing team. Experienced in historic property transactions and new development purchases across Devon.
Nick Penwell
Consultant Solicitor
Senior legal advisor providing specialist corporate law guidance. Draws on extensive commercial dispute resolution experience to support business clients with complex contractual matters.
Questions
What areas of law do you specialise in?
We specialise in family law, property transactions, personal injury claims, medical negligence, and commercial dispute resolution across Devon.
Can I access legal aid for family law matters?
Yes, we hold a Legal Aid Agency contract for family law cases including divorce proceedings and child custody arrangements.
Are your conveyancing services accredited?
Our residential property team maintains Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation, ensuring high standards in all property transactions.
How do you handle medical negligence claims?
Our specialist team investigates clinical records, secures expert evidence, and pursues compensation for healthcare-related injuries and treatment errors.
Do you offer commercial legal services?
Yes, we provide business dispute resolution, commercial property transactions, and corporate law services through our dedicated departments.
What locations do you serve?
We operate from Exeter and Cullompton offices, serving clients across Devon and surrounding areas with nationwide network support.
Reviews (7)
Tam
Dec 24, 2021
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I would highly recommend Helen Davis, Head of Residential Property to anyone looking to buy a property. Helen is knowledgeable, efficient, responsive, professional and very calm! Helen sent concise and timely emails to keep us updated throughout the process and was available on the telephone for anything I didn't understand or wanted to chat over. Thank you Helen for all your help and advice.
Alice Holden
Dec 19, 2021
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We have recently completed on a house and it is the second time we've used Helen at Dunn and Baker, she is absolutely excellent at her job! So professional and sorts any problems out before you even know they have come up. Highly recommend
Annabelle Harwood
Dec 18, 2021
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Helen Davis is the best solicitor me and my partner has ever used we bought and sold three houses using Helen and every time it's been so easy and fast someone in the office is always there to answer phone calls or emails and if Helen is on a call or with clients Helen always gets back to you usually the same day or the next day I once emailed Helen on her day of and Helen took time to call me, Helen always explains things to you in a simple way so for us that don't understand much of the legal process of selling a house can understand, thank you so much Helen for making what can be a stressful time so smooth and actually a pleasurable experience,
Clem Richardson
Nov 12, 2021
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Helen Davis has been a wonderful solicitor through the sale of our house. She was very quick to respond to any of our queries, kept us fully informed of how the process was going and was highly professional throughout. We will certainly use Dunn and Baker and Helen Davis as our solicitor in the future.
Gail Alford
Jul 25, 2021
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Helen Davis and all the team were amazing. I can't thank them enough for their swift conveyancing of the purchase of our new property. From start to finish was outstanding. We managed to buy our house in 6 days from making an offer. A great service and highly recommended. Gail & Pete
Tim Jones
Jul 20, 2021
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I cannot praise Helen highly enough, she has always kept us informed throughout the process of purchasing our new house, and goes above and beyond to help. Thank you so much Helen, we really appreciate your very kind attention - Best Wishes, Victoria & Tim Jones
Helen Clapp
Jul 18, 2021
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Helen was fantastic and I cannot recommend her highly enough. She was really communicative, thorough and tireless in her efforts to push through what was at times a tricky house purchase. It would have been a very different experience without her in my corner. A huge thank you to Dunn & Baker, Lucy and most of all Helen!
