The Partners

The Associates

Susan Bates is a commercial property solicitor and works with James Robbins at our Ancient House office, assisting him in all aspects of his commercial property portfolio with particular emphasis on development work. Susan qualified with a large Manchester city firm.

Christopher Bird was admitted as a solicitor in 1963 and soon after joined a firm in Lincolns Inn where he remained until 1972. He then moved to Josselyns whose practice was in Ipswich and Woodbridge. He became a partner in 1974 and was enrolled as a notary public in 1984. Josselyns practice merged with Marshall Hatchick in March 2005. Chris has been mainly concerned with private client work involving property, wills, trusts and general family matters.

Linda Crawford is a property solicitor based at our Ancient House office. Linda started her legal career in 1988, qualifying first as a Legal Executive and latterly as a Solicitor in 2003. Linda specializes in commercial and residential property and has wide experience in site acquisition and development.

Christopher Cumberbatch trained as a solicitor in a City firm in London and worked in the private client and French property department of a major east anglian law firm for five years. He specialises in estate planning and successions for elderly clients, individuals and families. He is also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

Chris is fluent in French and has worked in law firms in France and Belgium. His particular interest is in Anglo-European estate planning/succession and international Wills and he regularly drafts Wills in French. Chris also holds a certificate in charity management and has managed the formation of several charities and the settlement into trust of monies for disabled and other vulnerable beneficiaries. He is a trustee of ISCRE; an Ipswich based equality and human rights charity.

Keith Hatchick was formerly a partner at a large West End firm, after having worked for some years with Nabarro Nathanson. He handles a broad range of corporate commercial ventures from small business start ups, joint ventures and partnerships, to mergers, acquisitions, corporate finance and Stock Exchange work (particularly secondary markets). Keith has contributed to a number of journals and books and given seminars.

Keith is professionally involved in a number of arts and media organisations and represents a couple of music and opera festivals. He is also a director of the Executive Association of Great Britian.

Christopher Howard has been involved with trust and probate work for over 35 years and works closely with Jennifer Humphreys in the private client team. He has been a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners since 1994. Chris lives just outside Woodbridge with his wife and son.

Michael Thew qualified as a solicitor in 1975 and specialises in company commercial law. He was a partner for many years in Druces & Attlee, one of the oldest firms in the city of London. Michael joined us as a consultant in January 2002 and brought with him a wide base of clients in the UK and abroad which has continued to expand since that time.

Michael was a regular broadcaster for a number of years on BBC Radio Suffolk as the “Suffolk Daily Solicitor” on their legal advice programme and has also participated in TV broadcasts with Anglia Television.

Michael is a keen sportsman which has led to the firm’s sponsorship of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Cricket League, the premier club cricket league covering Essex and Suffolk. He is the chairman of their disciplinary committee and in his time has been both Chairman and President of Coggeshall Cricket Club. He is also a keen Ipswich Town fan and is married with one son and two stepdaughters.

The Partners