The Partners

The Associates

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.

Linda Baker 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. Other areas of her responsibility include acting as co-ordinator for our unique Home Information Packs.

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.

Denise Church joined the firm as an experienced private client lawyer in 2005. She began her legal career at Withers in London but has worked locally for many years. Denise is a solicitor, registered Trust and Estate Practitioner and member of Solicitors for the Elderly. She has a wide experience of wills, trusts, private client tax planning, Court of Protection matters and elderly client issues. She has contributed to technical publications including the Elderly Clients – A Precedent Manual.

Christopher Howard has been involved with trust and probate work for over 35 years and works closely with Denise Church and 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.

Jennifer Humphreys is a solicitor dealing with general private client work including wills, trusts, tax, powers of attorney and Court of Protection applications. Jennifer previously worked for the Birmingham firm Martineau Johnson. She was educated at Woodbridge School and is also an accomplished musician, playing the viola with the Sinfonia of Birmingham and more locally, the Wolsey Orchestra. Jennifer also qualified as a notary public in April 2009 after completing a two-year course with the University of Cambridge.

Jenny Peyton is a licensed conveyancer with over 14 years experience in residential property work. She began her career as a secretary going on to personal assistant to a solicitor specializing in residential and commercial matters whilst at the same time studying to become a licensed conveyancer. Jenny is married with four grown up sons and three grandchildren.

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