Solicitor at Ashtons Legal LLP

Chris Cumberbatch

Solicitor - Senior Associate

SRA ID: 271714

Chris is a senior solicitor and qualified trust and estate practitioner. His focus is on preventing disputes or unnecessary complications in a succession, using clear advice and documents that families can rely on in the longer term. Legitimate tax planning forms a part of this, but equally so does the family dynamic. He is a fluent French speaker and has worked in law firms in France and Belgium, and specialises in handling cross border Wills, tax and succession matters for the firm’s clients with international concerns. He works closely with the Lifetime Planning, Trust and Tax and Contentious Probate teams. Chris is a senior visiting fellow in law at the University of Suffolk, where he lectures in equity and trusts. He also supports junior lawyers at the Suffolk Law Centre and sits on the risk and audit committee of Bury Cathedral, and holds a research masters in charity law.

The Long Barn, Fornham Business Court, Fornham St Martin, Suffolk, IP31 1SL

Licensed for 22 years

Practice Areas

Wills, Trusts & Probate, Charities

4.7/5 26 Client Reviews 26
  • Wills, Trusts & Probate 88%
  • Family Law 8%
  • Consumer 4%
26 Client Reviews

4.7/5

Overall experience

  • Value For Money
  • Communication
  • Initial Impressions
  • Approachability
  • Documentation Accuracy
  • Legal knowledge

Reviews summary

  • Excellent
    20
  • Very Good
    5
  • Average
    1
  • Poor
    0
  • Awful
    0

Review sources

Anonymous
Click to rate
Juriy
Verified Juriy Added 1 year ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Ashtons Legal LLP
September 26, 2023 20230926112549

Approachability and Profesionalism

5

Our request was dealt with in a professional and personal manner including the process itself and the timeline to reach completion.

Lawyer named in this review: Chris Cumberbatch

A representative from Ashtons Legal LLP responded to this review on 25 October, 2023

Thank you for your review. We appreciate the positive feedback you have given us and look forward to working with you in the future.

Was this review helpful? Yes

Charles & Susanne
Verified Charles & Susanne Added 1 year ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Ashtons Legal LLP
April 12, 2023 20230412143241

Wills Preparation Assessment

5

We would like to express our sincere appreciation and thanks to Chris Cumberbatch and his team for the highly professional and competent service provided in a friendly, accessible and patient manner, taking into account of our complicated family situation and the need to reconcile English and French inheritance laws.

Lawyer named in this review: Chris Cumberbatch

A representative from Ashtons Legal LLP responded to this review on 18 April, 2023

Thank you for your review. We appreciate the positive feedback you have given us and look forward to working with you in the future.

Was this review helpful? Yes

Anonymous
Verified Anonymous Added 1 year ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Ashtons Legal LLP
February 21, 2023 20230221153317

Very good service from Ashtons Legal.

4

Used most recently for Probate purposes.
Family were happy with the way it was all handled. Good communication and can deal with solicitor in person when required. Friendly and approachable. A professional company which we as a family have uses over the years for both estate planning, probate and conveyancing.

Lawyer named in this review: Chris Cumberbatch

A representative from Ashtons Legal LLP responded to this review on 21 March, 2023

Thank you for your review. We appreciate the positive feedback you have given us and look forward to working with you in the future.

Was this review helpful? Yes

Nigel
Verified Nigel Added 2 years ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Ashtons Legal LLP
July 29, 2022 20220729144849

Great Solicitor Partner

5

I first met Chris some years ago, and he has become my 'go to' solicitor. Even when the area is not one Chris specialises in, he is happy to recommend a colleague to assist.

Lawyer named in this review: Chris Cumberbatch

A representative from Ashtons Legal LLP responded to this review on 16 August, 2022

Thank you for your review. We appreciate the positive feedback you have given us and look forward to working with you in the future.

Was this review helpful? Yes

Jane Richardson
Verified Jane Richardson Added 3 years ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Ashtons Legal LLP
April 19, 2021 20210419101402

Rewriting an English Will for a French Resident

5

I live in France and wanted/needed to rewrite my English Will. With it being impossible to visit the UK to see a solicitor, I anticipated problems but the process was much easier than I had expected. Initial "face to face" contact for verifying identity was necessary, and I met Chris Cumberbatch via Zoom. After that, regular email contact ensured that my queries were answered promptly. Chris gave helpful advice and pointed out potential pitfalls. I was impressed by his professionalism and his understanding of writing an English Will for a French resident.

Lawyer named in this review: Chris Cumberbatch

Was this review helpful? Yes

Brian Ralph
Verified Brian Ralph Added 3 years ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Ashtons Legal LLP
March 18, 2021 20210318161339

The drawing up of my will

4

A will is an extremely important and sensitive document - giving peace of mind and requiring detailed and precise interpretation of wishes and interests. I am happy that the resulting legal documents reflect my wishes and has addressed and resolved any and all my concerns.

Lawyer named in this review: Chris Cumberbatch

Was this review helpful? Yes

Peter Walker
Verified Peter Walker Added 3 years ago 1 found this helpful Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Ashtons Legal LLP
March 18, 2021 20210318155127

Wills

4

Chris was professional, knowledgable and approachable.

Lawyer named in this review: Chris Cumberbatch

Was this review helpful? Yes

Anonymous
Verified Anonymous Added 4 years ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Ashtons Legal LLP
October 15, 2020 20201015102420

Ashtons Legal

5

I'm extremely happy working with Ashtons in setting up my Will and Power of Attorney. Ashtons are a very professional, approachable and friendly company who I would recommend to anyone.

Lawyer named in this review: Chris Cumberbatch

A representative from Ashtons Legal LLP responded to this review on 21 October, 2020

Thank you for your brilliant review for Chris and the Lifetime Planning team. We appreciate the lovely feedback you have given us and look forward to working with you in the future.

Was this review helpful? Yes

Anonymous
Verified Anonymous Added 4 years ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Ashtons Legal LLP
July 31, 2020 20200731103408

Excellent and professional service

4

Preparation of a new Will and Lasting Powers of Attorney were carried out efficiently and timely. The solicitor provided a very professional service and responded to my queries in a very helpful manner. I would have no hesitation in using him again should the need arise.

Lawyer named in this review: Chris Cumberbatch

A representative from Ashtons Legal LLP responded to this review on 26 October, 2020

Thank you for your lovely review of Chris. We appreciate the positive feedback you have given us and look forward to working with you in the future.

Was this review helpful? Yes

Robert & Margaret
Verified Robert & Margaret Added 4 years ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Ashtons Legal LLP
July 22, 2020 20200722103116

Where there's a Will there's a way

5

Our Wills were/are complicated and Chris Cumberbatch dealt with us in a very calm, approachable and helpful manner. He unravelled the complexity and was very patient explaining and re-explaining the options and outcomes. We cannot recommend Chris highly enough.

Lawyer named in this review: Chris Cumberbatch

A representative from Ashtons Legal LLP responded to this review on 26 October, 2020

Thank you for your lovely review and recommendation of Chris. We appreciate the positive feedback you have given us and look forward to working with you in the future.

Was this review helpful? Yes

Reviews collected on

David
David Added 3 months ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Ashtons Legal LLP
September 13, 2024
Collected on
20240913181228

David

5

Outstanding, helpful and friendly legal advice from Chris Cumberbatch in my transnational successions case. He was always prompt with detailed advice and suggestions for how to proceed, and added inestimably to my confidence in the process and its successful outcome.

Lawyer named in this review: Chris Cumberbatch

A representative from Ashtons Legal LLP responded to this review on 16 September, 2024

Thank you very much for your feedback and five star review.

Was this review helpful? Yes

Martin
Martin Added 9 months ago Report to admin
Collected whilst working at Ashtons Legal LLP
March 11, 2024
Collected on
20240311142546

Martin

5

As British citizens living in France we recently asked Ashtons Legal to review our existing wills (drawn up 20 years ago) and, if appropriate, to prepare new wills for us which would take into account our changed circumstances and recent changes in French and British inheritance law. From our very first contact with them members of Ashtons' staff team were friendly, helpful and reassuring. In particular, Chris Cumberbatch (Senior Associate), through correspondence and a video call, was extraordinarily patient with our ignorance and confusion and carefully guided us through the whole process, clarifying issues where necessary and ensuring, at each stage, that the decisions we were making would produce the outcomes we desired. What initially felt overwhelmingly complex and difficult became comparatively simple and even fun. For cross border wills and estate planning we cannot recommend Ashtons Legal highly enough.

Lawyer named in this review: Chris Cumberbatch

A representative from Ashtons Legal LLP responded to this review on 11 March, 2024

Thank you very much for your kind words and five star review.

Was this review helpful? Yes

About Chris Cumberbatch

Chris is a senior solicitor and qualified trust and estate practitioner. His focus is on preventing disputes or unnecessary complications in a succession, using clear advice and documents that families can rely on in the longer term. Legitimate tax planning forms a part of this, but equally so does the family dynamic. He is a fluent French speaker and has worked in law firms in France and Belgium, and specialises in handling cross border Wills, tax and succession matters for the firm’s clients with international concerns. He works closely with the Lifetime Planning, Trust and Tax and Contentious Probate teams. Chris is a senior visiting fellow in law at the University of Suffolk, where he lectures in equity and trusts. He also supports junior lawyers at the Suffolk Law Centre and sits on the risk and audit committee of Bury Cathedral, and holds a research masters in charity law.

Languages Spoken: English, French

Contact Chris Cumberbatch

Address

Ashtons Legal LLP

The Long Barn

Fornham Business Court

Fornham St Martin

Suffolk

IP31 1SL



Phone 01284 727064

Website

Resume

LICENSE

Country

Status

Acquired

Updated

United Kingdom

Currently Registered

01/10/02

11/01/24

We found no instances of professional misconduct for this solicitor

WORK EXPERIENCE

Title

Name

Duration

Partner

Marshall Hatchick

?-2018

Senior Associate

Ashtons Legal

2018-present