At some point in our lives we will need to consult a solicitor. It might be about our property or investments. It could relate to our workforce or family. It might be a dispute we'd rather not be in. Or it might be the chance to embark on the business opportunity of a lifetime. Whatever your need, you deserve straightforward, uncomplicated advice that delivers results, and that is where we come in. With a comprehensive range of services, Ashtons Legal will give you prompt and effective advice for your business or personal matter.
The rankings below show the areas of expertise that Ashtons Legal offers to clients. You can see how good the service offered is in comparison to all other law firms nationally.
Data shown above is based on the reviews and client feedback collected by ReviewSolicitors over the last 12 months.
I was very pleased at the way the solicitor handled my case and how she helped with my needs and concerns. I cannot fault the way she represented me and the outcome of my case was successful.
A representative from Ashtons Legal responded to this review on 21 May, 2019
Thank you for your five star review. We appreciate the positive feedback you have given us and will share it with Sharon and her team.
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Very poor attention to detail. Not kept informed, have to keep chasing. Mistakes made. I pay for a solicitor but only seem to have contact with a junior.
Every time I try to phone it just ends up going to a short hold voicemail system.
I have had to correct a number of mistakes.
I have used other solicitors where I kept up to date on progress via a website. This is not the case here and I have had to keep chasing for information. Despite having already complained.
A representative from Ashtons Legal responded to this review on 08 May, 2019
We are sorry to read your review Robert. As you are aware, our Client Relationship Manager is in contact with you and is endeavouring to find a resolution.
Was this review helpful? Yes
I found all of the staff at the Fornham St Martins office, especially Danielle Williamson and Tracy Wells , to be extremely helpful to me. As a first time seller I found the staff were very reassuring and knowledgeable regarding information requested on my house sale. The Customer Serevice I received was excellent and the staff a credit to Ashtons Legal
A representative from Ashtons Legal responded to this review on 02 May, 2019
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
I have used the services of this firm for something liked thirty years, always in connection with my Will. At all times the person dealing with my affairs has been professional, courteous, efficient and a pleasure to deal with. Many thanks.
A representative from Ashtons Legal responded to this review on 02 May, 2019
Thank you very much for your feedback. Your repeat business is greatly appreciated and we hope to continue working with you in the future.
Was this review helpful? Yes
Not up to my expectation, the house purchase has not been followed enough to gather all the informations on time, then it had to be rushed and had to make the decision to loose the house or take a risk on not resolve enquiry
Was this review helpful? Yes
Buying my first home was made a lot less stressful but my solicitor who was great!
A representative from Ashtons Legal responded to this review on 02 May, 2019
We are delighted to hear that we took some of the stress out of buying your new home. We hope that you are very happy there.
Was this review helpful? Yes
Our experience of Ashton’s solicitors, unfortunately, has been disappointing and frustrating to say the least. Communication has been poor and progress slow, not to mention the often unhelpful and quite frankly rude attitude we have received on a number of occasions from two individual employee’s dealing with our file.
Whilst we understand and appreciate the need to be thorough in the process and that work loads are heavy the time frame in which this process has taken seems to be unduly long. Furthermore the lack of communication, unless contacted by ourselves, has left us in the dark as to the progress and causes of delay which has put us in a difficult position organising our living and financial situation.
Furthermore, one day before our agreed completion date, we received an email (not even the curtesy of a phone call!) to say that an error had been made by Ashton’s and we owe another £999 which needed to be paid immediately before land registration would take place. This of course left us shocked and distressed.
A representative from Ashtons Legal responded to this review on 04 April, 2019
Hi Joe - Sorry to read that your experience has not been to the expected standard. We have asked for your contact details so we can communicate with you. If you want to drop me a line direct on dave.richardson@ashtonslegal.co.uk we can look into this for you and hopefully resolve your issues. Dave Richardson Client Relationship Manager
Was this review helpful? Yes
Absolutely fantastic. I thoroughly recommend Amanda Nudd- so pleased I used Ashtons for the purchase of my house.
A representative from Ashtons Legal responded to this review on 21 March, 2019
Thank you for the five star rating. We will pass your feedback on to Amanda and the team.
Was this review helpful? Yes
Sale of my deceased mother's house including Land Registry submission
A representative from Ashtons Legal responded to this review on 21 March, 2019
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
Was advised by developer to use Ashtons Legal; having used them previously I was happy to go ahead.
A representative from Ashtons Legal responded to this review on 21 March, 2019
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
Excellent customer service
Was this review helpful? Yes
Ashtons Legal responded to this review on 02 May, 2019
Thank you for your review. We appreciate the positive feedback you have given us and look forward to working with you in the future.
Very knowledgable and supportive and went the extra mile to help me.
Was this review helpful? Yes
Ashtons Legal responded to this review on 04 February, 2019
Thank you for your review. We appreciate the positive feedback you have given us and look forward to working with you in the future.
EXCELLENT...ask for Michael...i can't thank them enough. They helped me greatly as they will help you to. FAST and friendly. Full of great advice.
Was this review helpful? Yes
Ashtons Legal responded to this review on 04 February, 2019
Thank you for the five star feedback. We will pass your comments onto Michael and the team.
Fantastically helpful, knowledgeable and supportive
Was this review helpful? Yes
Ashtons Legal responded to this review on 04 February, 2019
Thank you for your review. We appreciate the positive feedback you have given us and look forward to working with you in the future.
Good honest professional services
Was this review helpful? Yes
Ashtons Legal responded to this review on 02 May, 2019
Thank you for the five star feedback.
Alan is Deputy CEO and Head of Individual Services. He is a private client specialist who has been with the firm for over 20 years, and is former Managing Partner of Ashton Graham. Alan is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate practitioners, specialising in capital tax planning including acting for clients with foreign assets and non UK domiciles, Wills, probate, trusts, long term care planning and matters affecting the elderly client.
Jeanette is an agricultural lawyer with over 29 years’ experience acting for East Anglian farmers. She specialises in farming and estate management arrangements for farmers and landed estates, and also public rights of way, farm partnerships, and tenancy reorganisations. Farmland and development deals and tax planning and partnership are currently at the top of her caseload. Having run and worked on the family farm in Norfolk, Jeanette’s experience of farming and agricultural business issues is first hand and gives her a valuable insight into her clients’ legal issues. With a keen interest in recreational shooting, game conservancy and horses, Jeanette actively combines her rural interests with her professional life. She is currently a member of the Agricultural Law Association; the Cambs and Beds Committee of the CLA; the SAA; the RNAA; the Cambridgeshire Committee of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust; the Special Events Committee of St Nicholas Hospice; and the Farmers Club. Jeanette’s previous accolades have seen her as Council Member of the ALA and as Chairman of the Cambridgeshire branch of the GWCT. She is also now a Trustee of Suffolk FWAG, which is actively supported by Ashtons Legal and a steward at the Royal Norfolk Show. Jeanette has lectured regionally for various agricultural professionals and ADAS, BIAC, NFU, ISVA, CAAV, Want to Know, and nationally for CLT and AgriLaw.
Tim specialises in advising and representing businesses and individuals in regulatory matters, including regulatory criminal cases, in particular guiding them through investigations and defending any subsequent prosecution or regulatory action being taken in courts or other tribunals. Whilst he advises clients in all industry sectors his particular niche is in the field of road transport regulatory law, assisting goods and passenger operators, not least in the area of operator licensing, drivers’ hours, construction and use, maintenance, driver conduct and compliance. He regularly represents operators and transport managers at Traffic Commissioner public inquiries as well as in the Magistrates’ Crown and Crown Court. (The Office of the Traffic Commissioner for the East of England is located in Cambridge easily accessible from Ashtons Legal's office.) Tim is a well-known and frequent contributor of legal updates and comment in the road transport commercial press and legal journals. His casework includes cases such as those brought by Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), Trading Standards, Health & Safety Executive (HSE), Environment Agency, police and local government, amongst others Tim is able to represent clients in all criminal courts through his Higher Rights (Criminal) qualification. He is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Logistics and Transport (CMILT). Tim is National Rank 1 Road Transport Regulatory Lawyer: Chambers & Partners 2017 Guide. Tim is also named as a ‘Leading Individual’ in the Legal 500, 2017.
Ron has specialised in commercial property and secured lending law for more than 25 years, acting for a wide spectrum of corporate, private and institutional clients and lenders throughout East Anglia and beyond. He heads up our cross-team banking and finance group and is responsible for managing the panel relationships with our banking clients. He is involved particularly in social housing projects and secured lending transactions, which include a £7m refinancing exercise secured over part of a biomedtech research campus near Cambridge.
Matthew is internationally renowned for his expertise in French law. He advises on: Buying and selling French property, French inheritance matters, French Taxation and Wills. Matthew heads the firm’s French legal services team, and regularly appears on radio and television programmes and is a contributor to Living France, French Property News and France magazine on the legal implications of buying, selling and owning property in France. He has acted for many clients on multi-million Euro property deals. He has lectured in French and English on cross-border legal issues and is a member of the Franco-British Lawyers Society.
Suzanne joined the firm in December 2016 and is an associate in our Lifetime Planning team. Suzanne is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). Suzanne advises in relation to Wills and estate planning; the creation, administration and capital taxation of trusts; powers of attorney and the administration of estates. Suzanne is based in our Bury St Edmunds office.
Michael represents clients who have sustained injuries as a result of accidents. These can be medically complex and challenging, giving rise to chronic pain and subtle brain injuries. He has a particular interest in cycling accidents, accidents abroad and he has represented and supported families following fatal accidents. He is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and the Pan European Organisation of Personal Injury Lawyers (PEOPIL). He is the current secretary and a former president of the Ipswich and Suffolk Medico-Legal Society. He is the firm’s representative for the Motor Accident Solicitors Society (MASS). He is a trustee and chairman of Mid Suffolk Citizens Advice. He assists the Asbestos Support Groups in Norfolk and Suffolk.
Mary specialises in complex divorce, family and children-related matters. She is a trained Collaborative Lawyer and a member of Resolution. Mary is based at our Bury St Edmunds office.
Mark qualified in 1982 and now has more than 30 years’ experience of dispute resolution. His work covers a broad range of disputes in a number of areas including commercial, property, trusts, contentious probate, insolvency and professional negligence. He underwent mediation training in the early 1990’s and has been involved in numerous mediations since. He is a keen advocate for access to justice and is willing to look at funding solutions for appropriate cases to assist this. He was the firm’s managing partner between 2001 and 2010, and the firm’s Chairman between 2011 and 2018. He remains a partner in the business.
Gillian leads the Trust and Tax Team and has been with the firm since 2000. Gillian is an accredited member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and holds the Association of Tax Technicians (ATT) Inheritance Tax and Personal Tax Diploma. She has over 25 years’ experience specialising in the administration of Trusts, Estate Administration and Personal Taxation.
Bob specialises in planning and development and has worked on many major agreements relating to residential and commercial developments, instructed by a wide variety of clients including local authorities and developers. He has extensive experience of planning (including advocacy at public inquiries), negotiation of planning terms, drafting planning agreements, project development and project appraisal. Bob was an independent board member of a large regional housing association having chaired its development, audit and remuneration committees. He is currently chair of a small homeless charity. Bob has been recognised in the Legal 500 'Hall of Fame' as an elite leading lawyer at the pinnacle of the profession for receiving constant praise by his clients. He has published “Certificates of Lawfulness A guide to Making and Determining Applications” which he co-wrote with Meyric Lewis.
Annabel qualified as a solicitor in March 2012 and joined the firm in March 2014. Annabel became an Associate in July 2016. She has a broad range of experience in general dispute resolution work, advising businesses and individuals involved in litigation. Annabel has particular expertise in commercial litigation, advising businesses involved in breach of contract claims. She is also highly experienced in both residential and commercial landlord and tenant disputes, complex debt recovery and enforcement. Annabel has also dealt with a number of regulatory and healthcare matters, having advised and acted for clients in matters concerning the General Dental Council and the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Annabel has recently been appointed to lead a new Care Homes Sector being developed by Ashtons Legal. As part of her role, Annabel advises owners and operators of Care Homes in dealing with the Care Quality Commission and associated regulatory litigation. Annabel is on the committee for the Bury St Edmunds Farmers Club.
Faye is an Associate in our Lifetime Planning team. She specialises in Wills, the administration of estates, lifetime and estate tax planning, advising on trusts and drawing up lasting powers of attorney. Faye is based at our Bury St Edmunds office.
Sameena specialises in Family Law to include all aspects of relationship breakdown, divorce and financial matters, children matters, domestic violence issues, nuptial agreements and cohabitation issues. Sameena is a member of Resolution, Young Resolution and Middle Temple Young Barristers Association. Before Sameena qualified as a Solicitor she worked as a court advocate attending the County Court in and around the London area. Sameena enjoys signing and sang with the Big Band at university, later singing with a well known local community choir. Sameena is based in our Bury St Edmunds office.
Sam joined the Ashton’s dispute resolution team as a solicitor in April 2018 from a regional firm in Lincolnshire. Sam has a broad range of experience in general dispute resolution, regulatory and criminal law. His work includes high value disputes in the High Courts as well as the defence of regulatory and criminal matters in the Crown and Magistrate Courts. Sam is highly experienced in advising on civil and regulatory disputes that affect the agriculture and food sector.
Jonathan comes from a farming background and understands implicitly the needs of both clients and the wider agricultural community. He provides strong leadership in this area to other members of the team. Since joining the firm in 1982, he has established a strong reputation as a leading expert on agricultural law and is regarded by clients and other professionals as a leader in his field. Jonathan has forged close working relationships with landowners and farmers who he advises on a wide range of matters including: agricultural property sales and purchases, development land sales of all sizes involving conditional contracts, options or promotion agreements, succession and estate planning, wills, trusts & partnerships, rights of way, family tax planning, diversification, contract farming and general landlord and tenant issues. He has acted on wind farm options, for landowners, and has seen some of his sites now developed and “built out”. As well as heading up the Agricultural Department, Jonathan is the Tenant Farmers Association panel solicitor for the region. He also takes an active role in a number of farming related organisations such as the Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) and The Suffolk Agricultural Association (SAA). He is the founder of the region’s best farm diversification competition (BALE), run in partnership with the SAA. Jonathan’s reputation within the agricultural community, to see clearly the commercial objectives of his clients and to get a deal done quickly and cost effectively, has ensured that our farming clients have stayed with the firm. In many cases we are now acting for 3rd and 4th generation clients. However, significant new clients continue to come in. Reflecting his long-established high profile in the agricultural sector, Jonathan has recently been appointed a trustee of the SAA (the only legally qualified one), which requires him to be closely involved in the running of that organisation.
Elizabeth is an Associate in the Lifetime Planning team. She specialises in estate administration but has experience in all aspects of private client work. Her work includes: Administering high value and complex estates on death, in particular agricultural estates, Deeds of Variation, Declarations of Trust and Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax planning. Elizabeth really enjoys being a private client lawyer, working as part of a close team that specialises in estate administration. She aims to get to know her clients well and understand their concerns and particular needs. She gets enormous satisfaction from helping her clients through the administration of the estate of a family member or friend. She cannot take away their loss but hopes that her sympathetic and tactful approach makes the legal process easier. She qualified as a solicitor in 1988 and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). She is vice-chair of the Suffolk and North Essex branch of STEP. She is a Chair of Governors at Thurston Community College, a large secondary school with a role in excess of 1,700, and also treasurer of her local tennis club.
Sophie studied Law and French at the University of Leeds and Université Jean Moulin, Lyon III. She completed the Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School (Holborn) achieving a Distinction. Sophie joined the firm as a Trainee Solicitor in September 2014 and qualified into the French Legal Services team in September 2016. She advises on French and English estate planning, taxation, Wills and probate. Sophie is a board member of Jurismus: a leading network of young European lawyers employed in one of the 650 Eurojuris law firms.
Hannah specialises in commercial property assisting individuals, companies, developers and lenders with a range of matters including: Freehold and leasehold sales or purchases, Commercial Leases, Easements (such as rights of way), Secured lending transactions and The property matters involved in corporate disposals and acquisitions. Having trained locally, Hannah is a member of the Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich Young Professionals groups. Hannah enjoys taking a proactive and commercial approach to her matters and would be pleased to assist with any commercial property queries.
Chris qualified as a solicitor in 2002 and as a trust and estate practitioner in 2008. His focus is on preventing disputes or unnecessary complications following death, 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 advises a broad range of clients, from expatriates, farmers and property developers to Suffolk artists and health workers. He has an interest in planning for those looking after a disabled family member, having personal experience of trusts for the disabled. He also speaks French and has worked for a notaire in Haute Savoie, France as well as for a French property team in a previous firm, so has expertise in handling the requirements of families with assets in Europe and further afield. When not working Chris is a longstanding trustee of civil rights charity ISCRE and latterly the newly formed Suffolk Law Centre, and spent many years as lead tenor in the Ipswich Community Gospel Choir.
Rebecca is an Associate in the Agriculture & Estates team and a Fellow of the Agricultural Law Association. She advises and assists clients on property aspects of agricultural transactions including sales and purchases of fields, farms and estates and farm tenancies. She also advises on development land including promotion agreements and/or options and overage provisions. Rebecca’s legal background also includes experience includes residential and commercial property as this is often required by farming clients. She has been in practice for 10 years, and qualified as a solicitor in 2010. Rebecca has extensive experience in chancel repair issues, and how landowners and churches should treat these aspects of property law. She has acted for church councils as well as landed estate owners on these and other related issues, and has lectured regionally on chancel and related matters to national banks. Rebecca is a member of the Agricultural Law Association and the Suffolk Agricultural Association. She is a Steward at the Suffolk Show and the Treasurer of the Suffolk branch of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust. She is also on the Special Events Committee for St Nicholas Hospice.
Amy graduated with a degree in Law and French in 2008, and completed her legal practice course in 2010. Following this she worked extensively at local law firms before qualifying as a solicitor in 2013. Amy works in our Residential Conveyancing department and specialises in dealing with property matters for a wide range of clients including freehold and leasehold sales and purchases, mortgages and remortgages, transfers of equity, deeds of gift and Equity Release.
Sally joined the firm in 2006 having previously assisted a senior partner for a law firm in Cardiff specialising in Estate Administration. She has over 20 years’ experience in the Private Client field as a Legal Assistant and has recently progressed to Paralegal in our Lifetime Planning Department assisting clients primarily with probate matters. Sally is based in our Bury St Edmunds office.
Octavia deals with all aspects of private client work including will drafting, preparation and registration of powers of attorney, elderly client issues and has a great deal of experience in dealing with administration of estates. Octavia joined the Lifetime Planning team in 2011 and qualified into this area of work in 2016. She is a qualified member of Solicitors For the Elderly (SFE). Octavia enjoys being a private client lawyer and working as part of a close team. Her aim is to get to know her clients in order to ascertain their needs and worries. She gets huge fulfillment from helping her clients through what can be an anxious and distressing time. She was the founding President of the Bury St Edmunds Rotaract Club and now continues to be a member supporting local Charities. She has done a number of career day talks and presentations to students in local schools about the different routes into Law. Octavia is based at our Bury St Edmunds office.
Emily studied her undergraduate law degree at the University of Southampton, which involved spending one year on exchange at the University of Hong Kong. After graduating she gained experience as an Employment law Paralegal at a law firm in East Anglia, before going on to complete the Legal Practice Course at the University of Law (Bloomsbury) achieving a Distinction. Emily joined Ashtons Legal in October 2017 as a Paralegal in the Commercial Property team, working alongside Sarah Duncan in the Construction team. Emily is now working alongside Rebecca Gatens as a Trainee Solicitor in the Agriculture & Estates team.
Emily joined our Lifetime Planning team in July 2013 and has qualified as an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (ACILEx). She is currently studying to become a Legal Executive. Emily specialises in Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, and registering Enduring Powers of Attorney.
Alex qualified as a solicitor in October 2015 and joined the Employment team at Ashtons Legal in November 2017. He focuses on working with clients to protect their business and manage any risks arising during the employment relationship. His work involves large established companies and start-ups as well as senior executives and other employees. He advises corporate and individual clients on a broad range of employment issues including employee investigations including disciplinary and grievances, negotiation exit packages, drafting and reviewing settlement agreements, restrictive covenants and post-termination protection of confidential information and employment tribunal litigation. Alex also assists our corporate and commercial team with employee matters and due diligence arising from business transactions or from buying or selling land. With a great interest in cars and motorsport, he a is a member of the Motorsport Industry Association and regularly advises clients working in the motorsport, aerospace and defence sector. Alex is also a member of the Employment Lawyers Association, the Cambridge Young Professionals Group and the Cambridgeshire Junior Lawyers Division.
Naomi qualified in as a solicitor in 2002 and has specialised in Residential Property for the majority of her career. During her career she has worked in different parts of the country and this has added to her property knowledge and experience. Since joining Ashtons in 2015 she has focussed on new build work in the London area but she has experience in dealing with property matters for a wide range of clients including first time buyers, the elderly and those based overseas. Naomi deals with a wide variety of property matters including: sales and purchases of freehold and leasehold property, transfers of Equity, re-mortgages, new builds including Help to Buy, shared ownership, Equity release schemes and unregistered land.
We realise that when you call us it may well be for specific help at a difficult or stressful time. When you appoint Ashtons Legal for your personal legal needs, you can be sure that we will approach every issue with the utmost care and sensitivity. We will always try to understand what is important to you and offer advice, which will solve all the issues surrounding your needs. Our team includes lawyers who are members of the Law Society Children Panel, the Family Law Panel, and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. We also have trained mediators and collaborative family lawyers.
