Ashton G. Cumberbatch, Jr.

Ashton has practiced law for more than 30 years. His current primary practice includes employment law, including counseling, investigations and litigation, representing clients with matters before local governmental departments; and commercial litigation.

In 2018, Ashton returned to McGinnis, where he was a partner and led the employment law practice group, and also handled commercial litigation matters. His diverse clients have ranged from fortune 100 companies, technology, educational, health and wellness, and utility companies.  

Ashton’s employment law practice has included counsel and litigation about state and federal employment statutes, including the Texas Commission of Human Rights Act, Title VII, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Family Medical Leave Act. He has advised employers on noncompete covenants, unemployment insurance, and wage and hour issues; and investigated allegations of employee misconduct.

During his leave from McGinnis Lochridge, Ashton served the Central Texas region in several capacities. He was Police Monitor for the City, provided impartial to oversight of APD’s conduct, practices, policies; and internal investigations; and enhance earned trust between Austin Police Department and the community. He was also an executive at Ascension Health (fka the Seton Healthcare Family), where he focused on advocacy and community engagement. Most recently he served as a Policy Advisor for Austin Mayor Steve Adler, where, among other things, he co-led initiatives focused on equitable and holistic development, such as mixed-income housing, education, health and wellness, and public safety, in Austin's historically underserved region; and the Mayor’s Task Force on Institutional Racism and Systemic Inequities. Prior to his original stint at McGinnis Lochridge, Ashton was Chief of the Trial Division for the Travis County District Attorney’s Office.

Ashton’s contributions to the well-being of the Central Texas region have been widely recognized. He has been the recipient of several awards and recognitions, including Austin Bar Association’s Distinguished Lawyer Award,  the Austin Black Lawyers’ Association Legacy Award, First Tee of Austin’s Judgment Award, the University of Texas at Austin Dr. James Hill Leadership Award, the American Heart Association Power Award, the AISD Charles Akins Award, the University of Texas Thurgood Legal Society’s Distinguished Alumni Award, the Austin NAACP Outstanding Service Award, City of Austin Distinguished Service Award, and the Austin Metropolitan YMCA Will W. Miller Volunteer Leadership Award. Examples of his servant leadership include service as President of the Austin Area Research Organization (AARO), Chair of the Board of Directors of the Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce, Executive Board of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce;  steering committee for the creation of the Austin/Travis County Sobering Center, and Co-Chair of the AISD Bond Oversight Committee.

Ashton’s service to the Central Texas community continues. Currently, Ashton is the Executive Pastor at Agape Christian Ministries, a member and past president of AARO; a board member of HousingWorks Austin and E3 Alliance, and a member of the University of Texas Dell Medical School’s Admissions Committee.

Ashton has co-founded Equidad ATX, a nonprofit with the mission of creating sustainable neighborhood revitalization in Austin; and is working with Leadership Austin to co-convene Pacific Education Group’s Beyond Diversity - Courageous Conversations About Race seminars for community members and industry leaders, including members of the legal profession.

News

Publications

• Benchmark Litigation, Labor & Employment Star
• American Heart Association Power Award
• American Diabetes Association, Father of the Year
• Austin Area Interreligious Ministries (now IACT) Hope Award
• The Central Texas African American Family Support Conference’s Garnet F. Coleman Eternal Flame Award
• University of Texas at Austin Dr. James Hill Leadership Award
• University of Texas School of Law’s Thurgood Marshall Legal Society’s Distinguished Alumni Award
• Austin NAACP Outstanding Service Award
• City of Austin Distinguished Service Award
• Austin Metropolitan YMCA Will W. Miller Volunteer Leadership Award
• AISD’s W. Charles Akins Award
• The First Tee of Greater Austin's 9 Core Values Judgment Award
• E3 Alliance Catalyst for Education Change Award
• Leadership Austin Essential Class Graduate, 2002

• Agape Christian Ministries, Executive Pastor
• Mayor Steve Adler’s Task Force on Institutional Racism and Systematic Inequities, Co-Project Manager
• Austin Mayor Steve Adler, Policy Advisor (2015-2018)
• Austin Young Chamber of Commerce, Advisory Board Member
• Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce, Advisory Board Member, and Past Board Chair
• HousingWorks Austin, Board of Directors
• E3 Alliance, Board of Directors
• Eastern Travis County Health Collaborative, Member
• Equidad ATX, Co-founder
• EquitySpace, Steering Committee
• University of Texas Dell Medical School, Admissions Committee
• Austin Area Research Organization (AARO), Executive Committee (President, 2015)
• Austin Bridge Builders Alliance, Past Board Member
• Austin Independent School District (AISD), Past Committee Member
• Community Advancement Network (CAN), Past President
• Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, Past Executive Board Member
• I Live Here, I Give Here, Past Board Member
• KLRU, Past Board Member
• The 100 Black Men of Austin, Executive Board Member
• YMCA, Past Board Member
• Trained Cultural Competency Facilitator