Private Wealth Law - Northampton and surrounds
Band 1
What the Team is Known For
HCR Law's wills, trusts and estates team handles a range of non-contentious private client work. The firm also has a disputes team that handles contentious matters.

High Net Worth Guide 2026 : Northampton and surrounds
Ranked Individuals
Provided by Chambers
HCR Law's wills, trusts and estates team handles a range of non-contentious private client work. The firm also has a disputes team that handles contentious matters.
Provided by Chambers
It is clear that they have significant strength and expertise in contentious probate matters. Their specialist focus, recognised accreditations, and experienced team reflect the high standard of service I experienced personally. In my own case, their depth of knowledge, strategic approach, and determination were evident throughout.
This department is distinguished by its efficient and highly responsive team, who consistently deal with matters in a prompt and professional manner. Communication is clear and timely, which helps ensure that transactions and client matters progress smoothly and without unnecessary delay. A further strength is the breadth of expertise available within the firm. They have well-established departments across a range of disciplines, meaning they are able to deal with whatever matter is presented.
HCR Law cares. They provide exceptional services while maintaining respect and dignity and they generally want to understand your requirements and give you the best advice. All of the team members have time for you and communicate effectively in the correct manner and timescales.
HCR is large enough to be able to have numerous specialisms but small enough to care. They have a local solicitor feel with the clout of a national firm. They also have multiple offices within the Midlands to serve clients across the region.
Provided by Chambers
Beth is the godmother of private client law in the Midlands. It is impressive in how she has a huge grasp of the market and the law. She is a very impressive figure.
Beth King-Smith gets straight to the point. She gets to the heart of an issue both on the emotional side and legal side. The thing about her is that she really sees the key points and doesn't get distracted by the peripheral frost.
From a client management point of view, Beth is really impressive. She is charming and keeps clients on board.
Beth is full of common sense. She is a very good negotiator and she has great judgement.
Catherine Ball is very approachable, very knowledgeable and very helpful.
Catherine has been so helpful in explaining everything, in lots of detail. She has gone over and above to help us with our situation.
Claire Pottinger is based in HCR's Worcester office. She works on a broad range of matters, advising clients on areas such as estate administration, Inheritance Tax, wills and succession planning.
Ms Pottinger is an exceptional solicitor who has provided excellent support and advice.
At each meeting we've had with her, Claire has taken the time to clearly understand our goals and provide her advice in a very clear and down-to-earth manner.
Julia Stahl head's HCR's Ross-on-Wye office. She advises clients including successful businesspeople and farming families on estate planning and administration matters.
Julia Stahl is an excellent private client solicitor who demonstrates a high level of professionalism, knowledge and attention to detail in her work. She approaches matters in a thorough and considerate manner, ensuring that often complex and sensitive issues relating to estates, probate and private client affairs are handled with clarity and care.
Kerri Woodrow is a partner at HCR Hewitsons and head of the private client team. She advises her clients on matters relating to the preparation of wills, succession planning and tax. She also advises on estate administration and trusts.
Kerri has an engaging personality and she grasps the matter in hand very quickly.
Kerri always explains everything very clearly. She always makes sure that I understand everything that is taking place and for what reason.
Katie Alsop's real specialism is in high net worth agricultural propriety estoppel claims. She understands the language of agriculture, the culture, the seasonality of it and where her clients' priorities lie.
Katie has a specialism in probate cases which involve farms and farming families. She understands the clients and she understands the business implications. If you are a land owner and you have a trust or probate dispute, Katie is the woman for you.
Katie is incredibly bright, has deep knowledge of her field and has a lovely blend of soft skills and empathy, with a laser focus on litigation strategy and how to achieve client outcomes.
Katie is fantastic. She has quiet confidence due to the fact she has huge knowledge and experience in her field. She has a calm manner. You know you are in safe hands if you instruct her.
Terry Cooper is a long-established private client solicitor based in HCR Law's Birmingham office. He advises on the administration of high-value estates and varied wealth planning matters, including gifting and business succession issues.
Terry is a great all-round professional.
Terry Cooper has an encyclopaedic knowledge on all private client matters.
Harriet Black is a senior associate in HCR's private client team. Many of her clients are farming families who she advises on estate planning and administration issues, including agricultural property relief and business property relief from Inheritance Tax.
Harriet Black is an excellent solicitor who has successfully built up a large and diverse client base while managing her matters with exceptional efficiency. She consistently handles complex and sensitive issues with clarity, ensuring that clients receive timely and well-organised support throughout the process.
Harriet had a really good approach to understanding our objectives and avoided complication and jargon.
Hauke Harrack assists clients with estate planning and administration. He also has expertise in providing tax advice and deals with registration of lasting powers of attorney.
Hauke was able to deal with any questions, simple to complex, in a manner that was explained at a level I understood. This was backed up with summaries and clarifications to ensure all processes were understood.
Mr Harrack was the ultimate professional. He dealt with our matter efficiently while also showing consideration and compassion to our circumstances.
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