Department profile
HCR Law

Private Wealth Law

High Net Worth Guide 2026 : Northampton and surrounds


HCR Law

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Private Wealth Law - Northampton and surrounds

Band 1

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.

Strengths

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.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • 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.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • 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.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • 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.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Beth King-Smith
    Band 1Beth King-Smith

    Beth King-Smith

    Beth King-Smith is well regarded among peers as a market-leading private client practitioner. Her work is focused on contentious matters relating to trusts and probate. She has particular expertise in advising on will disputes in farming contexts.
    • 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.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • 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.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • From a client management point of view, Beth is really impressive. She is charming and keeps clients on board.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Beth is full of common sense. She is a very good negotiator and she has great judgement.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 1Catherine Ball
    Band 1Catherine Ball

    Catherine Ball

    Catherine Ball is a specialist and experienced adviser to owners of landed estates, business owners and farmers. She advises on trusts, wills, probate and powers of attorney. She also advises on provision for disabled children and acts as a trustee on personal and charitable trusts.
    • Catherine Ball is very approachable, very knowledgeable and very helpful.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Catherine has been so helpful in explaining everything, in lots of detail. She has gone over and above to help us with our situation.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 1Claire Pottinger
    Band 1Claire Pottinger

    Claire Pottinger

    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.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • 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.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 1Julia Stahl
    Band 1Julia Stahl

    Julia Stahl

    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.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 1Kerri Woodrow
    Band 1Kerri Woodrow

    Kerri Woodrow

    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.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Kerri always explains everything very clearly. She always makes sure that I understand everything that is taking place and for what reason.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 2Katie Alsop
    Band 2Katie Alsop

    Katie Alsop

    Katie Alsop has particular expertise in agricultural litigation and also deals with contentious probate issues.
    • 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.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • 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.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • 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.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • 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.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 2Terry Cooper
    Band 2Terry Cooper

    Terry Cooper

    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.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Terry Cooper has an encyclopaedic knowledge on all private client matters.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Associates to watchHarriet Black
    Associates to watchHarriet Black

    Harriet Black

    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.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Harriet had a really good approach to understanding our objectives and avoided complication and jargon.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Associates to watchHauke Harrack
    Associates to watchHauke Harrack

    Hauke Harrack

    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.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Mr Harrack was the ultimate professional. He dealt with our matter efficiently while also showing consideration and compassion to our circumstances.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

Ranked Individuals at HCR Law (9)

Birmingham and surrounds

Hereford, Worcester and surrounds

Midlands

Northampton and surrounds

HCR Law has rankings in the following guides

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