Elizabeth Davies > HCR Hewitsons > Cambridge, England > Lawyer Profile

The private client practice at HCR Hewitsons, described as being ‘very strong technically’ is led from Cambridge by Daniel Curtis, whose broad practice includes advising clients with foreign property or those who are domiciled abroad. Key practitioner Bernadette O’Reilly handles specific reliefs such as BPR and APR, and the protection of family assets and succession planning through wills and other measures. Elizabeth Davies frequently acts as trustee for trusts including private company shares, development land and diversified landed estates. The ‘brilliant’ Katherine Hague advises on capital tax planning for individuals and trustees. Senior associate Kelly Wardell is sought after for advice on estate planning.

HCR Hewitsons in Cambridge exhibits ‘fantastic experience and knowledge of the local area’, and the practitioners in the team ‘give clients the confidence that they are being listened to and understood, and that they are in the best possible hands’. Head of agriculture and rural affairs Denise Wilkinson and private client partner Elizabeth Davies are the most prominent practitioners in the large practice. The ‘outstanding’ James Frankland and ‘very bright, extremely personable’ legal director Emily Pumfrey are recommended for property-related matters. Simon Biggin, who frequently works with the NFU, advised Broadland Agricultural Water Abstractors Group on the Environment Agency’s Restoring Sustainable Abstraction programme.