Denise Wilkinson > HCR Hewitsons > Cambridge, England > Lawyer Profile

Virginia Henley leads the practice at HCR Hewitsons, which advises a broad variety of charities on the full range of issues. Clients include not-for-profit organisations, community interest companies as well as registered societies. Other areas of expertise include advising many almshouse charities, and the group continues to act as a trusted adviser to various schools and Oxbridge colleges. Denise Wilkinson and her team also advise many major landowning charities in England and Wales.

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.

The cross-office education and charities practice at HCR Hewitsons is regarded as being ‘very good at applying the charity regulations and understanding the aims and aspirations that clients hold’. Practice head Virginia Henley works from both Central England and Cambridge, the latter is also the base of agriculture and estates partner Denise Wilkinson, who is ‘exceptional in her range of knowledge and provides clear and reasoned advice’. Employment partner Elizabeth Swinburn is also active for charity clients. Susanne Hinde departed for Howes Percival LLP in April 2023.