People

Biography

Memberships

The Law Society

CLA

Heritage Group of Professional Advisers

PAIAM - Professional Advisors to the International Art Market

Catherine Hill

Partner, Head of Art and Cultural Property

Catherine has been advising individuals and their families on estate planning matters for more than 25 years. She has extensive experience in managing complex estates, both in the UK and abroad, and particular strength in devising holding structures for family wealth including companies, partnership and trusts.

She works closely with the Corporate and Family teams at Forsters to deliver strategic advice on asset structuring, succession and taxation from both the personal and commercial point of view. She has particular expertise in establishing family investment companies and an interest in all aspects of philanthropy. Within the practice, she focusses on building the firm’s client base of UK domiciled and resident clients.

In addition to her mix of clients with businesses and private wealth, she acts for a number of significant landed estates and for living artists and those investing in art. She has an in-depth knowledge of agricultural and heritage property taxation in addition to the more corporate-focussed tax legislation, such as business property relief. Catherine is a co-founder of Artistate Limited, an organisation established to support artists and their estates.

Catherine is fluent in French and qualified as a Solicitor in in 1996 at Withers, where she was also a Partner. She joined Forsters as a Partner in 2008.

Catherine has been recommended in a variety of leading directories including Chambers UK Guide for her expertise in Art and Cultural Property, Chambers HNW Guide, The Legal 500 and the Citywealth Leaders List. She is recognised as a 'Top Recommended Lawyer' in the Spear's 500 2023 directory.


Innovations in Art - a video mini-series with Smartify

Forsters’ Art and Cultural Property team with Private Client Partner, Catherine Hill launch ‘Innovations in Art’ together with Smartify – the world’s most downloaded museum app.

Innovations in Art - a video mini-series with Smartify


“Follow the paint” on a unique tour of artist Jock McFadyen’s studio whilst he reveals the mastery behind his paintings and artistic legacy

Forsters’ Head of Art and Cultural Property, Catherine Hill, joins longstanding client Jock McFadyen at his artist studio in London Fields for a captivating conversation in which Jock reveals his painting techniques, reflects on a 50-year career and the challenges of accepting the kind of artist you’ve become, as well as musings on the future of the art market.

a unique tour of artist Jock McFadyen’s studio whilst he reveals the mastery behind his paintings and artistic legacy


The Entrepreneur's Exit - Avoiding the Legal Pitfalls

The post-COVID bounce back in M&A deals has led a lot of entrepreneurs to consider selling their businesses. Business owners are aware that today’s extremely healthy M&A market will not continue indefinitely and that the window of opportunity will soon begin to close.

The Entrepreneur's Exit - Avoiding the Legal Pitfalls - business people discuss their vision


The Life Cycle of Family Wealth

From growing a business to starting a family or handing over control of that business to the next generation, every individual has their own goals to aspire to. Our Private Wealth lawyers advise our clients throughout this family life cycle, providing the legal advice required for specific transactions such as purchasing a home or selling a business, whilst also advising on the long-term opportunities for succession and estate planning.

Forsters' Private Wealth - The Life Cycle of Family Wealth logo


Awards and recognitions

Contact

T: +44 207 863 8525
M: +44 7900 498 957

“Catherine Hill shines in the sector being an extremely good technical lawyer with a practical approach. She has fantastic client skills with a loyal following from existing clients and is consistently regarded as a leader in the field.” The Legal 500 UK, 2024
"Catherine is such a pleasure to deal with - she makes complex things really simple to understand." Chambers UK Guide, 2023
"They are a top-level firm who do some very high-quality work." 
Chambers HNW
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