Katie Lane
née Katie Smits
I qualified as a Solicitor in July 2020 and became an Associate Solicitor in April 2023.
I started my Training Contract with Crane and Staples in July 2018, having graduated from the University of Law after completing my Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course. Prior to that, I completed a History Degree at Royal Holloway University.
I specialise in Private Client law, and assist with the following matters:
- Wills
- Creation and administration of trusts (including Declarations of Trust relating to property)
- Administration of Estates (commonly known as Probate)
- Preparation and registration of Lasting Powers of Attorney
- Registration of Enduring Powers of Attorney
- Tax and Estate Planning
- Transfers of Equity.
I enjoy meeting and learning about clients’ backgrounds and how I can assist with their matters.
Awards and Accreditations
- I am a Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer.
- My team is accredited by the Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme (WIQs), the quality standard for Wills and Estate Administration practices.
- I am an Affiliate Member of STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) and have recently passed my first exam towards becoming fully accredited.
- In 2022, I won Hertfordshire Law Society's Junior Lawyer of the Year Award.
Professional Memberships and Events
- I have represented the firm as a judge and sponsor at the Best Business Women Awards since 2022. In 2024, I was honoured to present the award for Best Business.
- I was on the Hertfordshire Junior Lawyers Division Committee for three years, and remain an active member of the group.
- I am a keen support of the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce.
- I am a member of the Women in Wills networking group, where women in the Wills and Probate industry meet up for training events and support.
Best Business Women Awards 2024
Outside the Office
I enjoy spending time with family and friends, as well as planning my next holiday!
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Katie Lane stood out for her empathy and professionalism during a very challenging time. She was consistently responsive, approachable, and incredibly clear in her communication – always breaking down complex legal processes into language we could easily understand. Katie made us feel comfortable and supported, which is not something you always experience in legal matters. Beyond handling the immediate issue, she also offered thoughtful advice on next steps and future considerations. Her combination of emotional intelligence and legal expertise distinguishes her from many others in the field, and we felt genuinely cared for throughout the engagement.
Legal 500, 2026 -
Katie Lane was extremely approachable, and explained probate at a level we could understand.
Legal 500, 2026 -
Katie is a great communicator with brilliant knowledge and a warm, friendly nature. I would highly recommend Katie, and all the team at Crane & Staples. I will continue referring my clients, as I am confident they will receive the highest quality legal advice.
Legal 500, 2026 -
Katie handled both requests speedily, knowledgably and professionally. We met once to discuss matters and a second time to sign documents which she spent time going through with me to make sure I completely understood their meaning.
Legal 500, 2026 -
I found Katie Lane was always willing to understand my situation and I felt that she was always there to answer my queries, deal with numerous problems etc. I was kept in touch by email with tasks that she was working through and she kept me updated on the progress or lack of progress from other professional bodies and was there to support me in a professional and friendly manner. Also, importantly Katie kept me updated with costs as we progressed and was able to “hand me over” where necessary to other team members. This flexibility was so important at a difficult time.
Legal 500, 2026 -
A special mention to Katie Lane, wills department, for guiding me through unfamiliar territory and making the process smooth.
Legal 500, 2026 -
Katie Lane made my father extremely comfortable from the start, considering he had just lost his wife. Katie was compassionate, honest and very easy to understand. Katie took her time, explaining the procedure, timelines, expense and information she required. Katie kept us up to date at all times, making this time in our lives a much easier and smoother process. Excellent service and I would recommend the practice to others, especially Katie.
Legal 500, 2026 -
I just wanted to personally thank you for everything you have done. Your approach to progressing each stage and overcoming any problems has been exemplary. Your communications have been clear, knowledgeable and timely. You have always set realistic expectations. I'm not sure that it could have been achieved in such a stress-free way without everything that you and your support team have done.
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Extremely happy with the service provided by C&S (specifically Katie) in assisting our house purchase. From start to finish we would be kept in the loop on how searches were progressing and she was very quick at responding on any queries. Given we were looking to complete before stamp duty changes she was very efficient and professional throughout the process and managed to reach our timelines which was great. Would definitely recommend.
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Katie pulled out all the stops on the management of the sale of our property and we cannot thank her enough. Brilliant service and highly informative. Thank you Katie!
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Katie, That is brilliant news, thank you, YOU ARE A STAR !!!
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Katie, getting proper legal advice and experience is literally worth its weight in gold so I am increasingly pleased we have you providing the full end-to-end service here.
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Thank you very much for everything you have done to bring everything to a conclusion in such a professional and efficient way.
- Legal 500
- WIQS
- STEP Affiliate Member