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The ‘commercially practical’ six-partner team at Birketts LLP includes James Harbottle (noted for his ‘good bedside manner’); Chris Coupland (who is ‘technically excellent, and super-efficient’); and Jack Royall (‘very precise’). Mineral leases are a key specialism.

Hewitsons LLP has a buoyant practice acting for clients across England, and ‘the level of service is excellent’. The ‘helpful and professional’ Denise Wilkinson, Charles Hewitson and Daniel Curtis saw transactions totalling over £100m.

Mills & Reeve LLP is ‘good at coming up with different ways to tackle a problem’. Michael Aubrey (‘excellent on acquisitions, land law and strategy’), Sally Graham and Amanda Tagg (‘very good on difficult issues’) are supported by others including Chris Belcher, who excels on tax issues for landed estates.

‘Pragmatic and expeditious’, Taylor Vinters’ seven-partner team includes well-known experts Adrian Horwood-Smart, Rupert Melville-Ross and the ‘strong, practical, commercial’ Adam Bradley. Jockey Club Estates and Darley Stud Management are clients.

Ashton Graham’s partners are ‘personable and have good knowledge of rural matters’. Jonathan Long and Jeanette Dennis are ‘detailed, exact and to budget’.

Barker Gotelee advised on two £8m estates in Suffolk, a 40-acre solar power installation on farmland, and wind turbines with complex planning issues. Dermott Thomas handled a High Court challenge regarding bovine tuberculosis. Richard Barker lobbies for the agricultural community at EU level.

At Howes Percival LLP, Jeremy Heal is ‘a leader in his field regionally, if not nationally’, and combines with property experts Tessa Haskey and Philip Hunter, and Robert Colman, who is notable for his experience in farm reorganisations. Deals included an £8m farm purchase.

‘A firm to be taken seriously’, Roythornes LLP has Graham Smith (who is appreciated for his ‘sound advice’, and is ‘easy to communicate with’). The firm’s large agricultural client base generates work, such as a complex £2m sale of farmland.

Gerry Field at Blocks assists many farming clients diversifying into aerobic digestors and renewable energy development. He acted on the demerger of one of the country’s largest farming companies.

Buckles Solicitors LLP brings together wealth management, family law and property advice for agricultural clients, through Duncan Jackson, Lyn Brisley and Michael Rabbett.

At Greene & Greene, ‘business acumen is excellent, and advice is unbiased and explained in detail’. Michael Batt and Jonathan Mathers deliver ‘efficient service with great depth of experience’. Highlights included two large farm purchases.

Consultant Robert Plumbly at Greenland Houchen Pomeroy remains busy on farm sales across Norfolk, and has a longstanding reputation in the agricultural community.

HC Solicitors has ‘a strong team with an excellent level of service’. Anna Spriggs and Peter Izod advise large local estates such as Barnwell.

Hansells’ financial planning practice thrives on Hugh Lansdell’s strong relationships with farmers.

Hayes + Storr’s Iain MacBrayne is a favourite among local estates including Walsingham and Barsham. James Morgan, Jim Pallister and planning expert Richard Hewitt have close ties with local farmers.

At Hood, Vores & Allwood, Jeremy Whigham handles land sales and tax planning for Norfolk landowners. He is assisting on the sale of the Ilsington Estate in Dorset.

Kester Cunningham John’s Simon Cunningham is ‘honest, straightforward, and robust’, and associate Damian Humphrey is ‘strong on commercial issues’. The practice includes agricultural finance and land transactions.

‘Patient and helpful with incredible attention to detail’, Paul Oldershaw stands out in Rob Sibley’s team at Leathes Prior, and William Riley is recommended for land sales. The firm advised Banham Poultry on a multimillion-pound farmland sale.

Steeles Law LLP’s Nigel Lubbock and Karen Bacon handled farming partnership dissolutions and land purchases among deals totalling over £15m.

Catherine Mowat, now in Tees Solicitors’ Cambridge office, handles tax planning matters and advises on wind farm assets. The firm has over 250 farming clients and is on the NFU panel.

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