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Agriculture and estates
Leading individuals

Agriculture and estates

1
- Aaron & Partners LLP (Chester)
- Brabners LLP (Liverpool, Preston)
- Hibberts LLP (Nantwich)
- Myerson Solicitors LLP (Altrincham)
- Napthens LLP (Preston)
2
- Butcher & Barlow LLP (Northwich)
- JWK Solicitors (Morecambe)
- SAS Daniels LLP (Chester, Congleton, Macclesfield, Stockport)
- Slater and Gordon (Chester)

Leading individuals

1
- Rupert Jackson - Brabners LLP
- Richard Williams - Knights Professional Services Limited

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Simon Ellis heads the excellent team at Aaron & Partners LLP, which includes David Harries, who has extensive experience advising on rural diversification schemes, with an emphasis on renewable energy schemes; and Richard Forrester, who regularly advises landlords and tenants on all aspects of the Agricultural Holdings Act. The practice routinely acts for a range of landlords and tenants on the grant of farm business tenancies and acts for landowners on the development of agricultural land. In addition, the private client team is well placed to assist farmers and rural landowners with inheritance tax and other financial planning issues. Key clients include Dŵr Cymru Cyfyngedig (Welsh Water), John Holford Charity, Chester Diocesan Board of Finance and Denbighshire County Council.

Brabners LLP fields a ‘very competent team that provides excellent levels of service and always tries to find the best solution for clients’. The firm’s sizeable team is headed by Rupert Jackson, who has ‘excellent all-round knowledge, which he provides in a pragmatic way’. He is ably assisted by Charles Hansford, who advises on all aspects of agricultural law and the management of landed estates, with an emphasis in mines, minerals and third party rights. The group has a wealth of experience in land management and landed estates and acts for individuals, trusts and corporations. Highlights included advising on the purchase of a fully functioning 2,000-acre agricultural estate that included a main house and a let farm that had the potential for office development.

Hibberts LLP has an ‘extremely knowledgeable team that provides an excellent service and has a very good reputation in this area’. Edward Nutting heads the department and has ‘a fantastic following’. He is adept at advising on various issues surrounding business structures for farming businesses in addition to estate and succession planning. He also has a particular focus on the creation of trusts to protect assets as well as land law issues relating to sports and manorial rights. He is also skilled at handling the many other issues that affect farmers such as drainage, the sale of minerals and advice on mortgaging the land. Consultant David Young is in the ‘premier league of agricultural lawyers’ and is particularly strong on partnerships, trusts and tax planning. The team regularly advises on a number of significant dairy/mixed farm sales and purchases with vacant possessions and sitting tenants, in addition to other issues such as rent reviews, grazing agreements, wayleaves and above-ground installations. The team is well equipped to handle the full array of agricultural matters and also routinely advises on issues surrounding the Common Agricultural Policy and single farm payments.

Amanda Freeman heads the team at Myerson Solicitors LLP and is known for her ‘great manner with clients and for communicating very well and clearly’. She is vastly experienced at advising on succession and estate planning matters such as agricultural property relief and business property relief. Other key figures within the team include the ‘very pragmatic and experienced’ Jane Tenquist, who handles matrimonial issues for farming families. The practice acts for farming partnerships, families and individuals on a wide range of agricultural issues, and has been advising landlord and tenants on complex issues under the Agricultural Holdings Act. Actin in conjunction with specialist surveyors, the team has been heavily involved in advising on the various matters that are arising from the impact of the proposed HS2 on its agricultural clients.

The rural team at Napthens LLP advises on the full spectrum of personal and commercial issues with Andrew Holden at the helm. Holden specialises in land and agricultural property transactions, including agricultural tenancies and sales by auction and tender. He regularly handles sales, purchases and re-mortgages of land of all values, and is known for his work on numerous renewable energy projects for developers and landowners.

Butcher & Barlow LLP’s practice is headed by Mike Bracegirdle and includes the ‘excellent’ Jonathan Aldersley, who has particular expertise in company formations/shareholders agreements for farmers. The team has built up a reputation for its work advising landowners on the sale of agricultural land for residential development in Cheshire East and has a specialist team that deals with the full spectrum of agricultural matters, from farm and estate succession planning to rights agreements relating to mineral extraction. The group is also adept at advising on other issues that affect agricultural property, such as restrictive covenants and clawbacks.

JWK Solicitors advises on a broad range of agricultural issues, from farm tenancies and grazing licences to environmental and welfare issues. The team is well equipped to handle complex and high-value matters, often with a cross-border dimension; recent work includes acting for a client on the probate of a landed estate which was complicated by the fact that there was a discretionary trust. Anthony Collinson is recommended

SAS Daniels LLP has six experienced partners in the team, including Helen Gowin and James Goddard. In addition to property, commercial, litigation and private client advice, the team is also able to handle construction, food law and all aspects of relevant laws and legislation affecting farmers. The skilled team routinely advises on surrendering tenancies under the Agricultural Holdings Act, easements for landowners and on agricultural tenancies. Another niche area of expertise lies in advising on renewable energy schemes between landowners and developers.

Slater and Gordon’s team acts for large landed estates in the sale and purchase of farm businesses and associated land and buildings. It is also skilled at advising on agricultural tenancy agreements. The group frequently acts for landowners in energy and utility transactions (including wind farms, telecommunications leases and utility easements). Paul Makinson and Stephen Lunt are recommended.

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Legal Developments in the UK

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