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Anderson Strathern has ‘significant expertise’ in agriculture and estates matters. Team co-heads John Mitchell and Jim Drysdale are recommended, with the latter highlighted by clients for his ‘wisdom alongside legal expertise, with an ability to see the goal and not just the hurdles’. Alasdair Fox retired from the partnership in 2010 but remains a consultant.

Turcan Connell’s ‘classy outfit’ remains a leader in this field. Head of the land and property group Jon Robertson is ‘a leader of outstanding ability with an excellent support team of partners and staff’. Senior associate and accredited specialist Lewis Kermack ‘will fight the client’s corner remorselessly’ in contentious matters.

Brodies LLP offers a full service to its rural 
clients including planning, tax, corporate and environmental expertise. Practice head Odell Milne and David Houldsworth are accredited specialists. Clients include The Co-operative Farms and the Scottish Rural Property Business Association, as well as Novar and Atholl Estates.

The land and rural business department at Gillespie Macandrew LLP advised on numerous high-value estate transactions in 2010. Team head Robert Scott-Dempster is ‘second to none’, and the group was strengthened by the recruitment of Alistair Anderson from Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP.

James Rust leads the agriculture and rural property team at Morton Fraser, which was appointed to act for a discretionary trust on the purchase of a mixed estate. Clients include the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Balmoral Estates and the Scottish Agricultural College.

Thorntons Law LLP’s Mike Blair is sought particularly for his advice on succession and capital planning issues relating to farms, estates and other rural businesses. Christopher Lindley made partner in January 2011.

Tods Murray LLP’s rural property and business department, headed by Sarah Cudworth, is noted for its ‘businesslike conduct and efficiency’. Richard Leslie was promoted to partner.

Harper Macleod LLP’s practice includes partners in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness. Graeme Nisbet heads the team, which counts Scottish Coal, The Crofters Commission and Cydesdale Bank among its clients. It remains the sole supplier of legal services to the Forestry Commission in Scotland regarding its property portfolio. Clare Beattie joined from Turcan Connell.

Lindsays’ ‘very professional’ team provides an ‘excellent level of service’. Rural services group head Michael Yellowless and consultant David Sturrock are highly recommended. Senior associate Andrew Linehan joined from Turcan Connell in January 2010.

Maclay Murray & Spens LLP’s agricultural team has seen an increase in instructions in areas such as alternative land use and leasing problems. Clients include forestry enterprise companies, major public limited companies with agricultural interests, and leisure companies. Gregor Mitchell heads the team.

Colin Clark heads the agriculture and estates practice at Pagan Osborne Limited, and is praised for his ‘attention to detail, and calm and professional responses’. Senior solicitor Gillian Gibbons has ‘an eye for detail’. The team has been advising on a number of major estate reorganisations and renewable energy projects.

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