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The ‘extremely professional’ rural team at Birkett Long LLP continues to advise on sales and acquisitions of substantial and complex estates, both for individual clients and banks such as Clydesdale, HSBC and NatWest. ‘Efficient’ practice head David Wybar is recommended.

The team at Blake Lapthorn advises on the acquisition, partition and sale of estates worth up to £15m, and has been developing its strength in the renewable energy market. Team head Mark Charter is recommended.

The ‘specialist’ and ‘excellent’ team at Cripps Harries Hall LLP typically advises on the sale and purchase of estates worth up to £6m, and recently completed the purchase of a £1.6m equestrian estate. Practice head Sally Firby is ‘a leading light of the legal profession’.

The rural services group at Henmans LLP advised on the acquisition of the £23m 1,500-acre Kiddington Estate in 2010. It also acts for individuals and educational establishments. Iain Davis leads the team.

Highlights for Thomas Eggar LLP’s team in 2010 included sales, conversions and restructuring matters for estates including Knepp Castle, Shere Manor and Balcombe. Practice head Richard Venables Kyrke is ‘highly knowledgeable’ and ‘the ultimate professional’.

The team at Boodle Hatfield, under Sue Laing advises clients with significant landed estates on issues such as capital gains tax, succession planning and restructuring, and has recently won a number of substantial new clients.

Brachers’ ‘exceptional’ team is headed by the ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Sue Hart and Simon Palmer, and advises on all aspects of agricultural law. Clients include Hadlow College and William Barrows Charity.

Matthew Knight’s team at Knights is considered an ‘exceptional specialist’ in agricultural litigation, and in 2010 opposed a public right of way claim by the Ramblers’ Association on behalf of landholders and homeowners.

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