Next Generation Partners

Agriculture and estates in Wales

Agri Advisor Legal LLP

With lawyers, many with practical farming experience, dispersed in rural locations across the firm’s South, Mid and North Wales offices, Agri Advisor Legal LLP has ‘deep foundations in the business of agriculture as well as the law’. The scope of the work is broad and as well as core agricultural policy advice, the team is conversant with key issues of concern for the farming community, including as it relates to property matters, succession planning and litigation. Drawing upon ‘deep roots in agriculture as a farmer herself’, Pumsaint-based practitioner Nerys Llewelyn Jones is a popular choice among clients in the rural community and combines this practical knowledge to ‘great effect with knowledge of the law to achieve great results for clients’. Jones is an expert on Common Agricultural Policy and is a key member of the team that also includes Carmarthenshire-based Manon Williams, who is ‘able to give legal advice on current issues that face the agriculture sector’, including on succession planning matters.

Practice head(s):

Awel Mai Hughes; Rachel Phillips; Llio Phillips


Other key lawyers:

Dr Nerys Llewelyn Jones; Manon Williams; Elin Owen


Testimonials

The firm is unique because of its deep foundations in the business of agriculture as well as the law.’

‘In the process of providing advice to farming businesses they are able to relate with the farmers.’

Nerys Llewelyn Jones is the stand-out partner for her deep roots in agriculture as a farmer herself which she combines to great effect with knowledge of the law to achieve great results for clients.’

Key clients

Menter a Busnes


Coleg Sir Gar


Lexis (RELX (UK) Ltd)


Thomson Reuters


Work highlights


  • Advise farmers and landowners about all aspects of law and in particular in relation to succession planning in terms of their businesses to include a review of their inheritance tax position.
  • As panel solicitors for NFU Legal Services, the firm handles a host of matters for NFU Farmer and Grower members.
     

JCP Solicitors

JCP Solicitors draws upon ‘a wealth of experience in the agricultural sector’ to provide an ‘excellent service’ to farming clients, including in instructions garnered as result of its panel appointment with the National Farmers Union (NFU). Recently appointed as head of the rural practice, Cardiff-based property litigator Rhys Evans  ‘goes the extra mile for his clients’, regularly advising on, inter alia, landlord and tenant disputes, boundary disputes and adverse possession claims. Swansea-based former team head Rory Hutchings remains a pivotal member of the team, and is able to leverage deep knowledge of core issues affecting clients in the rural community, including as it relates to planning and environment matters. Hutchings has deep ties with NFU members, recently representing the organisation in judicial review proceedings challenging the decision by Welsh Government to introduce new Water Quality Regulations. In his role as head of inheritance and trusts disputes, Swansea-based partner Richard Howells regularly handles contentious probate matters for farming clients.

Practice head(s):

Rhys Evans


Other key lawyers:

Rory Hutchings; Richard Howells; Michael Williams; Sean Boucher; Beverley Bowen; Jonathan Flynn


Testimonials

JCP has a wealth of experience in the agricultural sector, with offices across the South Wales and South West Wales region and good clients across that area.’

The team is diligent and does excellent quality work across South Wales.’

Interpersonal skills are top notch, together with a deep understanding of the sector as well as pragmatic and practical application of the law.’

Key clients

NFU Cymru


Work highlights


Hugh James

Drawing upon ‘genuine expertise and strength-in-depth’, Hugh James‘ multi-disciplinary practice advises landowners, farmers, public sector clients and developers across a range of private client and property work, in particular. Private wealth head Matthew Evans has considerable experience in the sector, including in the context of contentious probate and proprietary estoppel. Combining ‘charming charisma with a first-rate intellect’, Roman Kubiak is also a key team member, regularly handling private wealth disputes work for farming clients.

Practice head(s):

Matthew Evans


Other key lawyers:

Roman Kubiak; Eleanor Evans; Richard Macphail


Testimonials

What makes Hugh James’ agriculture and estates team stand above its competitors is (1) its genuine expertise and strength-in-depth, (2) its national coverage and (3) its tenacity in fighting their clients’ corner and achieving top results.’

Roman Kubiak – One of the best there is! A charming charisma combined with a first rate intellect, and one of the toughest negotiators I have seen in action.’

Work highlights


Lanyon Bowdler

The 'personable, efficient and effective' team at Lanyon Bowdler continues to thrive in the local market, picking up an ever increasing volume of work for North Walian clients since the formal opening of an office in Conwy in 2019. The 'very responsive and skilled' Edward Nutting  has been pivotal to the office's success and connects very well with local clients, not only as a result of his industry knowledge and property law expertise, but also his Welsh language speaking capabilities.


Practice head(s):

Brian Evans (Shrewsbury)


Other key lawyers:

Edward Nutting; Kevin Thomas


Testimonials

I found the North Wales team of Lanyon Bowdler to be personable, efficient and effective. It was clear to me immediately that I was in safe hands.’

Edward Nutting is very responsive and skilful.’

Key clients

Lord Harlech


Lord Newborough


Mona Island Dairy Limited


Charles Neal Morris


Sweeney Estate Trustees


The Wynne-Finch Estate Trustees


Robert Wynne Evans


Work highlights


  • Act for the 12,500 acre Rhug Estate and Glynllifon Estate in North Wales, one of the UK’s most diverse landed estates.
  • Acting for Robert Wynne Evans in a complex £6m farm sale– involving common land and grazing rights, a hydroelectricity scheme, a holiday cottage, live and dead stock, and dealing with Basic Payment Scheme Entitlements and an agri-environmental scheme.
  • Acting for Mona Island Dairy Limited in relation to a s106 planning agreement connected with a new £20m cheese factory which will create 100 jobs in Anglesey.

RDP Law

Much of the work handled by the ‘very solid, knowledgeable and professional’ team at Newport-based RDP Law relates to private client issues, including succession planning and high-value estate administration involving agricultural and business assets. ‘Exemplary’ team head Sioned Thomas is a standout and receives both direct instructions from high-net-worth landowners, as well as from professional services entities in a referral capacity. In addition, the firm’s role as advisor to the Farmers’ Union of Wales leads to regular instructions from members on property, litigation and family matters.

Practice head(s):

Sioned Thomas


Testimonials

It is a very solid, knowledgeable and professional agricultural team which can communicate advice and guidance to us in a clear patient manner.’

They have a long history in dealing with agricultural and estate matters.’ 

‘They are highly responsive, proactive and detail-oriented.’

Key clients

Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW)


Work highlights


  • Provide legal services covering agricultural, private client, real estate, family and litigation matters to FUW members.