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Agriculture

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Falcon Chambers
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Francis Taylor Building
New Square Chambers

Leading Silks

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Stephen Jourdan KC –Falcon Chambers ‘Stephen is simply the best. He is calm, thorough, enormously clever and brilliant with clients. He is able to cut through complicated facts, law and arguments with ease so as to focus on what matters. ’
Caroline Shea KC – Falcon Chambers ‘A real tour de force and ubiquitous in agricultural matters; Caroline is indefatigable, unflappable and a consummate performer in court. She somehow manages to be as tough as nails in the courtroom, while being a delight to work with on the client-side, a rare breed indeed. ’
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Jonathan Karas KC –Falcon Chambers ‘Jonathan’s technical analysis, clear presentation of complex matters and his responsiveness is superb. ’
George Laurence KC –New Square Chambers ‘George possesses unrivalled knowledge in his field. He is an exceptional advocate whose style is always structured and measured, clearly commanding the attention and respect of the court, whether in the Court of Appeal or in the Supreme Court. ’
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Douglas Edwards KC - Francis Taylor Building
Morag Ellis KC - Francis Taylor Building
James Maurici KC –Landmark Chambers ‘A quiet and considered silk, James wins the trust of clients by virtue of his depth of knowledge of the law; this combined with a particular eye for detail makes him a particularly talented strategic thinker. ’
Mark Wonnacott KC – Wilberforce Chambers

2023 Silks

Edward Peters KC –Falcon Chambers ‘Intellectually, Edward bears comparison with any of his illustrious predecessors at Chambers. Producing written work to the highest standard, his understated approach to advocacy is hugely effective. ’

Leading Juniors

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Rebecca Cattermole - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Rebecca is an exceptional team player and is able to distil an enormous amount of detail into straightforward submissions. She is a natural strategist and her knowledge in this area of law is second to none. ’
Nigel Thomas - Maitland Chambers
Nathan Wells - Radcliffe Chambers
Emily Windsor –Falcon Chambers ‘Emily is a fantastic advocate, having a talent for finding the right pitch and tone in her submissions and always reading the judge and responding accordingly. ’
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Ashley Bowes –Cornerstone Barristers ‘Ashley is highly knowledgeable in his field. He is very thorough and skilled when it comes to identifying and distilling the key issues from a large amount of information. ’
Ciara Fairley –Falcon Chambers ‘Ciara is an extraordinarily clever and thorough barrister, and her written work is outstanding. ’
Samuel Laughton –Ten Old Square ‘He is a reliable pair of hands, approaching matters in a calm and measured way. ’
Lucy McCormick - Henderson Chambers
Ned Westaway –Francis Taylor Building ‘Ned makes a strong and reassuring impression on his clients. ’
Paul Wilmshurst - New Square Chambers
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Greville Healey –Falcon Chambers ‘Greville’s persistent and measured cross-examination style is highly effective. ’
George Mallet –Henderson Chambers ‘George’s written work and drafting is exemplary. He can process huge amounts of documentary information and distil it to a simple form, drawing various strands, issues and points together with ease. ’
Joseph Ollech –Falcon Chambers ‘Joe is never flustered and communicates complex points in a simple and compelling way. ’
Jamie Sutherland –Falcon Chambers ‘Jamie is ridiculously clever, diligent and personable; he is destined for great things. ’
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Simon Adamyk –New Square Chambers ‘His clear and focused style wins him the attention and confidence of the court. ’
Ross Crail –New Square Chambers ‘Ross possesses an outstanding level of knowledge and is able to provide clear and concise advice as to why some strands of a case are perhaps unsustainable, whilst also putting forward key points and arguments to improve the likelihood of success. ’
Harriet Holmes – Wilberforce Chambers
Juan Lopez –39 Essex Chambers ‘Juan is a very technical lawyer.'
Annabel Graham Paul - Francis Taylor Building

Rising Stars

Gavin Bennison –Falcon Chambers ‘Gavin is extremely client-friendly. He puts forward persuasive arguments, and consistently provides clear and well-considered advice. ’

Agriculture in London Bar

Falcon Chambers

‘The best set for agricultural work’, Falcon Chambers has a strong track record in handling high-profile cases of boundary and covenant disputes, partnership matters and development cases to name a few areas. Stephen Jourdan KC acted in Limbrick v National Trust, a dispute between a father and son about succession to agricultural tenancy of a large farm in Gloucestershire, the case raises the novel issue of the right of a tenant to dispute a succession claim which they originally initiated. Edward Peters KCrepresented the appellants before the Court of Appeal in Procter v Procter, confronting complex matters relating to the Agricultural Holdings Act; specifically relating to whether a valid tenancy could be inferred from conduct in common law, despite when the identity of joint landlords and tenants overlap. Greville Healey acted in Bernel Ltd v Canal & River Trust, a High Court case concerning the development of a rural greenfield site involving issues pertaining to riparian rights, prescriptive rights to drain and natural watercourses. Caroline Shea KC has developed a comprehensive agricultural practice, with particular expertise in proprietary estoppel, succession and agricultural tenancies.

Testimonials

Set 

‘Falcon is my go-to set of chambers for contentious agricultural matters. ’

‘Falcon Chambers is the best set, and has such great support in terms of the number and quality of barristers and the scope of their expertise. ’

‘The barristers are outstanding at every level. ’

‘Falcon is incredibly strong and reliable in the field of agricultural law. ’

Clerks 

‘John Stannard and James Clarke are brilliant. ’

‘The clerking team is excellent. John Stannard is very knowledgeable and thorough, Joanne Meah is particularly efficient and calm, and Jacob Watson is extremely responsive and resourceful. The whole team are super helpful and take a real interest in getting to know and helping clients. ’

Francis Taylor Building

Francis Taylor Building is active in a range of agricultural and rural work, with particular expertise in town and village green applications, footpath inquiries and rights of way matters. Richard Honey KC appeared for the applicant in Bellway Homes v Kent CC & Dr Van Den Broek, which concerned the registration of land as a village green to protect it from development. Elsewhere in chambers, Ned Westaway acted for the respondent in Garland v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, a Court of Appeal case concerning whether equestrian use of a bridleway amounts to public nuisance, and prevents the creation of a right of way in the countryside.

Testimonials

Clerking 

‘Fantastic clerks – available, straightforward and amenable. ’

New Square Chambers

Members of New Square Chambers‘ agricultural team are regularly instructed in cases involving easements, common land and access to the countryside, and the group has notable expertise in advising on issues concerning public access to land. George Laurence KC and Simon Adamyk appeared in a Court of Appeal case in which a decision by the Secretary of State to deregister 115 acres of common land was quashed; the case involved the clarification of the phrase “the curtilage of a building” in the Commons Act 2006. In another matter, Laurence KC and Paul Wilmshurst are appearing in a case concerning the legality of downgrading restricted byways, specifically the two constituting access to Morghew Park Estate.

Testimonials

Set 

‘Great set of chambers. ’

‘Very efficient and professional in everything they do. ’

Clerking

‘Supported by excellent clerks. Michelle Green is particularly good. ’

‘The clerks are always very helpful and efficient. ’