The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - Solicitors > North > Agriculture and estates

At Burnetts the practice frequently provides financial institutions with specialist expertise regarding secured lending on land and agribusiness assets. Other key clients include landowners, along with pension funds and their members. The firm is jointly led by Joanne McKenzie, a specialist in agricultural tenancy matters and the implications of the Agricultural Holdings Act, and Richard Miller, who advises on a wide range of property matters, including sale and purchase of farms, and structuring and strategic planning issues.

At Cartmell Shepherd, the team benefits from the presence of lawyers with public sector backgrounds, as well as those with specialist agricultural expertise. The firm takes on both advisory and contentious work, frequently representing clients in contested succession cases. As well as acting on behalf of a number of landed estates, practice head Jonathan Carroll also specialises in assisting with both the creation and dissolution of partnerships. Also notable are Mark Jackson and associate Katherine Pretswell-Walker, who have particular experience advising on the sale and acquisition of farms, estates, forestry, and complex rural residential property.

Hay & Kilner's team works with landed estates and farmers, and is known particularly for assisting with the sale and purchase of land, drafting overage agreements and pre-emption agreements, and advising on mineral rights and land development. Alison Hall, who heads the practice jointly with Richard Freeman-Wallace, has particular expertise advising on succession to farms, and drafting partnership agreements for farmers. For contentious matters, the key name to note is Lucy Gray, who acts in a wide range of disputes, including contractual disputes, professional negligence, and property claims.

The team at Latimer Hinks Solicitors assists clients with a wide range of agricultural issues, including leasing of mineral rights, sales and purchases of farms, and renewable energy projects such as wind and solar farms. Jointly heading up the practice are estate administration expert Elizabeth Armstrong and Adam Wood, who focuses on assisting with acquisitions and disposals of farms and bare agricultural land and deeds of grant. Also key within the team is Anne Elliott, who is frequently instructed by farm owners to advise on succession and inheritance tax planning.

Sintons LLP works with a large number of local farmers, rural businesses, estates, landowners, and investors on a wide range of matters. Through its strong links with land agents, accountants and agricultural banking teams, the practice is able to advise on the acquisition and disposal of large farming ventures, agricultural holdings and significant development projects. Tom Wills leads a team that includes Paul Liddle, a specialist in assisting developers and landowners in the energy, waste and renewables sectors, with a particular focus on coal and wind farms.

At Tilly Bailey & Irvine, the team is able to call on expertise from the corporate and commercial department to advise on farming structures and partnerships, while the private client department advises on estate planning and taxation matters. Estate administration specialist Helen Dexter heads up the practice, which also includes property expert Andrew Beattie, and solicitors Jessica Morton and Rhiannon Melrose.