‘The strongest regional team for agricultural law, combined with a strong litigation team. Transparent billing and time keeping system which enables billing to be monitored and costs to be managed more easily. With a collaborative approach and diverse set of skills, our business needs are more than well covered‘.

‘Tom Devey and Sarah Baugh stand out on the agricultural front. Their knowledge of the owners and occupiers of farms and estates across the region is exceptional. Their approach is pragmatic, but with bold advice, sagely cautioned against the risks and costs. They try to complete matters and make progress rather than to see matters drawn out and protracted – it might be said that this is an all too rare quality in the legal sector’.

‘The lawyers have great knowledge in agricultural and estates practice but this is also backed up by other areas of expertise within the firm which means that they can offer the full service!’.

‘Tom Devey is approachable, knowledgeable and simply gets on with the job in hand. He recognises our approach to risk and instead of trying to make us feel nervous about being tolerant of risk – he accepts our stance. Many other firms that I have worked with in the past are reluctant to accept such an approach!‘.

‘The team at FBC is extremely diverse, so you know that you are getting the best advice and service depending on the individual project you are working on at any one time’.

‘The majority of the work FBC does for my company is carried out by Sarah Baugh. Sarah has a vast wealth of knowledge of property and the agricultural sector. Sarah has a keen eye for detail and is always aware and considerate to the best outcome for the company’.

‘As we were working to a very tight time scale, when we approached Lodders to act for us, the lawyers picked up the baton and were away so quickly. They anticipated what would be asked for by purchasers and started to put things in place immediately, so when the sales began they were completed most efficiently’.

‘Mr James Spreckley took on our sale and we could not have had anyone better. From the start he was there whenever we encountered a problem. He advised, that as this was to be a very tight timescale, that certain things should be put in place from the start, things such as local government searches were done in advance, this helped to cut down time later on in the process. Mr Spreckley was such a help and had it not been for his forward planning the whole process would have taken far longer and may not have run so smoothly’

‘Expert knowledge and understanding of the rural sector and all of the complexities that may exist in preparing for and progressing the sale process. Sympathetic approach to property disposal in difficult circumstances (death and debt) and providing invaluable support throughout’.

‘James Spreckley – expert, considered, sensitive and client focused approach to property disposal in difficult circumstances. Proactive in preparation for sale and updates throughout. Nicola Beach – As above plus excellent availability ‘out of hours’ to help achieve the required outcome’.

‘The ability to negotiate with particularly difficult rural agencies to achieve a satisfactory outcome with careful consideration of the client’s objectives. Hannah Taylor has proved to be especially adept at this‘.

‘I always feel I am in capable hands and the solicitors are always available to talk through any questions. Tom Bell has dealt with my legal requirements satisfactorily over the past two years. He inspired confidence and achieved results whilst taking into consideration my specific needs and wishes’.

‘The ability to stand back and assess the issues followed by a clear strategic approach. The lawyers care about their client’.

‘Helen Gough – very approachable and personable. Fully understands her brief and where additional skills and expertise are required to support a development. Extremely thorough and works in a collegiate way, getting the most from the team’.

‘Extremely approachable and efficient’.

‘We found Alex Robinson always went above and beyond to deliver an excellent service’.

‘From my first of contact with this firm I felt as though I was in experienced hands. Despite Covid restrictions meetings went ahead online which didn’t detract from the advice I was given. From day one Joel Woolf was able to answer my concerns. In the difficult early days of my claim he was there on the end of the phone to allay the panic I was feeling on an almost daily basis. I wouldn’t hesitate to tell someone who was facing a difficult situation to give him a call’.

‘Straightforward, plain talking, quote you a price to what they think the service will cost. Easy to talk to without complex legal jargan‘.

‘We have had dealings with Joel Woolf and found his knowledge of his field excellent. I met him out in a field dealing with a problem a farmer was having with a neighbour. Will always reply to telephone, emails on the same day. Would and have recommended Joel to friends and colleagues’.

‘An ability to understand clients’ commercial interests and to explain the legal process to help clients achieve their ambitions‘.

‘Ethan Desai has an uncanny ability to explain the most complex matters to even those with little of no legal understanding’.

‘What was important was prompt service and willingness of Alex Robinson to be available out of office hours. Alex appeared both competent and user friendly on a relatively complex sale involving splitting a property and issues with rights of way. She was pragmatic and responsive and appeared to have the right balance of co-operation but toughness when dealing with her counterpart‘.

‘I have found the agriculture and estates team to be practical and approachable offering sound advice with a commercial eye‘.