Butcher & Barlow LLP

Butcher & Barlow is an independent, Partner-led Firm providing commercial and personal legal services to businesses, individuals, families, landowners and agricultural clients.

With 12 offices across Greater Manchester, Cheshire and North Staffordshire, the Firm combines the resources and specialist knowledge of a substantial regional practice with the accessibility and personal service traditionally associated with a local solicitor. The Firm has grown significantly over the past decade and now has 32 Partners and a total team of around 190 people.

Approachable, open and client-focused, Butcher & Barlow places long-term relationships at the heart of its work. Its aim is to understand each client’s circumstances, priorities and ambitions before helping them make informed decisions. This collaborative approach is reflected in the Firm’s central message: Decisions, shared.

The Firm’s geographical reach allows its lawyers to remain closely connected to the communities and businesses they advise. At the same time, its teams work collaboratively across offices, giving clients access to the appropriate specialist wherever they are based. Although firmly rooted in the region, the Firm acts for clients throughout England and Wales.

Butcher & Barlow has a longstanding commercial and agricultural client base. Its dedicated commercial and rural hub at Gadbrook Park, Northwich brings together lawyers from its Corporate & Commercial, Commercial Property, Agriculture & Rural Affairs and Dispute Resolution teams. The opening of its Festival Park office in Stoke-on-Trent has further strengthened the Firm’s presence in North Staffordshire and its offering to businesses, business owners and private clients across the area.

Commercial clients range from owner-managed and family businesses to property developers, construction companies, commercial landlords, manufacturers, brewers, care providers and professional organisations. The Firm also advises landed estates, farmers, rural businesses, charities, trustees, business owners, families and high net worth individuals.

Types of work undertaken

Corporate & commercial: Led by Justin Kelly, the team advises businesses, shareholders and investors on mergers and acquisitions, company sales and purchases, reorganisations, shareholder and partnership agreements, secured lending and commercial contracts. Its specialist work includes Employee Ownership Trusts, Family Investment Companies and EMI share option schemes. The team has particular experience in the care, brewing and licensed premises sectors and also advises charities on governance, administration, property and investments.

Employment: The Employment Team advises employers and employees on the full range of workplace issues. Its work includes contracts and policies, business reorganisations, redundancies, disciplinary and grievance matters, discrimination claims, settlement agreements and employment tribunal proceedings. The team also works closely with the Firm’s corporate lawyers on the employment aspects of business sales and acquisitions.

Commercial property: Co-led by Rachel Martin and James Hodgson, the Commercial Property Team advises on acquisitions and disposals, landlord and tenant matters, property investment, commercial finance, residential and commercial development, planning arrangements and property held within pension schemes. The team has particular experience in development work, agricultural and rural land and the sale and purchase of public houses and licensed premises.

Agriculture & rural affairs: Led by Rebecca Jepson, the Agriculture & Rural Affairs Team advises farmers, landowners, landed estates, rural businesses and agricultural tenants. Its work includes the acquisition and disposal of farms and rural land, agricultural tenancies, succession and estate planning, farming partnerships, business structures, development opportunities, easements and other issues affecting the ownership and use of rural property. The team works closely with the Firm’s Private Client, Corporate & Commercial, Commercial Property and Dispute Resolution teams to provide joined-up advice to rural families and businesses.

Wills, trusts & estates: Led by Tim Bailey, the team advises individuals, families, business owners, farmers and high net worth clients on wills, trusts, succession and estate planning, estate and trust administration, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection matters. The team has particular experience in complex estates, agricultural assets, family businesses and arrangements involving several generations. Partners of the Firm also act as professional attorneys and trustees.

Dispute resolution: Led by Greg Porter, the Dispute Resolution Team acts for businesses and individuals in commercial, corporate, partnership, construction and professional negligence disputes. Its specialist Property Dispute Resolution Team advises landowners, developers, landlords, tenants and rural clients on matters including boundaries, rights of way, restrictive covenants, adverse possession, lease renewals and possession proceedings. The team also has significant experience in contentious probate and disputes involving wills, trusts and estates.

Family: Led by Kevan Hankinson, the Family Law Team advises on divorce and separation, financial arrangements, child arrangements, cohabitation disputes and pre- and post-nuptial agreements. The team has particular experience in complex financial cases involving businesses, pensions, property, trusts, farms and inherited wealth. Its lawyers include members and accredited specialists of Resolution and the Law Society’s family and children accreditation schemes. The Firm also holds family legal aid contracts and the relevant specialist quality mark.

Personal injury and clinical negligence: The team represents individuals who have suffered injury as a result of accidents, negligent medical treatment or failures in professional care. Its lawyers handle matters ranging from workplace and road traffic accidents to complex clinical negligence claims, providing practical and sensitive support throughout the process.

Residential property: As an accredited member of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme, the Firm advises on residential sales and purchases, remortgages, transfers of equity, leasehold matters and new-build properties. Its residential lawyers work across the office network and support private clients, investors and developers.

Notarial services: Butcher & Barlow has five Notaries Public who provide independent notarial services to individuals and businesses. They certify and authenticate documents for use overseas and assist with a wide range of international transactions and formalities.