The client list of the substantial agriculture and estates team at HCR Hewitsons is populated by rural landowners, and owners of some of the largest farms and businesses in the country. The practice is equipped to cover the full range of work in this area, from high-value transactions and long-term strategic advice, to agricultural litigation and land disputes. At the helm of the practice, Emily Pumfrey and Denise Wilkinson both come with acclaim for their ‘excellent quality of service’ and are both adept at acting on complex property and family issues in the rural sector. James Frankland has particular expertise in farm business tenancies, Agricultural Holdings Act tenancies and natural capital, while at a more junior level, Sam Mitchell supports the team on the full scope of matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The practice offers a high level of service and has significant staff resources in the niche area of renewable development.’
‘I have worked with both Denise Wilkinson and Emily Pumfrey jointly representing a client. Both Denise and Emily provided an excellent quality of service that was distinctive in respect of their level of expertise, due diligence, eye for detail and the way in which they were able to explain complex points of detail in simple terms for everyone's benefit, including out client.’
‘The team are very skilled at dealing with arrangements that our outside of the ordinary, considering the implications for us as clients, but also the alternatives to reach our desired outcome.’
‘The team are friendly and approachable, keen to build effective working relationships. They understand our organisational aims, but also work hard to relate to the individuals in our organisation.’
‘HCR's agriculture and estates team have been advising us on a range of issues for many years. We have been very impressed with both the breadth and depth of their knowledge. It has been really important to us that HCR have understood our work and how it is evolving. They have been incredibly thorough in their advice, having dealt with complicated purchases for us recently, but they have also been highly adaptable, offering solutions to new processes, such as agreements for the provision of Biodiversity Net Gain.’
‘Denise Wilkinson's understanding of our needs has been amazing. Her retention of the detail of our portfolio of land holdings has saved us hours of delving through paperwork. She has been incredibly adept at developing solutions to problems, while ensuring we understand associated risks at all stages. When problems have arisen in other areas of our work, she has been quick to find us appropriate support. We are particularly grateful to Denise for her rapid grasp of complicated proposals, and the thoroughness of her advice.'
Key clients
- RSPB (The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) (England and Wales)
- The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire (Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire)
- The Rochester Bridge Trust (Kent, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire & Yorkshire)
Work highlights
Advised Rochester Bridge Trust on the disposal of farmland in Kent with outline consent for 135 dwellings.
Representing BAWAG in challenging the Environment Agency’s reduction in water abstraction licences across the Norfolk Broads.
Spearheading the pilot schemes and development of Landscape Recovery, across RSPB reserves nationally.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Emily Pumfrey; Denise Wilkinson
Other key lawyers
James Frankland; Sam Mitchell