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United Kingdom - Scotland • Private client
2

Agriculture and estates

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Harper Macleod LLP

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In Glasgow, Graeme Nisbet leads Harper Macleod LLP’s rural property team, advises a diverse client list that includes public sector bodies, farmers, estate owners, crofters, community groups, investors and foresters. Tom Gray represents various clients in farm, estate, forestry and natural capital transactions, and also advises several tendered sector clients. Crofting specialist Calum MacLeod handles matters across the Highlands and Islands. Hannah McIntosh handles an array of rural sector matters for public and private sector clients.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Tom has been an excellent addition to our team of professional advisors for our family farm. Tom, along with his wider team, has provided excellent advice, giving us the confidence to progress matters swiftly. We have definitely noticed that, as a larger firm compared to our previous lawyers, HM has a specialist for just about every subject matter. This gives our family great confidence that we are receiving accurate and reliable advice, allowing us to make much more informed decisions.’

  • ‘Tom Gray has become our go-to contact at the firm. Tom is very easy to talk to and does a great job at understanding complex matters. Another key colleague would be Matthew Kay who has been great thus far.’

  • ‘I have yet to come across an employee at Harper MacLeod who is not approachable, knowledgeable, friendly and willing to go that extra mile for their clients. Graeme Nisbet always has time for a phone call and to discuss the case in a friendly manner.'

  • ‘I have found Tom Gray to be exceptionally helpful. He is methodical and accurate and always replies promptly to emails.’

  • 'The practice is reliable, knowledgeable and easy to work with.'

  • ‘Their ability to involve colleagues seamlessly and without incurring unnecessary cost. A sense of the practical rather than slavish textbook approach. Definite can-do attitude to challenges.’

  • ‘Graeme Nisbet is in my view outstanding. Calm and efficient. Understood a complex estate of numerous separate mini businesses very quickly, impressive tax knowledge concerning different treatment to different parts. Will definitely use again soon.’

  • ‘Attentive to customer needs, providing clear and useful advice on demand. Particular praise is offered to Hannah McIntosh and Graeme Nisbet. ’

  • ‘The partner handling the case was Graeme Nisbet. We found him excellent to deal with. His advice and explanations were clear, to the point and understandable to a layman like me. He turned the work round promptly and was happy to put in the extra effort to get the agreement signed against what turned out to be an unexpectedly tight timetable. At a personal level, I found him a pleasure to work with.’

Key clients

  • Forestry and Land Scotland
  • Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust
  • Craignathro Farms Limited
  • The Langholm Initiative
  • The Firm of B&CC Taylor
  • Scottish Forestry
  • Scaniport Estate
  • Keoldale Sheep Stock Club
  • NatureScot
  • King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer
  • EnergieKontor UK Limited
  • Clydesdale Bank UK PLC
  • City of Edinburgh Council
  • Fife Council
  • Xafinity Pension Trustees Limited
  • HSBC Bank
  • Accountant in Bankruptcy
  • Helix Oilfield Services Limited
  • Ceannacroc Estate
  • Strathcluanie Limited

Work highlights

Advised the client in the acquisition of tenanted croft land and common grazings extending to 7,900 acres on the Badentarbat Estate.
Acted for Craignathro Farms Limited in the open market acquisition of 125 acres of prime agricultural land in the Forfar area.
Acted for Forestry and Land Scotland in the high value sale of connected forestry blocks in the Fort William area on the open market with several significant legal obstacles.

Practice head

Graeme Nisbet

Other key lawyers

Tom Gray; Calum MacLeod; Hannah McIntosh; Matthew Kay