With specialist sector insight to the intersection of technology and sustainability, we understand the impact that agriculture and rural businesses have on communities and ecosystems. Consequently, landowners, institutions, farmers, entrepreneurs, agri-businesses and investors trust our expertise and commercial foresight to respond to emerging opportunities and potential challenges.
We invest time in maintaining our position at the forefront of changes and developments in this sector, and put that knowledge and experience at the disposal of our clients as we help with their projects. Those projects include commercial and property disputes, natural capital, agri-tech, planning and the environment, sales and purchases, contract farming, succession planning, taxation, wills and trusts, and tenancy agreements.
Our lawyers are at the forefront of ground-breaking sector initiatives – our team’s unrivalled knowledge, experience and commitment to achieving the best result for our clients is what differentiates us.
Our practice is based upon the foundation of formidable agricultural and rural disputes expertise. Our team has extensive sector knowledge, and unparalleled experience of assisting clients with disputes, which also makes the team well placed to help properly document new ventures, and advise upon the legal aspects of agricultural and rural business.
We act for a wide range of clients including family offices, offshore trusts, charities, landed estates, public bodies, and rural businesses, but we always calibrate our approach to client requirements and expectations. We work closely with colleagues across our Commercial, Corporate, Technology & Innovation, Intellectual Property, Private Wealth, Food & Drink, and Real Estate teams, ensuring that our clients have access to wider specialist knowledge when required.
Ranked as a top tier legal firm by the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners, we offer advice on the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious legal issues.
We have looked to collect together publicly available knowledge, and (where we have permission) other sources of knowledge, and provide a Natural Capital hub for information on this growing and diverse topic. To filter articles further please select from the categories’ dropdown list. For example, you may wish to find out more about Triple Bottom Line Reporting or Natural Capital Policy; these options are available as categories and will pull out the relevant articles on these individual topics.
Purchasing a substantial agricultural farming company, which involved a team of 15 lawyers who provided strategic advice on the corporate, planning, environmental, employment, development opportunities, commercial contracts and property matters, which extended to some 2500 acres of farmland, 35 residential properties, commercial lets and joint venture agreements over a further 1500 acres.
Advising the owner of a large estate of nearly 1000 acres as they encountered financial difficulties and went into administration. Specialist insolvency expertise was obtained within the Firm and negotiations were conducted with both the administrator and the tenant. These negotiations resulted in an excellent outcome for the landlord.
Acting for a substantial farming business, who became the subject of a hostile claim for all of their land and business assets. This was a highly complex case, which involved the gathering and preparation of numerous detailed witness statements, recounting events going back over 30 years.
Acting for a £multi-million commercial farming tenant in a dispute with a landlord over the grant and interpretation of a tenancy to a substantial part of the business. This was a high stakes case with possible consequences which were business critical, requiring legal advice at the cutting edge, and a significant team to document the eventual settlement.
Advising on the corporate disposal of a £multi-million commercial farming operation, including advising on complex taxation considerations.
Advising landed estates in connection with the grant and administration of agricultural and sporting tenancies.
Acting for a landed estate in connection with the grant of an option to a quality house builder. The deal included finding alternative farmland for an agricultural tenant and provided for the development of the site in various phases. The landowner was keen to maintain the integrity and high reputation of the estate amongst the local community.
