Farm and estate management

The legal issues facing farmers and landowners are complex and diverse. You need lawyers with in-depth, specialist experience and an understanding of rural life. That's where we excel.

Owners and occupiers of agricultural land face endless, ever-changeable challenges. Identifying and dealing with these complicated issues can be hard, so it's vital to work with legal advisers who have worked extensively in the rural sector.

With our decades of experience, our team is top rated by Chambers UK and Legal 500. We have even written books, on Farm Tenancies, Divorce and the Farm and Farming Together for Profit.

We act for a variety of landowners and land managers, from farmers and historical landed estates to investors, and others who own rural land as a by-product of their main business.

Our experience

We are proud of our long history of advising farmers, landed estates and Oxbridge colleges. We also act for pension companies and other institutions who buy land as an investment, and some of the country's largest agribusinesses.

We help this broad range of landowners and land managers with any legal issue, including:

Manorial and lordship rights and common land
Mineral rights and projects
Agricultural ties and restrictions
Farm water, irrigation and reservoirs
Shooting, fishing and sporting rights
Succession planning, trust arrangements and schemes and tax efficiencies

Our experience includes:

Restructuring Farmcare's trading operation to exit direct farming on 25,000 acres, involving setting up seven contract farming arrangements with six large independent farming businesses.
Helping clients to protect assets for future generations through the use of trusts, partnerships, companies and pre/post nuptial agreements.
Restructuring farm tenancies to secure 100% agricultural property relief.
Advising on the use of decisions in IRC v Farmer and Balfour to secure business property relief on cottages and other investment assets.
Assisting a food producer with the sale of business assets and the restructuring of contract farming agreements, involving the negotiation of over 20 documents, including transfers, leases and surrenders, and specialist corporate and employment advice.

What our clients say about us?

“A highly professional multi- disciplinary firm with a deep understanding of the law.”

Client feedback

Legal 500

“One of the few truly national private client practices, with well rated teams in several major markets UK-wide.”

Client feedback

Legal 500

“Your guidance and advice has significantly contributed to our family's success over the years. ”

Client feedback

Our lawyers

Our specialist lawyers regularly work as part of a team of wider professional advisers, including accountants and surveyors, ensuring you are being offered aligned and commercial advice.