'Its knowledge and experience is as good as any firm in the region', say clients of Ashtons Legal. 'Wonderfully reassuring' practice head Jeanette Dennis works from the Bury St Edmunds office, where new hire Ayesha Brown from Roythornes Solicitors is also based. Dennis leads the succession team, in which Brown is a key partner. The 'pleasant, approachable and patient' Simon Cunningham in Norwich has a long track record in advising farmers, landowners, and agricultural businesses. He also leads the rural energy and natural capital group, which is active both regionally and nationally. Senior associates Rebecca Gatens in Ipswich and Karen Bacon in Norwich stand out for property matters.

Birketts LLP provides ‘the premier service for the farming and agricultural industry in East Anglia‘. In Norwich, practice head Chris Coupland and head of private client Jack Royall (whose ‘client commitment and practical advice are second to none‘) are the key practitioners. The Cambridge office also has substantial expertise, not least land development specialist Jeremy Stanton in Cambridge and agricultural property partner Rachel Mc Killop-Wilkin. James Dinwiddy and newly promoted partner Tom Verrill are the standout agricultural property advisers in Ipswich. Sophia Key in Norwich is recommended for agricultural sales and purchases. Royall and Key recently handled the negotiation of an option agreement and easement relating to cables crossing Norfolk from Vattenfall’s Vanguard and Boreas Windfarms.

HCR Hewitsons has ‘true experts in their field and holds a vast breadth of experience‘. Head of agriculture and rural affairs Denise Wilkinson handles complex property and family issues in the rural sector, and private client partner Elizabeth Davies handles complex estates matters. Up-and-coming partner Emily Pumfrey is ‘very client-focused but with the ability to be pragmatic‘, particularly in renewable energy projects, and property partner James Frankland has notable expertise in farm business and Agricultural Holdings Act tenancies.  New partner hire Lisa Millington from Roythornes Solicitors handles wills, trusts and estate administration for rural clients.

The agribusiness practice at Mills & Reeve LLP 'has a very clear brand that stands for high standards, clarity, imagination and delivery'. The lead partners are 'collaborative, responsive, solution-driven' head of agribusiness Michael Aubrey and agricultural property specialist Amanda Tagg, both based in Cambridge, and Catherine Scott in Norwich, who has a national practice advising food, agribusiness, and private wealth clients. Senior associate Dawn Chapman, who handles farm sales and tenancies, typifies the firm's strong bench of up-and-coming talent. Aubrey recently advised Newlands Partnership on an option to lease land for batteries to store energy from wind and solar farms.

The Cambridge office of Mishcon de Reya LLP is the epicentre of its firm-wide landed estates practice, with practice head Rupert Melville-Ross regarded as a leading specialist in transactional matters for international and institutional clients as well as private individuals and family businesses. Clients note that the firm 'provides clear, highly effective legal advice', highlighting Andrew Williamson for agricultural tenancy and estate planning work. Both partners recently handled a £12.5m purchase of farmland for a high-net-worth individual. Managing associate Louise Moore, who is 'always calm under pressure and a safe pair of hands', is just one standout lawyer in a strong junior bench.

Greene & Greene in Bury St Edmunds is 'pleasant to deal with, prompt and pragmatic in negotiations'. Calling on specialists in employment law, tax, trusts, and commercial property, practice head Jonathan Mathers advises individuals, families, farming partnerships and companies, trusts, investors and charities on rural matter. He has notable expertise in poultry-related matters. Property partner Hugo Greer-Walker is a key adviser on sales of agricultural land, as well as investment and development work, and farm tenancies. He recently advised the Leader family on the large-scale residential development of farmland at Long Stratton.

Howes Percival LLP has an agriculture and estates practice that has impressive expertise in farm and estate sales, rural property funding transactions, renewable energy projects, tenancies, partnerships and reorganisations, and complex tax and trust matters. The Norwich office is a key hub for the firm-wide group and is home to practice head Katharine Danks, who is a Fellow of the Agricultural Law Association. Stuart Maggs is 'very practical and extremely knowledgeable' in trusts and estate planning matters. 'The team takes a balance view and we totally trust their judgement', remarks one client.

Roythornes Solicitors has a deep bench of talent across its Alconbury and Spalding offices, and its agriculture and natural resources group is 'responsive, diligent and works to achieve the best possible outcome for its clients'. Head of agriculture Julie Robinson, and agricultural property specialists Claire Hindmarsh and Emma Cook are among the partners working actively in East Anglia, supported by a strong team of associates in which Mary Sargent stands out for advice to landowners on renewable energy and battery storage transactions. Partner Tim Russ is recommended for contentious matters.

The Cambridge office of Tees Law plays a pivotal role in the firm-wide agriculture and estates practice, as it is home to senior partner Catherine Mowat, whose expertise lies in the administration of complex rural estates and succession planning, and 'invaluable' senior associate Alex Waples, who specialises in property matters. Commercial property partner James Dowson also handles transactions for agricultural landowners. The firm is increasingly involved in renewable energy developments for rural clients.

Barker Gotelee joins the ranking due to the quality of its ‘small but highly impressive team who punch well above their weight‘. Lead partner Andrew Nicholson is a prominent adviser to large farming companies and estates, with notable expertise in dealing with partitions of partnership assets. ‘Dynamic and bright young lawyer‘ Miles Coates is an agricultural property specialist who frequently assists with sales and purchases of large farms, and agricultural tenancy law.

Fraser Dawbarns frequently assists farmers across Norfolk and Cambridgeshire with sale and purchase work, tenancy matters and licensing. Lead partner Daniel Ball in Wisbech specialises in agricultural law and is increasingly active in renewable energy projects. His advice is 'both relevant and practical'. He is supported by property partner Jenny Rushmer and land development expert Sarah Johnson. Clients praise the team's 'commitment, availability, knowledge, expertise, and initiative'.

Hunt & Coombs LLP brings together several disciplines to advise on rural estates, notably the wills and trusts expertise of Sallyann Short in Huntingdon and Sally Power in Oundle, and the commercial property experience of senior associate David Marsh in Peterborough and Oundle-based associate James Steward. Litigation partner Helen Townsend in Peterborough also plays a key role. Experienced private client partners Henry Anstey and Paddy Appleton in Oundle oversee the practice.

Norfolk firm Spire Solicitors LLP handles a variety of work for landowners, including estate planning, tenancy succession claims and disputes, and issues arising from complex partnerships and contracts. Attleborough-based Carl Heywood, who handles agricultural, commercial, and residential property matters, leads the practice.  He calls upon the firm's other teams to advise on renewable energy, telecommunications, and agri-environmental issues, as well as on the farming industry expertise of associate Mary Podd.