With offices across Chelmsford, Cambridge, and Sevenoaks, Birketts LLP’s broad caseload encompasses succession planning, tax work relating to agricultural issues, and renewable energy projects. Chris Coupland is knowledgeable of family farming partnerships and capital taxation issues, while Annabelle Rout is experienced in grants of easement, option agreements, and overage agreements. Charlotte Strutt and Samantha Barnes handle agricultural tenancy matters, while Katie Gibson-Green is another key team member.

Often advising major estates on tax management, farming agreements, and sales and acquisitions, Boodle Hatfield LLP is overseen by Natasha Hassall. Praised as ‘one of the UK’s top trust lawyers, handling even the most complex trust matters with exceptional skill’, Hassall is particularly proficient in succession planning issues. Eleanor Sepanski is another key team member.

Often handling inbound investment into domestic rural estates and agricultural businesses, Charles Russell Speechlys LLP is skilled at land sales and tax structuring work. The practice is jointly led by Duncan Elson and Oliver Auld; Elson is notably experienced in landed estate matters and has over three decades of contentious experience. Other key members of the team include William Marriott, who is well versed in the acquisition and disposal of property, Tristram van Lawick, and Hayley Lalsing.

Praised for its ‘comprehensive understanding of agricultural matters’, Freeths LLP’s broad offering covers estate acquisitions and sales, litigation, and tax planning work. Iain Davis oversees the practice and is experienced in environmental matters, agricultural tenancies, and landed estate developments. Masood Ahmed is often engaged in rural property transactions, Lisa Mark-Bell is noted for her tax expertise, and Rosalyn Shephard handles tenancy disputes. Clare Bellis, Tom Walker, and Katherine Burge are other key team members.

A key port of call for private and corporate landowners, landed estates, as well as international investors in domestic agriculture, Tees Law is experienced in renewable energy projects and strategic land transactions. Letty Glaister is highly proficient in succession planning, while Victoria Sandberg handles agricultural tenancies and renewable option agreements. Alexander Waples is knowledgeable of farming partnership agreements, while Tom Moulsdale is another key team member.

Birkett Long LLP has a broad regional footprint, with offices across Colchester, Chelmsford, Basildon, and London. The practice, which is praised as a ‘great team with a spread of strengths’, is jointly led by Lisa Collins and Mel Loxley. Loxley is praised as ‘polite and professional’, while Karen Johnson, Francesca Cozens, and Farrah Harvey-Nawaz are other key team members.

Counting various high-net-worth clients on its roster, Brachers (Part of Lawfront) often handles agricultural tenancy matters and estate disputes. With over two decades of experience, Sarah Gaines leads the practice and is experienced in agricultural land transactions and land transfers. Christopher Eriksson-Lee is noted for his capabilities in succession planning and the reorganisation of agricultural business structures.

Home to ‘exceptional lawyers’, Cripps is geared to handle property disputes, share farming agreements, and succession planning issues. Praised for her ‘expert guidance’, Sally Firby leads the practice and is well versed in the sale and purchase of farms and estates, while Kate Arnold is informed on inheritance tax reliefs. Other key members of the team include Damion Lindley, who is often engaged in farm letting work.

Irwin Mitchell is well geared to handle tax planning issues, succession planning work, property transactions, and environmental disputes. James Pavey is a key port of call for large rural landowners, high-net-worth individuals, and institutional landowners on land use disputes, while Natalie Hayes-Green is often engaged in landlord and tenant matters. Rebecca Huston and Elise Sherwell are other key team members.

Praised for its ‘excellent advice and prompt service’, Moore Barlow‘s rural business and wealth team is highly knowledgeable of the full gamut of agricultural matters. Sarah Jordan oversees the practice and is highly proficient in rural asset management issues surrounding landed estates and agricultural tenancies, while Charlotte Brackley and Nellie van der Lande are both noted for their transactional capabilities.

Commended for its ‘depth of expertise and knowledge’, Thompson Smith and Puxon is noted for its strength in succession planning and rural land transactions. The practice is headed up by Stephen Firmin, who is vastly experienced in land development and diversification projects, while Fiona Ashworth handles inheritance tax and trust matters surrounding agricultural assets. Mary Anne Fedeyko is a key contact for family farming partnerships, while Fiona Gibson is knowledgeable of solar farm developments. Ann Coutts is another key team member.

With a strong track record in agricultural litigation, Thrings LLP is noted for its expertise in wind energy and battery storage projects. Duncan Sigournay oversees the team and is highly proficient in agricultural tenancies, while Mark Charter often advises clients on strategic land development and diversification projects. Eve Laws is a strong choice for landowners on transactional matters, and Josephine Taylor is another key team member.

Trethowans LLP (part of Lawfront)’s broad agricultural and estates offering encompasses transactional work, litigation, tax planning advice, and farming partnerships. Marcus Thorpe oversees the Salisbury team. Charlotte West-Withers spearheads the Winchester practice, and Amanda Inch has in-depth expertise in tenancies, renewables, and promotion agreements.

Counting landowners, farmers, and rural businesses on its client roster, Warners Solicitors is highly proficient in landlord work, land disputes, and estate tax planning work. Litigation specialist Michael McNally jointly leads the practice with Gail Hall, who handles estate administration issues. Steve Colville is skilled at land transactions, while Tim Ryan is another key team member.

Praised as ‘very approachable and easy to communicate with’, Field Seymour Parkes LLP is noted for its strength in property based natural capital projects, renewable energy projects, and land transactions. Hazel Eccles oversees the team and is highly proficient in rural property transactions, tenancies, and the grant of ancillary rights. Laura Czapski, Rob Crowther, and Kelsie Essenhigh are other key team members.

Commended as an ‘excellent regional practice’, SE-Solicitors is a key port of call for farmers, rural businesses, and country estate owners on land developments, succession planning work, and commercial contracts. With over two decades of experience in transactional matters, the practice is led by Guy Stephenson, who is lauded by clients as ‘very personable, professional, and available’. Harriet Page is noted for her knowledge of unregistered land and property, lease extensions, and overage provisions, while Jennie Loynes is well versed in restructuring the ownership of family farms.

Often working in conjunction with the firm’s corporate and commercial team on farming partnership agreements, Thomson Snell & Passmore is skilled at development and planning matters. The practice is headed up by Penelope Edgar, who often handles rural property transactions, biodiversity net gain projects, and portfolio management issues, while Esther Lee is knowledgeable of inheritance tax matters. Robert Trench is well versed in farm tenancies, while Kate Cairnes and Guy Evans are other key team members.