Resourced with Welsh speaking lawyers – most of which have farming backgrounds – in locations throughout mid and north Wales, Agri Advisor Legal LLP remains a popular choice among rural clients. The scope of the work is broad, encompassing advice on property-related concerns and on succession planning, as well as strategic advice on agricultural policy matters. Founding partner Nerys Llewelyn Jones is a towering figure in the sector, and other key contacts are private client expert Awel Mai Hughes; Rachel Phillips, who is very skilled at handling farming-related property/planning matters; and Llio Phillips, who heads up the dispute resolution sub-group.

With a strong and growing presence in mid and south Wales through its offices in Cardiff and Wye Valley, Harrison Clark Rickerbys has the strength-in-depth to handle a range of transactional, private client and real estate-related matters for rural clients. Many of the team’s lawyers also have core sector-related regulatory expertise, including vastly experienced team head Rory Hutchings. Aled Owen is very well-versed in advising on farm-related regulatory issues, and has a particular niche regarding livestock issues, including investigations for abattoirs and clients accused of not abiding by complex animal movement regulations. Bryn Thomas has a versatile practice across a range of contractual and property matters, as well as his work alongside the firm’s commercial practice on agri-tech matters.

Combining expertise from across the firm’s property, property litigation and private client offerings in particular, JCP Solicitors provides a comprehensive service to rural clients across the full scope of their needs. Fluent Welsh-speaking Cardiff-based team head Rhys Evans leads the rural group and is particularly adept at handling property-related mandates, including landlord and tenant issues, boundary disputes, as well as common land issues. In Carmarthen, Sean Boucher has developed strong connections with the west Wales farming community, which he excels at advising on estate planning-related matters in an agricultural context. In Swansea, contentious probate expert Richard Howells continues to regularly handle proprietary estoppel cases, including for NFU Cymru members.

Renowned for its comprehensive private wealth offering, and also capitalising on its expertise in key complementary areas including property, litigation, and regulatory matters, Hugh James remains a popular choice for rural clients across a broad spectrum of contentious and non-contentious needs. Team head Matthew Evans has substantial experience handling agriculture-related inheritance disputes, including heavily litigated proprietary estoppel cases. Planning expert Alex Madden, who joined in July 2024 from Thrings LLP, is also a key member of the team and has vast experience in handling farming and land diversification work.

Benefitting from the vastly experienced Edward Nutting, Lanyon Bowdler‘s Conwy office has developed the size and scope of its offering to effectively advise rural clients throughout north and mid Wales, in particular. Nutting is particularly skilled at advising large-scale farmers, landed estates and businesses across a range of property-related matters. Emma Deering, who was recently promoted partner, has a focus on succession planning, wills and estate administration and is a key member of the team, which also includes litigator Katie Baker.

Overseen by private client lawyer Sioned Thomas, Newport-based firm RDP Law has developed significant traction in the south and mid Wales-based rural community. As well as Thomas’ work advising farming clients on succession planning and estate administration, the firm has also gained momentum for its advice in the property space. This has been driven by commercial real estate head James Davies, who has developed a strong reputation among landowners for his expertise on renewable energy and large development schemes.