Ashtons Legal's practice is known for its 'strong attention-to-detail and ability to communicate complex matters in a clear and concise way to the client'. Bury St Edmunds-based practice head Jeanette Dennis assists farmers with estate management, rights of way, partnerships and tenancies. Key partner Jonathan Long frequently works alongside Dennis at the same office to assist land agents and accountants on inheritance tax and succession planning for farm partnerships. Simon Cunningham in Norwich advises farmers, landowners, and agricultural businesses on all aspects of property law, particularly in regard to diversification projects. Senior associates Rebecca Gatens in Ipswich and Karen Bacon in Norwich also play key roles in the practice.

At Birketts LLP, ‘the rural team are experienced and provide concise and sensible advice’. In Norwich, practice head Chris Coupland and head of private client Jack Royall are skilled in advising on landlord and tenant matters, property transactions, partnership and succession planning issues. Cambridge-based land development specialist Jeremy Stanton is ‘a breath of fresh air, who constantly pushes things forward’. Rachel McKillop-Wilkin, also in Cambridge, is recommended for freehold and leasehold agricultural property issues. James Dinwiddy in Ipswich and Sophia Key in Norwich both have particular expertise advising on related high-value property transactions. Ipswich-based senior associate and agricultural property specialist Tom Verrill is noted for his ‘commitment, client care, attention-to-detail and sound advice’.

HCR Hewitsons in Cambridge exhibits ‘fantastic experience and knowledge of the local area’, and the practitioners in the team ‘give clients the confidence that they are being listened to and understood, and that they are in the best possible hands’. Head of agriculture and rural affairs Denise Wilkinson and private client partner Elizabeth Davies are the most prominent practitioners in the large practice. The ‘outstanding’ James Frankland and ‘very bright, extremely personable’ legal director Emily Pumfrey are recommended for property-related matters. Simon Biggin, who frequently works with the NFU, advised Broadland Agricultural Water Abstractors Group on the Environment Agency’s Restoring Sustainable Abstraction programme.

Mills & Reeve LLP is known for its ‘strength in depth, and breadth of knowledge and experience‘ in agricultural matters. Michael Aubrey who works in Cambridge and London, is head of the firm-wide food and agribusiness sector group, and he recently advised The Oxford Fund on the £60m acquisition of the Exning Estate in Newmarket. Catherine Scott, who joined from Howes Percival LLP in January 2023, now leads the Norwich agribusiness team and brings notable experience in advising landed estates. Amanda Tagg in Cambridge is highly recommended for her knowledge of agriculture property matters. Senior associate Louisa Butcher and principal associate Nicola Dernie in Norwich recently assisted with the sale of part of an estate comprising approximately 1,244 acres of farmland, woodland, and residential and agricultural buildings.

Mishcon de Reya LLP‘s Cambridge-based team has an noteworthy client roster which includes landed estates, private banks and landowners, both regionally and nationwide. ‘Pragmatic, professional’ head of the team Rupert Melville-Ross who specialises in farms and estates, and key partner Andrew Williamson who is noted as being ‘a true professional’, both recently acted for a US institution on the purchase of the 4,179-acre Coldham estate near Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, and the 4,206-acre Goole estate in East Yorkshire. ‘Friendly, intelligent and personable’ managing associate Louise Moore deals with a diverse range of properties, including large estates, cottages and grazing land, and has extensive experience with complex land ownership including trust land. Real estate partner Helen Mutucumarana departed to HCR Hewitsons in February 2023.

Roythornes Solicitors has a large agriculture practice across its Spalding office and its Huntingdon office, which is increasingly becoming a more significant hub of activity. Practice head Tim Russ who has ‘an encyclopaedic knowledge of agricultural law and works at pace with great efficiency and pragmatism‘, spends more time in the Alconbury office, alongside Claire Hindmarsh who is an authority on rural property matters. Agricultural property partner Matthew Hesketh joined the practice in September 2022 from Mills & Reeve LLP. As well as property matters, the firm is also highly regarded for commercial, tax and succession planning advice. They are noted as being able to ‘speak from experience on most matters’.

Greene & Greene in Bury St Edmunds provides a ‘personal and bespoke service' on work including farm sales and purchases, Settled Land Act matters, agricultural tenancies, succession planning and taxation. Practice head Jonathan Mathers, who is ‘logical, methodical, calm and experienced', acts for individuals and families, farming partnerships and companies, trusts, investors and charities in agricultural and rural property matters. Property specialist Hugo Greer-Walker continues to advise Viscountess Marcia Blakenham on a complex series of development sales. He is also assisting the Stennett family with numerous matters, including lettings at their business park, substantial agricultural acquisitions, and a large glass house project at Ingham.

The agriculture and estates practice at Howes Percival LLP is regarded as being ‘totally supportive, knowledgeable and approachable‘. The firm is adept in farm and rural property transactions, financing transactions, agricultural holdings and tenancies and business structuring. Norwich-based practice head and Fellow of the Agricultural Law Association Katharine Danks is described as giving advice which is ‘clear, concise and timely’. Private client partner Stuart Maggs is ‘always available, strategic and has exceptional specialist knowledge’ of tax and succession planning. Catherine Scott departed to Mills & Reeve LLP in January 2023.

Tees Law‘s Cambridge-based team is noted as giving ‘well thought through advice and support’. Senior associate Alex Waples who handles property matters, and senior partner Catherine Mowat, who focuses on the administration of complex rural estates and succession planning, lead the Cambridge agriculture and estates practice. Key partner James Dowson handles agricultural property transactions, including high-value sales and purchases of land, and strategic land deals.

Fraser Dawbarns have a growing workload which includes advising farmers on property transactions for farmers, as well as advising clients on diversification projects including wind, solar and battery. Lead partner Daniel Ball, who specialises in agriculture and estates work, handles property matters and renewable energy projects, a recent examples being the £1.5m sale of seven acres of land, with planning permission for a protein synthesising plant. The firm also handled the s106 work to procure planning permission for client Naylor Farms.

Hunt & Coombs LLP's practice handles property, corporate and private client matters relating to the agricultural sector, and is noted as providing ‘prompt clear and excellent advice'. Peterborough-based April 2022-promoted partner Olivia Chalmers leads the practice. Former lead partner Anna Spriggs moved to Howes Percival LLP's Northampton office in April 2023. Associate James Steward handles real estate matters and is based in Oundle, whilst senior partner Paddy Appleton advises rural clients on wills, trusts and probate matters. Private client partner Sallyann Short in Huntingdon frequently assists agricultural family estates.

The agriculture practice at Spire Solicitors LLP handles probate and estate planning, contentious matters including succession claims, corporate and commercial matters relating to partnerships and contracts, as well as agricultural land sales and tenancies. Attleborough-based Carl Heywood leads the practice and has extensive experience in both private client and property-related matters. He frequently advises on multimillion-pound farm sales, and counts several local businesses, farming families and large food providers among his clients.