Agriculture and rural business solicitors

Our team has a long heritage of working with farmers, rural landowners and farming businesses, providing expert support to maximise revenues and operate the business successfully.

Helping you meet the challenges to your business

Whether you are looking to buy or sell a farm, raise finance or simply plan ahead for the future, you want to work with a specialist who understands the specific challenges of the farming sector.

  • Raising finance

    Our agriculture and rural business team advice you on the best options for raising finance. We work with you to make the most of the opportunities to grow, while protecting your current income.

  • Planning for the future

    With the reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), your world is changing. You need a steady pair of hands to guide you through the legislation and help you plan ahead. We advise you on everything from Wills and trusts to partnerships and tax planning.

  • Sole traders and partnerships

    You need a legal structure in place that suits your farm and your business, not just for today but for the long-term too. We help you assess the options available and choose the right one for you.

  • Banks and secured lending

    If you are looking to borrow money to grow the business or diversify, any lender will want to assess the risks and understand your business. We have a well-established relationship with lenders, and do the groundwork to make sure any borrowing goes smoothly.

  • Buying or selling a farm

    A farm is a unique business. It cannot be bought or sold in the same way as a residential property. You may well have employer obligations to take into account, while also having to meet environmental impact assessments. We bring together a group of specialists with first-hand experience of all the issues, including property, employment, environmental and private tax, to help you buy or sell.

Whatever your requirements. Whatever your current situation. Our aim is to work with you to help you grow. While protecting your current income and securing the farm for future generations.

For any enquiries, please contact our team

0800 923 2073
Message us

Contact our team and we will try you get back to you in one working day.

Meet the team

Our specialist lawyers

Angus Williams RWK Goodman
Angus Williams
Partner | Head of Residential Property, Farms and Estate team | Agricultural team.
T: 01225 730 260 (DDI)
T: 01225 730 100
Email
Our services

Our services in agriculture and rural business.

Buying and selling of farms and estates
Whether you are buying a farm or looking to sell, you want to make sure that you have considered every aspect to avoid any nasty surprises in the future.
Family Partnerships
You may want to transfer control of your farm or estate over to a family member. A family partnership lets you share or transfer control slowly, so the new owner has time to learn the ropes.
legal insights

Insights from our team

Opinion  |  17:07:20
Bat boxes and boreholes – how a wildlife survey blocked a housing development
In a case keenly watched by the agricultural sector, a planned housing development on a farm in south Wales may not be able to proceed due to the developer being unable to undertake wildlife surveys. A ruling that has significant implications for both landowners and agricultural tenants.
Opinion  |  06:02:20
Promotion Agreements – 10 things for landowners to think about
Promoters have become an established part of the world of development. By entering into an agreement (known as a Promotion Agreement) with them landowners can use the skill, knowledge and funds of an experienced developer to obtain planning permission for their land, even if not currently earmarked for development.
Opinion  |  14:06:17
Firming up ‘handshake’ agreements – commercial lettings on farms and estates
It is common for landowners to agree to lease part of their property for non-agricultural purposes, most commonly for storage or lock ups. Often such agreements are simply “hand-shake” agreements made verbally or informally based on an established good relationship. A long commercial agreement will rarely be necessary in these circumstances but a straightforward lease can be useful to record the basics and avoid disputes.
Opinion  |  15:09:16
Why you should register your property with the Land Registry
Alice Newsome, solicitor in our Residential Property, Farms & Estates team discusses the benefits of registering your property with the Land Registry.
Opinion  |  01:07:15
Agri-news: Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) closes 10 July
While the application deadline of 15 June 2015 for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) has now passed, it is possible to submit late BPS applications and to make changes to BPS applications until midnight on 10 July 2015.
Opinion  |  20:03:15
Conservation covenants – what do they mean?
Further recommendations have been made this month for the introduction of a new statutory scheme for conservation covenants in England and Wales.
Opinion  |  05:03:15
Protecting your legacy: pre-nuptial agreement or Will?
A recent case where a farmer had not made a Will had enormous repercussions for his family trying to protect his legacy many years after his death. Sharon MacDonald discusses the importance of Wills and pre-nuptial agreements especially in the agricultural community.
Opinion  |  04:03:15
Protecting your legacy: farms and proprietary estoppel claims
Recent court cases have highlighted an increasing trend of disputes relating to rights to inherit farmland. Given the publicity that inheritance disputes receive in the media and given the increasing value of farmland, it would appear that these disputes will continue to affect farm owners for many years to come.
Opinion  |  20:08:14
CAP Reform update
A further update on the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) schemes in England has been published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), with a focus on greening and how it works in practice.

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