Ashtons Legal fields a comprehensive agriculture and estates team that makes a distinct division between transactional and succession work, reflecting the continued increase in mandates received on both sides. The duo of Simon Cunningham and Rebecca Gatens coordinate transactional matters; natural capital projects, renewables, and other energy projects are strengths for Cunningham, while Gatens has specialist knowledge of development and overage projects for farmers and landowners. Jeanette Dennis heads the wider agriculture and estates team, as well as the succession sub-group. Her recent caseload has included a variety of tenancy reorganisations, and farm partnership matters. Ayesha Brown  plays a key role in the successions team, and Fenella Eddell has strength in succession and public access for farming families. Karen Bacon, Abbie Wiseman and Oliver Jones are among the other names to note.

Norwich-based expert in agriculture property law Chris Coupland heads the nationwide agriculture and estates practice at Birketts LLP. The ‘extensive team of knowledgeable agricultural and property experts’ covers the gamut of matters in the field and is frequently sought after by private families, banks, utility companies, charities, the Environment Agency and local authority clients across the country. Jack Royall heads the broader private client division at the firm from its Norwich office, while in Ipswich, James Dinwiddy specialises in agricultural property matters relating to freehold sales and purchases, and landlord and tenant issues. Tom Verrill and Jeremy Stanton are both notable contacts for landowner clients, and Sophia Key in the natural capital team acts for farmers, landowners and banks.

The client list of the substantial agriculture and estates team at HCR Hewitsons is populated by rural landowners, and owners of some of the largest farms and businesses in the country. The practice is equipped to cover the full range of work in this area, from high-value transactions and long-term strategic advice, to agricultural litigation and land disputes. At the helm of the practice, Emily Pumfrey  and Denise Wilkinson both come with acclaim for their ‘excellent quality of service’ and are both adept at acting on complex property and family issues in the rural sector. James Frankland has particular expertise in farm business tenancies, Agricultural Holdings Act tenancies and natural capital, while at a more junior level, Sam Mitchell supports the team on the full scope of matters.

Mills & Reeve LLP‘s agribusiness practice regularly acts for traditional farming clients, as well as several Cambridge and Oxford colleges, pension funds, landed estates, and a number of substantial national farming businesses. The firm’s offices in Cambridge and Norwich provide strong on-the-ground support for work in East Anglia and practitioners are well versed in matters across the country. Michael Aubrey in Cambridge and Catherine Scott in Norwich are joint leaders of the practice; Aubrey excels in advising institutional and corporate landowners, and farming families and businesses on structuring transactions, infrastructure and development projects, as well as large-scale renewable energy projects; while Scott has a strong reputation locally in representing farms and estates across the country. The ‘thorough and diligent’ Nicola Dernie and transactional expert Dawn Chapman are among the other key figures in a sizeable team.

The ‘assured and thorough’ team at Mishcon de Reya LLP is a robust choice for all matters concerning rural private estates, and its Cambridge office is a key location for the firm’s nationwide offering. Farm transactions, landed estate management, secured lending, and Agricultural Holdings Act tenancy work are among the strengths of the practice, which acts for a host of domestic and international clients. Rupert Melville-Ross is the leading figure in Cambridge and is one of the best-regarded, longstanding figures in the market. The ‘extremely diligent’ Andrew Williamson is also a key name, and both Louise Moore and Thomas Andrews provide regular support to partners.

Based in Bury-St-Edmunds, Greene & Greene fields an agricultural and rural affairs team that has ‘a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the agricultural sector’. From farm sales and purchases, Settled Land Act estates work, and succession planning, to advice on agricultural tenancy issues and taxation, the team can be regarded as a one-stop-shop for its client base of estate owners and investors. Practice head Jonathan Mathers is a well-known practitioner in East Anglia and acts for individuals, families, farming partnerships and companies, trusts, investors and charities. His team includes Wayne Perrin, James Southward, and Julia Cardy.

Landowners, family farming companies, trusts and partnerships make up the core client base of Howes Percival LLP‘s agriculture and estate department in Norwich. Under the leadership of Katharine Danks, the team frequently assists with agricultural holdings act matters, farm business tenancies, acquisitions and disposals, and secured lending on agricultural land and entitlements. Stuart Maggs has considerable experience dealing with landed estates, high-net-worth individuals and business owners, and at more junior levels, Katie Phillippo and Georgina Bullock come with client acclaim.

Roythornes Solicitors continues to support a range of clients in the East Midlands through a period of numerous legislation changes, and acts on property transactions, succession planning, farm business structures, and tax planning. The team is led by a trio of lawyers: rural property law expert Claire Hindmarsh; Julie Robinson, the agriculture team head; and natural resources lawyer Edd Johnson. Matthew Hesketh is a key contact for institutional and other landed estates, and both Darren Gill and Mary Sargent provide strong support. Julie Hoy joined from Birketts LLP in August 2024.

Practitioners at Tees Law‘s Cambridge office work closely with those in the firm’s stellar agriculture and estates offering in Royston to form a practice group that handles nationwide matters of estate administration, succession planning, and agriculture sector transactions, among other areas. Catherine Mowat is an experienced name for the management of rural estates. She co-leads the team with ‘outstanding communicator’ Alexander Waples, accomplished counsel to individual farmers, farming partnerships and corporate entities; and James Dowson, who is well versed in land deals.

The ‘consistently excellent advice’ of Andrew Nicholson and Miles Coates is a draw for clients of Barker Gotelee in Ipswich. Nicholson heads its agriculture and estates practice, which acts for large farming companies and estates, and he has particular expertise in dealing with partitions of partnership assets. The team was bolstered in August 2024 with the addition of Catherine Abbott from Ellisons.

Fraser Dawbarns is a reliable choice of counsel for farmers across Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, its practice well versed in sale and purchase work, tenancy matters, and licensing. Daniel Ball heads the team and is a specialist in agricultural law, while also offering renewable energy project experience. Jenny Ball assists with agricultural property transactions, particularly for landowners in renewable energy projects; and commercial litigator Joshua Shuardson-Hipkin also has experience in the agriculture sector.

Based in Attleborough, Spire Solicitors LLP, Carl Heywood is the name to note for agriculture law and estates work, for which the practice is instructed by a variety of landowners. Work commonly includes estate planning, tenancy succession claims and disputes, and issues arising from complex partnerships and contracts.