Acting for large landed estates, country houses, and farms in the countryside, Boodle Hatfield LLP‘s multidisciplinary practice remains at the forefront of property sales and purchases. The group is also highly active in diversification, devolution, and development instructions, supporting clients with strategic matters surrounding their estate. Practice head Hayden Bailey is ‘always able to give a pragmatic answer for a client’ on matters relating to entrepreneurial businesses, particularly with involvement in farming, vineyards, and renewable energy operations. Leading alongside him, agriculture expert Saskia Arthur has a far-reaching practice that encompasses farming operations, telecoms, and transactions. Kit Mordaunt adds strength on agricultural tenancies and financing, while Alice Julian and Henry Tester handle tax, trust, and estate planning mandates.

With a diverse agriculture and estates offering, Burges Salmon LLP is well-equipped to advise on the full gamut of contentious and non-contentious instructions, with capabilities extending to rural real estate transactions, tax and succession planning, and expert agricultural dispute resolution. Department head Tom Hewitt is a seasoned adviser to landowners, families, and trustees on succession planning, capital taxes, and wills. Kevin Kennedy expertly handles agricultural disputes, while Emma Folkes is a highly capable advisor on rural land transactions. Jim Aveline adds tax capabilities to the group’s offering. Also in the team is Ross Simpson, with a demonstrable track record of disposals and acquisitions of significant landholdings, and Tim Williams, a go-to for estate planning.

Farrer & Co regularly receives instructions from land-owning institutions, large estates, and individual landowners, including major institutional and private clients, across a comprehensive offering spanning leasing, sales, succession planning, and the exploitation of sporting and mineral interests. Team head Paul Krafft is a go-to practitioner for private and institutional clients on agricultural and rural mandates, while Edmund Fetherston-Dilke boasts experience extending to agricultural and business tenancies, rights of way, and planning work. James Maxwell chiefly acts on the sale and purchase of rural and agricultural land, and Simon Pring advises on the full arena of property law. Acting primarily for private and institutional landowners, Patrick Hammond is a name of note for rural property holdings, while Tom Kirkman predominantly focuses on agricultural matters.

Forsters LLP‘s wide-ranging practice encompasses strategic and transactional work on high-value rural and agricultural property, and the lawyers exhibit proficiency in green energy and natural recovery projects. Henry Cecil oversees the department and chiefly focuses on the sale and purchase of high-value estates, farms, and country houses, while Andrew Lane lends his capital tax and succession expertise to individuals, families, and trusts. Other key practitioners include seasoned advisor Rupert Mead, who adds additional capital tax and succession advice capabilities to the team, and Polly Montoneri, a go-to for landowners on development work, including option and promotion agreements. The group benefits from the support of Charles Hancock on the effective transfer of family businesses to successive generations.

Receiving instructions from a diverse estate client base, the team at Withers LLP is recognised for its work on the full gamut of rural and landed estate mandates, with an uptick in instructions on the purchase of land for acquiring natural capital and rewilding, as well as guidance on forestry investment and BNG opportunities. Bertie Hoskyns-Abrahall and Matthew Woods jointly sit at the helm of the department. Management and succession support constitute a cornerstone of the former’s practice, while the latter regularly advises clients on retaining family assets and businesses. Edward Jarron offers a multi-faceted service, allowing him to support on development sites, the buying and selling of country houses, and renewable projects. David Holland comfortably handles the acquisition and disposal of rural property, and Tamsin Collingridge and Michaela Belham also come recommended.

Supporting high-net-worth and land-owning families and their businesses with a wide range of mattes, Charles Russell Speechlys LLP’s London-based team offers key services, including estate strategy, specialist tax and trust advice, and support with the implementation of plans for intergenerational succession. Practice head Bart Peerless is a key point of reference for succession and estate planning for both domestic and international clients. He is ably supported by Robert Blower, who is particularly active in lifetime tax and estate planning. William Begley has established experience in tax and estate planning issues. Elsewhere in the team, Charles Hutton is rated for inheritance tax planning, and Sarah Wray is noted for her work on landed estate matters.

Michelmores LLP is well-equipped to receive both contentious and non-contentious instructions from a diverse client roster. The team also has the ability to support the agricultural sector, where natural capital and biodiversity net gain work has come to the fore. Team head Ben Sharples comfortably handles disputes regarding the use and ownership of rural land, and leading alongside him, Bristol-based Vivienne Williams specialises in contentious agricultural mandates, while Adam Corbin is a barrister working on a multitude of matters relating to the agricultural and rural sector. Christian Massey and Tom Hyde handle high-value property transactions.

With a client roster encompassing farming businesses, landed estates, and pension funds, the Mills & Reeve LLP team advises on a range of mandates, and a standout feature of the team is its agribusiness services. Department head Paddy Lynam routinely advises institutional and high-net-worth landowners on structuring acquisitions and disposals. The team receives valuable support from Daniel Appleyard, who has experience surrounding renewables development projects and the refinancing of property portfolios, and Lizzie Egan, who particularly focuses on general property management, tenancies, and sporting rights within rural real estate. Michael Aubrey is a seasoned advisor to farming companies, institutions, and estates on issues emerging within the sector.

The versatile practitioners at Payne Hicks Beach LLP exhibit a varying workload of succession planning, tax support, administration of trusts, and diversification schemes. Following his promotion to the partnership, Rupert Burchett oversees the team and offers services across the entire scope of transactions and management of farms, estates, and country houses. Acting for trustees and owners, Robert Brodrick assists with tax and estate planning, and Rosamond McDowell has developed a broad contentious and non-contentious private client practice. Simon Blackburn departed from the team in January 2025.

Keystone Law continues to receive a diverse stream of instructions spanning farm partnership disputes and the creation of credits for the BNG market, to leasing work and vacant possession of estate housing. The ‘exceptional’ Samantha Leigh expertly handles non-contentious work, including refinancing and grazing licences. Sarah Thompson chiefly acts on the settlement of financial disputes between divorcing and unmarried couples, while Ben Garbett is a seasoned planning lawyer who advises on agricultural developments and diversification projects. Jamie Horner is a go-to for landowners and estates on the management of events. Antonia Shield joined from Clifford Chance LLP in 2025.

Acting alongside the firm’s real estate, employment, disputes, and wider private offering, Mishcon de Reya LLP receives instructions on farm transactions, agricultural holdings tenancy work, and landed estate employment matters, as well as succession and tax planning. Practice head Rupert Melville-Ross routinely receives property transactional work from private individuals and family businesses, and Andrew Williamson is a key contact for landowners on farming partnership agreements and agricultural land sales. Idina Glyn's caseload spans trust law, tax, and succession planning mandates.

Drawing on its national platform, Moore Barlow offers a full-service rural business and wealth practice, and is also well-equipped to advise landed estates on a range of matters to support clients’ rural asset management strategies. Sarah Jordan leads the team and has a demonstrable track record in rural asset management, agricultural tenancies, and land registry issues. Edward Whittington carries out professional trustee roles for high-net-worth families, while Charlotte Brackley chiefly focuses on rural property transactional work for landowning clients.

Russell-Cooke LLP's offering has a notable emphasis on biodiversity net gain and natural capital trading schemes, which is well-coordinated with the group’s continued activity on diversification, property work, state planning, and rural employment matters. Department head Anita Symington is a seasoned advisor on agricultural property law and agribusiness work, in particular regarding sales, purchases, renewables, and diversification. With a similarly focused practice, Paul Reed handles diversification, including golf courses, fisheries, and solar park leases. Also in the team, Will Bond adds crucial real estate capabilities.