Rural & Agricultural Matters

We can help you regarding what we would term as rural disputes, from those arising from boundaries, disputes over services and rights to matters relating to animals be this a dog, sheep, horse or cow.

We are members of the Agricultural Law Association and we have many years experience in dealing with agricultural land matters, and agricultural tenancies (both Agricultural Holdings Act Tenancies and Farm Business Tenancies).

We understand that buying farm land is to you no different to buying other commercial premises, they are both work places and appropriate enquiries and consideration needs to be given to ensure that what you buy can work for you.

We can advise regarding Option Agreements, Pre-Emption Agreements and Overage (clawback) Agreements relating to the sale of land for development, we have considerable experience in assisting our clients in these matters to ensure that they obtain the best possible value from their land.

This is a very niche area but we have significant experience in dealing with rights arising out of common land and rights over common land for example grazing rights, shooting, fishing etc. We understand about buying and selling common rights and shooting and fishing (profits a prendre).

We can quite properly say that we have acted for three or more generations of several farming families ensuring that structures are in place to allow succession of tenancies and businesses from one generation to the next. We can facilitate the transition required from getting to know the individuals involved. We are not distant lawyers sitting in some ivory tower, we get our wellies on and can come to your farm and will listen to what you want over a cup of tea and work out how to take things forward for you in the best way possible.

Owning or being involved in land comes with rights and responsibilities. Sometimes these have already been imposed and rights of way and other easements and wayleaves exist. We can advise upon these to make sure that you know where you stand and what can be done, to either avoid problems or to deal with problems in a sensible way.

We can also assist in putting in place rights of way, easements for services etc to make sure that what you require and what you obtain or give properly reflects your wishes.

Land owners need to ensure that if they are contemplating allowing an electricity company or other party to erect to wind turbines or solar panels that they have proper advice to ensure that documentation reflects what they agree and they receive the full benefits available. We have valuable experience in dealing with wind farms and solar farms to provide clear straight forward assistance to our clients.