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Agricultural Solicitors & Agricultural Law Experts

 

If you are involved in farming or operate in agribusiness and need expert legal advice or representation for a personal or business matter, then talk to the Agricultural Solicitors at Lanyon Bowdler. We are here to help!

Our Agricultural Solicitors are nationally recognised and widely acclaimed across our region. You can count on them to provide commercial acumen, compassion, technical ability, and legal expertise when you need it most.

As specialist Agricultural Solicitors in Shropshire, Herefordshire, and North Wales, servicing the Marches, and Mid-Wales, our Agricultural Lawyers passionately support the farming sector, as well as the people and families that make it work. We appreciate a farm is a commercial operation, but also, often a family asset and often a home environment.

Drawing on our many years of experience and full appreciation of local issues, our Agricultural Solicitors are certain to have the solutions you need to overcome any challenges faced or to help you develop and explore opportunities that arise.

Our friendly team has in-depth experience across all aspects of rural estate management, agricultural land issues, and commercial law matters in farming, as well as a deep appreciation of the nuances surrounding matters of family law, succession planning, and estate administration for farming families.

You can trust Lanyon Bowdler to help when you need the best support. Our Agricultural Solicitors are NFU panel members for Shropshire, Herefordshire and Staffordshire.

We are recognised and selected by the National Farmers Union, for our knowledge and expertise. As NFU panel members, our agri-law team provides the highest levels of legal advice and representation to the farming community.

Few Agricultural Solicitors in Wales or across the West Midlands offer a comparable level of industry knowledge and local insight found at Lanyon Bowdler. Although our Agricultural Law Solicitors are based throughout our offices in Shrewsbury, Hereford, Telford, Oswestry, Ludlow, Bromyard, and Conwy, the size and strength of our Agricultural Solicitors team allow us to service clients nationally.

NFU Recommended Agricultural Solicitors

We are proud to be one of the NFU’s recommended agricultural law firms, providing specialist legal advice for farmers and the agricultural industry in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Staffordshire.

As members of the NFU’s panel of specialist agricultural law firms, we have passed the NFU’s thorough examination of our services and expertise before being invited onto their national network of recommended solicitors. Whether a member of the NFU or not, you can be assured of a friendly, approachable service to help you avoid the many legal pitfalls in farming and food production.

NFU members take advantage of a 12.5% discount on legal fees relating to their business (subject to terms), contact us by phone today or complete our enquiry form on the right-hand side of this page.

The NFU offer their members a Legal Health Check and Contract Checking Service where financial assistance can be obtained; click on the links to find out more.

Agricultural Legal Services

We offer a full range of legal services for the agriculture industry including all aspects of agriculture and food law, employment law, family law, tax planning, and property sale or acquisition.

Working in agriculture and food production is an increasingly tough business, with an ever-growing amount of legislation and regulations to deal with. Partner Brian Evans leads the Agricultural Solicitors at Lanyon Bowdler and comes from a farming background himself (both his grandfathers were smallholders and his father was a farmworker for almost all his working life) so he is passionate and knowledgeable about the industry.

Many of the specialist Agricultural Solicitors here at Lanyon Bowdler also have close links with the farming community, so understand the pressures and complexity of the issues you have to deal with.

We understand the uncertainty, and potential opportunity, that leaving the European Union brings. The next seven years will see significant changes to farming subsidies, as the Agriculture Act 2020 sees a move from the CAP regulations to a new system of environmental land management contracts. Our agriculture team can help support you as the planned changes come into force, advising you on accessing funding under the new system and assisting you in exploiting new potential commercial opportunities. As members of the NFU Agricultural Solicitors panel, you can rely on us to keep up to date with all the latest changes in Agricultural Law.

The Agriculture Act 2020 is one of the most significant pieces of legislation for farmers in England & Wales for over 70 years and sees the introduction of a whole new agricultural policy regime for farmers and landowners. In a period of such significant change, you need the advice and support of specialist Agricultural Solicitors. At Lanyon Bowdler, we are able to offer a varied range of agricultural legal services to help support you through this transitional period and beyond.

We act for individual farmers, rural landowners, and agri-food businesses and take great pride in providing expert legal advice on all areas of agri-law. We have experience in dealing with numerous agricultural services, not to mention helping you navigate through any changes triggered by Brexit.

Agricultural Disputes

Agricultural disputes can arise for a large number of reasons. These disputes tend to vary from machinery or instrumentation that fails to meet the required standards, personal matters concerning the likes of divorce or will disputes, issues arising as a result of professional recommendations that you may have taken, which later transpires to come short of the expected standard, or contract disputes regarding the sale or purchase of an area of land, property or perhaps, one that governs employment.

The 2023 edition of The Legal 500 comments on the strengths of our disupte resolution team in the agriculture sector.

Agricultural Partnerships

Our Agricultural Solicitors also specialise in the drafting of farm partnerships and business structures so as to ensure the business is being addressed within the most effective manner, by recording the intention of all the parties. Our Lawyers will be on hand to advise you and to make sure the arrangement is also tax economical for the business.

Commercial Law in Agriculture

Our team comprises a diverse skill-set including expertise in commercial law issues surrounding farm and agricultural businesses. Our lawyers have a firm understanding of the commercial and business challenges, opportunities, and disputes that affect agricultural businesses, farms, and rural commerce. Our friendly team takes time to understand your business and also the specific problems that face both businesses and families within the farming community.

The corporate & commercial team are recognised for their work in the agriculture sector by The Legal 500 in their 2023 edition. 

Agriculture Employment Solicitors

Employment law can be an issue in any sector and the agriculture sector is no different. Our team handles a large range of problems from both an employer and from an employee perspective, including sector specific issues such as in relation to the on-going agricultural wages regime in Wales and the legacy regime in England, contracts for seasonal workers, and the application of TUPE when the operation and/or ownership of agricultural land changes hands.

The 2023 edition of The Legal 500 states: head of department John Merry has a strong reputation for his work with farmers and growers.

Buying and Selling Agricultural Land

Experienced in the buying, selling, and secured lending of agricultural land, our Agricultural Lawyers are on hand to advise on the aforementioned and also any ancillary matters that come with an agricultural transaction. We are able to advise you on issues that you may need to consider before the negotiation, so that you may discuss these with your land agent in order to achieve the most advantageous deal for you.

Family Law For Farmers

Many family law issues need to be considered once farming is involved. In particular, when it involves any divorce of a person within a farming partnership. Productive farming partnerships and, indeed, family business owners may question how to keep it all “in the family”. Handling such cases involves a myriad of finely balanced judgements, and negotiating a prosperous outcome needs a clear-headed and commercial approach from your legal team. This can often be an area where experience counts, and that we have.

Personal Legal Services

A farming business can typically involve more than one family member – and so, several farms involve the entire family. We are here to advise businesses within the rural and agricultural sectors in reference to all aspects of running their business operations, above all on legal and regulatory issues encompassing farm management, agricultural business, and diversification. We also provide advice to landed estates and owners of agricultural businesses with regards to wealth management, succession planning, and any other agricultural concerns.

Our Agricultural Lawyers and their service pledge

We offer a bespoke and tailored service and pride ourselves on our specialist knowledge and expertise. Our services cover all aspects of farming and agricultural law, such as the sale and purchase of rural property and land, including equestrian properties and estates, whether by auction, private treaty, or tender. In addition, we have a team of Agri dispute resolution solicitors able to provide sound advice, together with a CEDR Accredited Mediator.

We can offer advice on secured lending on agricultural property, agricultural tenancies, and residential tenancy law, including agricultural occupancy conditions and certificates of lawfulness, as well as business property law including the interaction of subsidy regimes and grant funding with property transactions.

We can deal with all land development and planning issues, such as clawback arrangements, pre-emptions, and Section 106 agreements.

Access to land is an important aspect of rural management, and we can advise on rights of way and other potential planning restrictions such as covenants and easements affecting land, as well as commons and village greens.

If you employ staff, we can help you with any employment law issues.

Then there is the commercial aspect of farming - contracts with the food industry, telecommunication sites, utility company wayleaves, and renewable energy schemes, such as solar farms, wind turbines, and anaerobic digesters.

We appreciate that sometimes change is needed, and we have experience in the restructuring of farm businesses, including partnerships, limited companies, joint ventures, contracting arrangements, and share farming.

Finally, don’t forget to plan for the next generation by having your Wills, trusts, and administration of estates in hand. We can also offer succession planning and inheritance tax advice and can deal with Lasting Powers of Attorney arrangements.

Podcasts

In this episode, you'll hear the Agricultural Team discussing the legal aspects relating to agricultural property. They illustrate various legal issues and relate them to Pop Larkin and The Darling Buds of May.

Here is another informative episode explaining what should be covered in a partnership agreement, what happens if the partnership suddenly ends, how to handle partners with a lesser interest in the business, and how to deal with new members of the partnership.

Legal 500 and Chambers UK Recommendations

The Chambers UK Guide 2023 rank the department in Band 2 for both Wales and the West Midlands, saying the following 'Highly regarded team with offices across Shropshire, Herefordshire and North Wales. It boasts expertise in all legal matters that relate to property, planning, family, commercial and disputes encountered by landed estate, agricultural and horticultural clients. It services farmers and country landowners across the region.' 

Strengths noted in the 2023 guide are “The firm is strong on prioritising client satisfaction and takes client feedback seriously.” “They are extremely prompt and professional.” “They’re a power firm in the farming world.” (Wales)

A source from a previous edition says: "I always find it easy to work with these people. The team is extremely friendly, and this puts clients and other advisers at ease in the meetings. You also have confidence in the advice, so they are a pleasure to work with."

The 2023 edition of The Legal 500 recognises us as a Top Tier firm in the West Midlands, Wales are shown in a separate category and are still achieving Band 3 status. The directory states, 'Although it had previously serviced some notable North Wales landowners from its Shrewsbury and Oswestry offices, the arrival of the ‘well-respected‘ Welsh language speaking Edward Nutting in 2018 to the firm’s nascent Conwy office was the catalyst for Lanyon Bowdler to gain much more traction in the local market. Nutting is particularly well-versed in advising on the unique property law demands of clients in the sector, including advice on option and overage agreements. The team also garners praise for its property litigation expertise frequently advising on matters such as disputes relating to renewable energy projects and professional negligence cases involving farmers as claimants.'

What is an Agricultural Solicitor?

Agricultural Lawyers are an essential resource for those operating in the agricultural sector because they are able to provide expert legal advice and representation to farmers and those running agribusiness regarding any aspects of farming or the agricultural sector at large.

Due to the highly regulated nature of the agriculture industry, agricultural lawyers help ensure clients understand the relevant agriculture laws and make sure that they run their agribusiness or farm in an appropriate manner.

With significant changes set to affect the industry over the next seven years, it is critical that Agricultural Solicitors stay up-to-date on new regulations and legislation so that the advice they provide is accurate. As NFU panel members and an NFU recommended law firm, Lanyon Bowdler’s Agri-law team provides the highest levels of legal advice and representation to the farming community.

Whatever situation you face, our Agricultural Law Solicitors can offer the expertly tailored advice you need to help resolve the matter.

How can you make sure you choose a reliable Agricultural Solicitor?

As an NFU recommended law firm and as a member of the National Farmers Union’s Legal Panel for their members in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Staffordshire, you can trust the advice and representation offered by Lanyon Bowdler’s specialist Agricultural Solicitors is accurate and up-to-date.

With years of experience advising those operating farms and agribusinesses, our team of specialist agricultural lawyers are on hand to assist with any legal matters relating to the running of a farm or agricultural business, whether that relates to agricultural disputes, the buying or selling of farms or farmland, arranging inheritance and succession of farms or agribusinesses.

With the Agriculture Act 2020 scheduled to bring a raft of regulatory and legislative changes over the next seven years, the experience and expertise of Lanyon Bowdler’s team of Agricultural Solicitors has never been more relevant. We are able to offer you expertly tailored legal advice on all agricultural law matters, can offer insight into the forthcoming legislation and can support you in successfully navigating through one of the biggest periods of change to hit the sector in decades.

Lanyon Bowdler’s team of Agricultural Law Solicitors, many of whom have originated from farming backgrounds themselves, have been highlighted as one of the best Agricultural Law teams in the region, with the 2023 edition of Chambers UK ranking our department in Band 1.

If you have any questions or would like a better understanding of what an agricultural solicitor can do to help you, give one of our team of farming law experts a call or complete the online enquiry form and one of the team will promptly get back to you.

When might I need to contact an Agricultural Solicitor?

There are many circumstances in which you might want to seek the advice and expertise of an Agricultural Solicitor and at Lanyon Bowdler, our Agricultural Solicitors, many of whom are from a farming background themselves, have years of experience of offering legal advice and support to farmers and their families, both on personal and business matters.

As an NFU recommended agricultural law firm and as an NFU legal panel member, Lanyon Bowdler’s agricultural team are friendly, reliable, and most importantly, experts in their field.

Whether you are looking for advice on selling or developing farmland, need assistance with resolving a farming dispute or want support in creating and administering farming partnership agreements, Lanyon Bowdler have the experience and expertise to be able to assist you.

Whatever your reason for needing an agricultural solicitor, you can request a callback or complete an online enquiry form and one of Lanyon Bowdler’s agricultural team will be in touch to begin the process of helping resolve your issue.

Contact Lanyon Bowdler's Agricultural Solicitors

Please give our Agricultural Law Solicitors a call for a friendly, confidential, conversation about how we can help support you in whatever situation you face. Our team loves getting out of the office so we are more than happy to come to meet you at your farm or place of work. Contact the team by phone today or complete the enquiry form on the right-hand side of the page and someone will be in touch.

We regularly act for Farm owners and Agricultural businesses across Shropshire, Herefordshire, Mid and North Wales, Birmingham, and the Midlands. As a leading national law firm, we can represent you wherever you live in England or Wales.

Lanyon Bowdler has specialist Agricultural Solicitors in Shrewsbury, Telford, Oswestry, Ludlow, Bromyard, Hereford, and Conwy in North Wales.

Case Studies

Conveyancing Quote

Are you buying, selling, remortgaging or transferring equity? Let us give you a quote

06 Nov 2017

Continuity and Expertise

Lanyon Bowdler’s Ludlow office can trace its roots back


Our Team

Praveen Chaudhari

Partner - Head of Commercial & Agricultural and Residential Property Teams

Our Team

Steven Corfield

Principal Agricultural Consultant

Our Team

Brian Evans

Managing Partner

Our Team

Susan Grazier

Associate Solicitor

Our Team

Lisa Grimmett

Associate Solicitor

Our Team

Sue Hodgson

Partner - Head of Family Law Team

Our Team

Tania McGee

Associate Solicitor

Our Team

John Merry

Senior Partner - Head of Employment Team

Our Team

William Morse

Partner - Employment & Education

Our Team

Andrew Pegg

Partner - Head of Dispute Resolution Team

Our Team

Edward Rees

Partner - Head of Private Client Team

Our Team

Claire Vale

Associate Solicitor

Our Team

Gráinne Walters

Partner - Head of Corporate & Commercial Team


Client Testimonials

★★★★★

Very easy to contact and talk to.

- Mr N Chamberlain & Mrs Z Chamberlain, Oswestry

★★★★★

Politeness, clarity of information.

- Mr C Pudge, Worcester

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