Agricultural
Law & Rural
Business
Advice

Agricultural law is an ever-changing landscape that has unique needs and demands. It requires hands-on, pragmatic, and commercially-focused advice to ensure your needs are met every step of the way.

Informed & Practical

Agricultural Law advice

Rural businesses have a variety of legal requirements. Not only will you need support with commercial transactions and disputes, but there are also wealth management and family matters to consider. It’s therefore essential to obtain guidance from specialist agricultural law solicitors, who will be able to facilitate a resolution that matches your exact specifications.

Whatever you’re looking to achieve, our agricultural lawyers are proficient in all areas of rural affairs. Based in the West Midlands but supporting rural businesses nationwide, the team takes care of everything from trusts and estate planning, to commercial property and dispute resolution. Committed to providing the very best legal advice — we pride ourselves on our in-depth knowledge of both the industry, and how we satisfy the needs of our clients.

Our Agricultural

Legal Services

Thursfields’ team of agricultural law solicitors offer legal advice designed to cover everything that’s important to rural business owners and their families. Our range of services include:

Land and Property Agricultural Disputes Family and Estate Planning Succession, Tax Planning and Estate Administration Rural Business Support

Land and Property

Our agricultural lawyers advise on all types of agreements — such as freehold, leasehold, tenancy, and any licences that might be required in relation to:-

Buying and Selling Land including Strategic Development Land
Buying and Selling Farms (trading businesses or family homes)
Land Management and Agricultural Occupation Advice (Farm Business Tenancies, occupation under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 and share farming agreements)

The process of buying and selling rural property often comes with additional matters that need to be taken into consideration, such as rights of way and easements, tenancies, livestock/horses, plant and machinery, shooting/sporting rights. We cover every step of the rural conveyancing process, from advising on points to raise when conducting negotiations, to the drawing up of queries and completing the transaction.

We work closely with agricultural land agents to ensure that we understand the specific issues that affect and influence the agricultural sector. This ensures we give you advice tailored to your specific needs.

Learn More about rural property solutions

Agricultural Disputes

A disagreement can arise for any number of reasons. When it comes to farming businesses and agricultural property, this can include:

The state of machinery or equipment
Landlord and tenant issues
Boundaries and other neighbour disputes
Covenants, easements and rights of way
Breach of contract
Professional negligence claims
Contentious probate

With so many variables, it’s important to seek legal advice that is not only focused on achieving your objectives, but also has a keen understanding of the intricacies of your industry.

Our dispute resolution team can handle any type of case, from commercial contracts and transactions to civil matters like trespass or property disputes. The team also benefits from in-depth knowledge of the agricultural sector and will work alongside you to deliver your desired results. We are built around you.

Family and Estate Planning

Rural land and property are not just used for business purposes. They are family homes and estates as much as they are commercial premises. Agricultural estates will have unique circumstances to consider, including the fact that ownership is usually complex, and that farms will most likely be an on-going family concern requiring careful management and succession planning.

Whether you are planning to marry or are contemplating to divorce, would like to set up a succession plan for your business, or ensure that future generations are taken care of, our agricultural specialist solicitors are here to help. We will address all aspects of family law and private client matters which require careful consideration — such as prenuptial arrangements, cohabitation agreements, divorce, and division of assets upon any separation or divorce. Our team can also assist in resolving disputes surrounding how a loved one’s estate has been distributed after their death. Our team are here to guide you every step of the way.

Learn More about farming Divorce

Succession, Tax Planning and Estate Administration

For many families, farming is considered a way of life rather than just a career. Rural businesses are usually passed down through generations, making succession planning incredibly important. It’s essential to have robust procedures in place so that a successor can step in whenever needed, while also reducing tax liabilities — something that could save your business a lot of money. It is sensible to have a trusted advisor involved from an early stage.

Whatever your succession planning goals may be, the Thursfields team is perfectly placed to assist. We help with everything from the creation of wills, powers of attorney, and trusts, to tenancy/property arrangements, partnership agreements, and preparing for inheritance and capital gains tax. We also specialise in post death estate administration, including complex claims for agricultural and business property relief. Securing the future of your business is extremely important to us, which is why we will do everything we can to keep you protected.

Rural Business Support

Agricultural businesses are often the lifeblood of rural communities, so it’s essential they receive the highest quality legal advice. As well as the standard employment matters such as human resource management, farming partnerships, company formation and structure, there are also a host of additional issues unique to the sector. Standard corporate and commercial advice is not sufficient, so your matters will need to be handled by a team who understands your industry.

Our commercial team can help you navigate the supply agreements for your produce as well as the other commercial relationship documents you enter into as a business. Selling your business or expanding it through acquisition can involve significant legal obligations and information analysis which our specialist corporate team can guide you through.

No matter the advice your business needs, our agricultural solicitors are here to help. We have handled all manner of matters, such as equine law, diversification projects (such as holiday lets and retail premises), and renewable energy schemes. This is backed by our employment team, with experience of regular issues that arise from running a rural business.

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Get In Touch

Need some advice? Contact our team and we’ll direct you to the best people to help with your requirements.

Download our Agriculture Brochure

Agricultural Law

Looking to understand more about our Agricultural Law Services. Download our brochure today and find out how our experts at Thursfields can help you.

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Tailored Rural Business Advice

Agricultural businesses are anything but the standard 9 to 5. Each one will have a specific set of circumstances and requirements that mean only a bespoke approach to legal advice will be good enough. An in-depth understanding of the unique challenges facing rural industries is also necessary to provide a swift resolution that delivers your desired results.

The agricultural lawyers at Thursfields have extensive experience in assisting all types of businesses, from small family farms to national corporations. As a full service law firm, Thursfields advises farmers, estates, and landowners on all relevant laws, to protect their businesses, their homes, family, and their wealth. No matter your goals, we’re committed to helping you realise the potential of your rural business and look after what’s most important to you.

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Tailored Rural Business Advice

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Meet Our

Agricultural Solicitors

Our agricultural lawyers provide guidance on a range of legal matters. Contact us today for more information.

Key Contact

Jon Clifford

Director, Agricultural & Rural Affairs

A seasoned litigator, Jon regularly acts on behalf of farmers, landowners, and rural businesses. His in-depth understanding of his clients’ unique requirements, coupled with a practical approach to dispute resolution, means he is often able to settle matters without the need to go to court.

He also represents farmers and landowners in a wide variety of disputed issues such as Agricultural Holdings Act and Farm Business Tenancies, proprietary estoppel claims, possessory title, boundaries, easements and covenants, disputes over farming partnerships and other contractual matters.

Jon is a member of the Property Litigation Association, a Fellow of Agricultural Law Association and vice Chairman of the Worcester Branch of the Country Landowners Association.

Jon Clifford

Director, Agricultural & Rural Affairs

Jon is a member of the Property Litigation Association, a Fellow of Agricultural Law Association and vice Chairman of the Worcester Branch of the Country Landowners Association.

OUR TEAM

Tony Gibb

Director, Commercial Real Estate

Emma Hughes

Associate Director, Commercial Real Estate

Shane Miller

Director and Head of Family Law Department

Lara Wilkinson TEP

Senior Associate, Wealth Planning

Cerith Rees

Associate Director, Estate Administration

Hannah Clark

Associate Director, Corporate and Commercial

Philip Chapman

Director, Corporate

Louise Jones

Director, Residential Conveyancing

A Full Service

Agricultural Law Firm

Agricultural law matters can vary widely, covering a broad spectrum of legal disciplines. That’s why we offer targeted support on everything from family law to corporate and commercial. Our related departments include: