Agriculture & Rural Affairs: London

The team devoted to agriculture, estates and rural property work at Farrer is one of the biggest in London. The firm is widely regarded for its representation of institutional landowners as well as landed estates and high net worth individuals. Farrer is also well placed to help clients harness the potential of their holdings for commercial diversification, mineral extraction and renewable energy production. Commentators say they are "unfailingly effective – you know they will always deliver."

Client Service "Ideal for high net worth individuals looking for a fully comprehensive service."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Senior partner James Furber specialises in rural property conveyancing for large landowners and institutions. Simon Pring advises on property matters, farming subsidies and mineral rights. Edmund Fetherston-Dilke is celebrated for his "superlative estate management advice." Henry Goulding counsels clients, many of whom run large estates, on all facets of property law. He takes a strong interest in the siting of wind farms. Paul Krafft also helps private and institutional clients manage their land holdings, and frequently advises on telecommunications issues. James Maxwell has a varied rural property practice which includes common land and mineral rights issues.

This firm's advice on tax and trust planning for landed estates and high net worth individuals is much sought after. Its rural conveyancing and property offering is equally well regarded, and the firm has recently received numerous instructions from landowners seeking to diversify their lands from traditional farming to commercial activities. Clients include the Bedford Estate and Grosvenor Estates.

Client Service "They are very pleasant and friendly as well as being timely and efficient."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Sue Laing acts for a number of large landed estates, including Grosvenor Estates. She is also recognised as one of the foremost tax and trusts lawyers in southern England. Fiona Graham also does much tax and trusts work for landed estates, and is credited for her "sound and imaginative advice." Natasha Hassall is lead partner for Bedford Estates and is well liked by sources for her "friendliness and technical ability." Saskia Arthur's property and conveyancing practice sees her regularly advising UK and non-domiciliary clients on the purchase of estates. She is also sought after for landlord and tenant issues.

Forsters' agriculture and landed estates group continues to consolidate its standing in the market. The lawyers' expertise in forging partnership structures to reduce clients' inheritance tax exposure is particularly appreciated. The firm has a loyal following of domestic, overseas and non-domiciled clients seeking to take advantage of its rural property conveyancing service.

Client Service "Excellent resources and superlative levels of service."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Andrew Lane is praised for his "curious, imaginative approach to solving tricky problems" relating to tax and succession planning. Penelope Elliott is appreciated for her understanding of the complexities inherent to large rural businesses and heritage properties. Catherine Hill is increasingly renowned for helping to restructure agricultural and hereditary estates. 

Macfarlanes' private client property group is widely considered one of the best on offer in London, not least since partners benefit from the "top-flight" resources at hand throughout the firm. The group serves a varied clientele, including institutional organisations, offshore trusts and high net worth individuals.

Commercial Awareness "You can't fault the technical work coming out of Macfarlanes."

KEY INDIVIDUALS "Highly experienced and authoritative," John Hornby helps clients in managing large estates and with the acquisition and disposal of rural property. Tristan Ward has experience of working on property transactions and draws praise for his client relationship-building abilities. Sources credit him as having "a rare combination of academic, detailed thinking and a common-sense flair that makes things happen." 

This firm's offering benefits from the close co-operation between its property, private client and commercial departments. Practitioners have recently been advising high net worth individuals and overseas clients on the acquisition of heritage properties, landed estates and all related tax, trust and probate matters. The firm has built a significant and loyal traditional client base.

Client Service "Assiduous attention to the deal from start to finish."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Thomas Moran acts for a number of traditional landed estates in addition to advising overseas buyers on estate conveyancing and the tax implications involved.

This firm provides clients with a joined-up service that combines expertise in rural conveyancing, estate management and tax and trust advice. The landed estates group's offering is considered to be particularly well suited to high net worth individuals both in the UK and overseas. The group was involved in the purchase of the Kiddington Estate, felt to be one of the largest and most complex transactions of its kind in recent years. 

Client Service "I like working with Withers – they understand our requirements."

Commercial Awareness "An exceptional practice. Fast to react, they make it their objective to simplify matters and get things done."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Bertie Hoskyns-Abrahall has acted in several of the biggest estate transactions of the past year. He is appreciated for his "energetic, can-do attitude" and "deep understanding of the country and rural issues." Matthew Woods is known for his "sound commercial judgement" in his capacity as a tax planning and trusts practitioner.

This firm continues to be a mainstay on the National Farmers Union (NFU) legal panel in Kent and West Sussex. In addition to a steady diet of instructions relating to the Agricultural Holdings Acts, the team was involved in the sale of the Kiddington Estate in Oxfordshire, one of the largest estate transactions in recent years. The team is also appreciated for its work regarding development options and rights of way issues.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Christopher Findley is a recognised authority on Agricultural Holdings Act proceedings, tenancy successions and Single Farm Payments concerns. He is spoken of warmly by clients as both "a rainmaker and a deal maker." Henry Cecil is highly esteemed for his conveyancing practice and his representation of landlords. He was involved in the high-profile Kiddington Estate sale.

This venerable firm has an enviable reputation for the quality and dedication of its private client offering. A traditionally discreet ethos and devoted client service make it a long-held favourite of a number of the country's oldest and largest landed estates.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Peter Bostock leads the practice and has a loyal client following, including some of the largest landowners in the country. Jonathan Redmayne joins from Taylor Wessing, bringing expertise in rural conveyancing.

This firm has a long-standing and well-deserved reputation for managing the affairs of landed estates and their proprietors. It can draw on deep resources to advise clients on tax, trust and succession matters, and offers expertise in commercial lettings of rural properties and advice on diversification of agricultural land.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Joe Richardson is the firm's senior partner and advises landowning clients on tax and trust matters. Sources describe him as "technically astute, detailed and switched on." Patricia Sykes specialises in the management of landed estates, and in advising private clients on tax and trust issues. Jonathan Godwin-Austen is primarily a trusts specialist, and is appreciated for the "great all-round advice" he gives clients running landed estates. Edward Martineau helps estate managers and agricultural clients with their financial affairs. Sources say he is "exceptionally good at explaining complex issues in an appealing, seemingly effortless way."

This firm has a loyal following of landed estates and agricultural businesses. In particular, the team's expertise on business planning, tax structuring and the structure of land ownership is highly sought after. Other areas of specialisation include advising on agricultural-related trust and probate issues.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Robert Brodrick is a tax and trusts lawyer with long-standing experience of acting for landowners and guiding them through land diversification and commercial enterprises on their properties.

Taylor Wessing's agricultural property group operates as an adjunct of the firm's private client department, thus allowing it to dispense bespoke advice on agricultural and rural property issues as well as tax, trust and probate matters to a clientele of farmers and major landowners.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Andrew Hine is the main point of contact for clients.

The London office of this West Country stalwart continues to attract impressive instructions and includes some of the country's largest landed estates among its clients. The group also has a strong line in agribusiness, property and regulatory litigation. It can utilise the firm's intellectual property expertise in farm product and estate branding concerns, and can call on the know-how of partners with an understanding of energy and mineral rights. 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Anita Symington is regarded as a leader in landlord and tenant law. She also handles tax and trust planning for landed estates and is praised for her "great business acumen" in pursuing deals.

Trowers & Hamlins is hugely appreciated by clients for delivering advice on landed estates and agriculture law. The team is also heavily engaged in matters relating to the management and commercial diversification of rural land for use in wind and photovoltaic energy production.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Jamie Atwell is a key contact.