Agriculture & Landed Estates

Our agricultural and landed estate team have regularly been recognised as a leading firm in the legal directories, Legal 500 and Chambers UK. Our agricultural solicitors not only provide specialist advice on rural matters, but draw on expertise from other areas within the firm, allowing us to offer an integrated approach based on a clear understanding of your needs.

As a rural law practice, our agricultural lawyers have a long-established relationship with farmers, landowners and landed estates having acted for several generations of farming families for over 200 years. We know that this industry faces unique challenges, which is why we have a dedicated team of agricultural and landed estate solicitors who all have a detailed understanding of the issues of relevance to rural landowners.

Most of our agricultural and landed estates team are members of the Agricultural Law Association (ALA) and the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and have been actively involved in the rural community for many years.

Our agricultural solicitors aim to provide legal advice that is prompt, practical and cost-effective.

Warners is legal panel member for the NFU

Warners has been appointed to the NFU panel. We were selected, following an intensive and robust tender process, to cover the counties of East Sussex and Kent. This means that all NFU Members are entitled to a 12.5% discount on our usual legal fees.

Our agricultural law expertise

Matters on which we have recently advised in the agricultural sector include:

  • Advising a large agricultural land owner with regards to a farm business tenancy (FTB)
  • Advising in connection with the acquisition of substantial agricultural property, agricultural land and holdings including the negotiation of rights of pre-emption and sporting rights over adjoining land
  • Advising on the ownership and structure of a family’s significant landed estate and agricultural businesses, while preserving the integrity of the estate for the benefit of future generations
  • Application to the Land Registry to register a right of way over common land
  • Advising a family on various ongoing tax and trust issues arising from and in relation to the ownership of a large estate
  • Administration of an estate with a complex unregistered title leading to first registration at the Land Registry
  • Defending a farmer over a prosecution for alleged incorrect use of a snare on his farm
  • Pursuing employment tribunal claim for unfair dismissal and breach of the National Minimum Wage Regulations on behalf of a gamekeeper
  • Drafting new employment documentation and licence agreements for a landed estate in relation to its staff
  • Advising a major hunting body over changes to its employment documentation and its constitution
  • Advising a landed estate on a dispute over sporting right with a neighbouring landed estate
  • Advising a landed estate over an agreement to allow a local history society to have access to the estate’s industrial heritage property
  • Advising a landowner in a boundary dispute with a neighbouring landowner decided in our client’s favour by binding arbitration
  • Advising a landed estate over a sporting rights claim from a neighbouring farm
  • Advising a farm on damage caused to its crops and land by livestock straying from a neighbouring farm
  • Advising a landed estate in a dispute with a neighbouring equestrian business over the extent of access rights over the estate
  • Advising a grouse moor owner over an agreement with Natural England to restrict public access under CROW to estate land

How can I make sure that I choose a good Agricultural Solicitor?

Warners has been appointed to the NFU legal panel that ensures members undergo an intensive tender process to cover certain regions. Our expert agricultural lawyers have many years of experience giving legal advice to farming businesses. We are also regularly recognised in the leading legal directories.

What is agricultural litigation?

Agricultural litigation can address numerous types of issues and disputes that can arise on farms including workers compensation, health and safety issues, equine related matters.

Podcast – Agricultural law

Meet the team

Gail Hall
Steve Colville
Angela Rowe
Tim Ryan
Michael McNally
Robert Twining
Hope Flashman-Wells

"A strong team punching above their weight, with real empathy for the sector."

Legal 500

Steve Colville advises farming clients and landed estates on property transactions and tenancy matters. Sources say he is "a very able practitioner and good to deal with. He knows his stuff."

Chambers & Partners

"Very grateful for all your effort and hard work sorting this out. You are amazing - which I am sure you hear a lot from your clients!"

Kristin Syltevik - Oxney Organic Estate