Agriculture & Estates

At Adams & Remers we’ve seen our clients through over three centuries of agricultural change.

We have continued to act for many generations of farming and landed families, plus 21st century rural businesses that embrace diversification.

We’re often the first port of call for many farmers, land owners and rural organisations in the UK. And because we have expertise in many highly specialist areas of law across the firm, it means we can meet our clients’ diverse needs.

At Adams & Remers we’ve seen our clients through over three centuries of agricultural change. Our exceptional track record means that we’re the first port of call for many farmers, land owners and rural organisations in the UK. Our Agriculture & Rural Estates team delivers effective bespoke services that meet the diverse needs of our clients. Our strong regional law firm is good at attracting and keeping high quality clients – including owners of landed estates and farmers within the South East and beyond. Our expertise is well established and we have continued to act for many generations of farming and landed families, plus 21st century rural businesses that embrace diversification. Our sector expertise is recognised by the independent Legal 500 and
Chambers UK directories where we rank as a leading law firm for agriculture and rural affairs.

We draw upon the skills and expertise of five different departmental teams within the firm relating to property, company, employment, dispute resolution and private client work. This cross-departmental approach means we have the skilled manpower to continually deliver flexible and bespoke services to meet the varying and changing needs and challenges our clients face, especially relating to:

Agricultural Property Issues

• Farm Sales & Purchases
• Landlord & Tenant
• Occupational Licences
• Planning & Development
• Rights of Way & Access
• Wayleave Agreements
• Title issues and first registration

Dispute Resolution

• Securing Possession of Land/Property
• Enforcement Notices
• Partnership Disputes
• Negligence, Nuisance & Trespass Claims
• Arbitrations
• Agricultural Land Tribunals
• EU Regulations
• Disputes concerning Trusts and Estates
• Boundary Disputes

Estate & Succession Planning

• Tax Planning
• Trust Advice
• Trust Formation and Amendment
• Wills & Probate

Employment Law

• Terms & Conditions of Employment
• Advice on TUPE
• Service Occupancy Agreements

Commercial Matters

• Business Structures
• Joint Venture Agreements
• Contract Farming
• Share Agreements
• Diversification
• Sale and Purchase of Businesses

Environment and Health & Safety

• Compliance Matters
• Asbestos and Contamination Issues
• Telecommunications Mast Issues

Our Recent Work

We have considerable experience of how landed estates operate and of the management, taxation and devolutionary issues that they face, including those arising where estates are owned by a series of complex trusts which lead to complex taxation questions, such as agricultural property relief and inheritance tax issues. We are also highly experienced in dealing with the diverse range of property law matters arising in landed estates, including manorial rights, landlord and tenant issues, unregistered land, agricultural tenancies, development agreements, planning issues, easements and property disputes.

• Advising one of the partners of a family farming partnership on various disputed commercial and practical issues
• Acquisition of freehold land for viticultural purposes
• Advising on agricultural property and farmhouse reliefs for inheritance purposes
• Claim to sheep grazing rights
• Dispute over rights for registration of title of estate
• Application for first registration of land including identification of boundaries
• Sale of farmland with single payment entitlements
• Fishing permit dispute
• Successful applications for Certificates of Lawful Use and Development relating to non-agricultural use of farmland and buildings

Other Activities

Our team host well-received seminars. Seminars covering current issues that impact the agricultural and rural sector are planned on an ongoing basis. We also write articles for national and trade media, including Country Life, The Independent, The Guardian, BBC Online, Farmers Guardian and other agricultural titles. Adams & Remers is committed to supporting heritage activities and is a member of the Historic Houses Association, the Country Land and Business Association and the Agricultural Law Association. Partners are trustees of various organisations including Sussex Heritage Trust.

Testimonials

What the team is known for: Well-reputed team assisting clients with a broad range of legal issues in the rural and agricultural sector. Offers notable expertise in matters linked to landed estates and listed buildings, including planning, disputes and management. Acts for a significant agricultural client base, including farming partnerships and companies. CHAMBERS UK 2015

“The firm has historically acted for the landed estates, and its lawyers certainly know what they are doing.” CHAMBERS UK 2015

What the team is known for: Delivers a wide range of advice to the owners and managers of landed estates and farms. Good knowledge of rural renewable energy developments. CHAMBERS UK

Strengths: Value for money: “London-quality advice at provincial prices.” CHAMBERS UK

What’s new: Guy Hurst, who is both a qualified solicitor and a chartered surveyor, has joined the team. He lends his expertise on the sale and purchase of all types of rural property. The firm’s recently opened London office gives it an enhanced presence across the south of England. CHAMBERS UK

This Sussex firm offers a comprehensive rural service to clients ranging from estate owners to wine growers. It is celebrated for its tax and trust expertise, although the team is equally adept at property litigation, regulatory advice and renewable energy development. Clients include the Firle and Glyndebourne estates. CHAMBERS UK

Recommended for Commercial Awareness ‘A strong firm that provides London-standard quality of advice.’ CHAMBERS UK

This firm offers a range of specialist agricultural services, including trust and tax planning, residential conveyancing, and estate planning and restructuring. It provides employment advice and administrative services, and has been involved in high-value farmland and estate transactions. The team draws on the expertise of different departments in the firm to emerge a strong regional player. Its high-quality client base includes estates and farmers. CHAMBERS UK

Sources Say: ‘The wisdom of a London firm in a county town. CHAMBERS UK

Firmly rooted in landowning work, this firm is highly regarded for its expertise in the management of landed estates and the related issues of devolution and taxation. The firm is also skilled in agricultural property relief, heritage property relief, agricultural tenancies, single farm payments, land registration and development agreements. A well-known and respected figure in the sector, Robin Illingworth, works on a substantial number of country house transactions, with deal values totalling approximately £30 million. He also advises on Law of Property Act receivership, property-related insolvency issues and intricate leasehold work. Katherine Haslam, is praised for her efficiency and thoroughness, and clients add that she can be tough and determined when necessary. She works on property transactions, and her agricultural land experience continues to flourish. CHAMBERS UK

Adams & Remers is the “first port of call” for complex conveyancy in the Lewes area. Working chiefly for rural landowners, the practice advises on all aspects of estate management and tax planning; the commercial property team recently assisted on the sale of two large estates in Wiltshire. The trust department is also highly sought-after for its expertise on complex issues such as heritage property relief and agricultural property relief. On the contentious side, the practice includes a dispute resolution department that focuses on property litigation. CHAMBERS UK

The team

Robin Illingworth Katherine Haslam Andrew Pawlik Francis Nation-Dixon James Turner Kelly-Marie Blundell

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