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Agriculture Law Brochure Agriculture Services Agriculture Services Lodders is one of the UK’s best regional law firms. Based in Stratford upon Avon, with offices in Henley in Arden and At Lodders we understand how the countryside works. Cheltenham, the firm provides specialist We have one of the largest and most experienced agriculture advice to individuals and businesses on a law teams in the region, many of whom have first-hand experience of the wide-ranging needs of those who live and range of matters, including private client, work in the countryside, whether they are farmers, landowners property, business and agriculture. or diversified rural businesses. Our team is respected nationally for our We have strong ties with the agricultural breadth of expertise and approachable community and keep up to date by staying hands-on manner. We offer our clients actively involved in the industry. Chambers expert advice on all agricultural matters Guide to the UK Legal Profession recognises by combining the talents of our practitioners us as one of the most highly respected in the agricultural, private client, real estate agricultural teams in England. and business departments. We give fast, cost effective legal and business advice to farmers, landowners and trustees across England and Wales. First rate and professional Chambers Guide to the UK legal profession Agriculture Law The rural sector is unique in many ways Our services include: and demands legal expertise covering a broader spectrum than probably any • Farm sales and purchases other area. • Agricultural Holdings Act tenancies Many landowners have had to alter and succession their farming practices and diversify in • Farm Business Tenancies response to increasing economic and social • Farming business sale and purchase pressures. Now more than ever before • Farming business structures – partnerships, it is crucial to have advisers who really companies, share formations and understand the market sector and provide contract farming advice individually tailored to personal • Succession planning and restructuring requirements. • Banking and insolvency Our Agriculture and Estates team advises clients on a wide variety of matters, so • Rural planning, including CLEUDs and whether you are buying a country house or agricultural occupancy restrictions planning to leave your farming business to • Renewable energy - wind farms, solar and the next generation, we have the specialist AD Schemes knowledge to help. • Environmental issues All the team are members of the Agricultural • Clawback, options and promotion Law Association, with partners working agreements closely with the Country Land and Business • Agri-business and the Common Association. This enables us to keep our Agricultural Policy clients up to speed on new legislation and • Employment policy, as the sector continues to experience • Equine rapid change. • Residential tenancies and assured agricultural occupancies • Commercial leases Highways and Rights of Way Agriculture Dispute Resolution We enjoy a national reputation for expertise Our services include: Our Agriculture Dispute Resolution team Our services include: in matters concerning highways and rights specialises in the niche area of contentious of way. In this highly technical area of • Public footpaths and bridleways agricultural law, which has its own highly • Landlord and tenant disputes the law, we regularly act for developers, • Addition and removal of footpaths from technical agricultural legislation and • Boundary disputes landowners and local authorities, providing Definitive Map of Rights of Way tribunal system. • Property rights them with specialist advice. Our team is • Extinguishment or diversion of roads, We give full and frank advice at the • Agricultural tenancies also available to represent clients at court bridleways and footpaths very first meeting, set out the available • AHA Tenancy succession hearings, including judicial reviews and • Private rights of way options and assess the realistic chances • Tribunal proceedings relating local enquiries. of success. When all other options are • Ransom strips to Agricultural Land exhausted, sometimes litigation is the only • Highway boundaries, width and way forward. When this happens, we are • Appeals against public bodies visibility splays mindful of the close relationship that often • Basic Payment Scheme • Street works and traffic regulation orders exists between the parties and focus on • Health & Safety/ Environment Agency • Sewers and drains achieving a satisfactory outcome, which is prosecutions • Section 37, 38 and 278 adoption both effective and long lasting. • Contract disputes agreements, advance payments code From the outset, we work with our clients • Personal injury to generate a plan of action and keep them • Section 106 planning agreements • Claims against insurers informed and involved every step of the • Community infrastructure levy • Professional negligence way. Whatever the size of the business or the problem, we cater to each individual • Employment matters client’s requirements to secure the best • Equine dispute resolution possible result. Equine Law Owning, riding and working with horses Our services include: can be a risky, not to mention expensive and time-consuming, endeavour. Whether • Sale, purchase, loan and leasing you are involved with horses professionally agreements or as a hobby, you can rely on our team of • Contractual disputes equine law specialists to provide expert • Equestrian business sales and purchases legal advice, at the time when you need • Sponsorship advice it most. • Commercial contracts Our dedicated equine law team draws on • Employment and HR advice the firm’s renowned and industry-leading strengths in agricultural law, dispute • Planning for equestrian properties resolution, private client matters, charity • Residential and commercial conveyancing law and planning. Many of our team • Advice for breed societies and equine members own their own horses, competing charities in a wide range of disciplines including • Advice for membership organisations dressage, show-jumping, eventing, team- chasing, showing, polo and hunting. Our clients range from individuals with one horse through to large scale breeding, training and commercial operations. We also advise feed manufacturers, several breed societies, equine charities and membership organisations. From helping you with the purchase agreement for your first horse through to advising on employment matters for your yard staff, you will find our team to be informed, sympathetic and knowledgeable. Specialist teams Although much work undertaken by the Private Client team Agriculture and Estates team falls within the services identified on the previous pages, With tax planning and succession planning the team and its clients are able to draw being a key driver for many in the upon the skills of other specialist teams at agricultural and rural sectors, this team the firm. Frequently the Agriculture and can provide advice on issues such as: Estates team works closely with: • Eligibility for agricultural and business Employment team property relief • Tax planning and strategies to mitigate With the agriculture sector being a major inheritance tax and capital gains tax employer of both full-time and seasonal • Tax efficient structuring of business and workers, the team can offer support and land holdings advice on matters such as: • Preparing wills in a tax efficient manner • Employment and service contracts • Setting up and running of trusts • Employee management and redundancy Planning team • Settlement agreements • Health and Safety This team can provide advice on aspects • Tribunal and other procedures of planning law helping our agricultural clients maximise their assets and Family Law team addressing issues such as: The family law team is able to help clients • Permitted Developments Rights (including protect their farming assets and businesses agricultural to residential use changes) as family structures change through • Agricultural ties marriage and separation, assisting with • Planning agreements matters such as: • Infrastructure agreements • Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements • Planning elements of promotion/ • Divorce and separation option agreements • Cohabitation Lodders Solicitors LLP Lodders has specialist teams Stratford upon Avon that advise on: Number Ten Elm Court, Arden Street, Agriculture Stratford upon Avon, Business & commercial Warwickshire CV37 6PA Care & capacity T: 01789 293259 F: 01789 268093 Charity Dispute resolution Lodders Solicitors LLP Employment Henley in Arden Equine law 16 High Street, Henley in Arden, Estate planning, tax & trusts Warwickshire B95 5BW Family law T: 01564 792261 F: 01564 794821 Intellectual property Landed estates Lodders Solicitors LLP Notarial services Probate Cheltenham Real estate 25 Imperial Square, Cheltenham, Residential property Gloucestershire GL50 1QZ Trust administration T: 01242 228370 F: 01242 226155 Wills & succession planning www.lodders.co.uk @LoddersLawyers reachmarketing.co.uk 22682 09/16.
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