Caroline Baines

I am the Consultant Professional Support Lawyer for the Agriculture team at Michelmores. I take on some client work, but also support the team with specialist drafting, the creation and maintenance of Michelmores’ agricultural, residential and rural/commercial precedents, editing our quarterly client briefing “Agricultural Lore” and writing articles. I joined Michelmores in October 2016.

I have spent over 30 years continuously specialising in agricultural law, covering a broad range of non-contentious issues including agricultural, residential & commercial tenancies, farm sales, EU and UK subsidies and schemes and farm business structures. I have drafted agricultural and rural precedent documentation for many firms of Chartered Surveyors, Solicitors and National Institutions.

I am a contributor to LexisNexis Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents Volumes 2(1) Agricultural Tenancies (sole author), 2(2) Agriculture and 2(3) Allotments Smallholdings and Gardens. I am a joint contributing author of Agricultural Law Tax and Finance Quotas and Subsidies chapter.

Recent experience

Drafting from scratch a brand-new precedent conservation covenant agreement in preparation for the creation of conservation covenants on 30 September 2022

Advising on complex farm subsidy issues (including the availability of a lump sum/delinked payments under the Agriculture Act 2020) on surrender of AHA tenancy; deal struck with outgoing tenant

Creating over 70 agricultural, residential and commercial precedents for use both within Michelmores and by firms of rural surveyors

Editing latest quarterly edition of Agricultural Lore