Helen Bray

Overview

I am a Senior Associate in Michelmores’ Agricultural team. I advise a wide range of clients – including individuals, partnerships, companies, charities and landed estates – on a diverse range of both contentious and non-contentious matters.

The common theme across my work is that there is some agricultural or rural element, and it is generally based in land. But farms and estates came in all shapes and sizes, and the issues and disputes which arise involving rural land are just as varied. My core contentious work often involves partnership, landlord and tenant and farming family disputes, including contentious probate and trust disputes.

I also help clients with the preparation of non-contentious documents to record restructures or new agreements, such as partnership and tenancy deeds and agreements. This work inevitably involves considering natural capital assets and advising clients on maintaining or sharing control of these as appropriate, to be able to make the most of relevant opportunities.

I trained and qualified at Michelmores after obtaining distinctions in both the GDL and LPC (LLM) following an initial career in publishing, working first on the Oxford English Dictionary, and then in editorial roles in publishing houses in Oxford and London.

Recent experience

Advising a landlord on their access rights for various parcels of land following the case of Rees v Earl of Plymouth, all of which were subject to tenancies governed by the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986

Successfully defending a claim issued under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, which also involved a partnership dispute, a proprietary estoppel claim and issues of capacity

Acting for a claimant in a proprietary estoppel case which also involved a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 and issues concerning the validity of the Will. The claim was settled by mediation

Negotiating the terms of a settlement agreement on behalf of an agricultural business which was in dispute with a buyer

Preparing and completing an Agreement to Surrender and a Deed of Surrender in relation to a Farm Business Tenancy