I am an 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 disputes which arise involving rural land are just as varied. My core contentious work often involves partnership disputes, landlord and tenant disputes, contractual and commercial disputes in the agriculture industry and farming family disputes, including contentious probate matters such as proprietary estoppel claims. I also assist with the preparation of non-contentious documents such as partnership and tenancy agreements, and advise on a spectrum of agricultural legal issues.
I trained and qualified at Michelmores after an initial career in publishing, working first on the Oxford English Dictionary, and then in editorial roles in publishing houses in Oxford and London.
Expertise
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
