Jake Rostron

Overview

I am a Senior Associate (FCILEX) in Michelmores’ Agricultural Litigation team, having joined the Firm in February 2015. I was admitted as a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives in July 2023.

I specialise in all areas of agricultural litigation as well as more general property disputes. My particular specialisms are in agricultural tenancy disputes both under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 and the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995, farm partnership disputes, possession claims, nuisance and trespass claims and other general property disputes. I also have experience in general contract disputes.

I have a developing interest in compulsory purchase disputes and experience in acting for landowners who have had, or are in the process of having land compulsory acquired from them.

I act for a range of farming clients, be it individual sole traders, family partnership, landed estates, institutional landowners and corporate land owners. I often act for landlord and tenants of agricultural holdings.

I also act for clients in rural arbitrations, the First Tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal, the County Court, High Court, and have experience in the Court of Appeal.

I am a professional member of the Property Litigation Association, the Agricultural Law Association and the Compulsory Purchase Association. I also sit on the Firm’s Litigation Committee which is responsible for ensuring that all those who specialise in contentious work are up to date with updates and reform to the law and regulations. I assist with updating precedent litigation documents and help organise the annual Litigator’s Conference.

I am a member of the Bristol Pro Bono group, which is an organisation that assists those in Bristol and the surrounding area who have difficulty in affording or obtaining legal advice and am able to pick up any new pro bono instructions.

Recent experience

Acting for the Forestry Commission in advising and representing it in court proceedings involving the removal of a very large traveller encampment from Haldon Forest in Exeter and securing a wide-ranging quia timet injunction preventing the trespassers returning to the Forest. The travellers instructed solicitors and fought the claim on the basis that they were a vulnerable group of people and needed to be protected. The Court awarded possession and the injunction

Acting for an executor of her late mother’s estate concerning a claim brought by her nephews for a legal interest in the family farm by way of the equitable doctrine of proprietary estoppel

Acting and advising the widow of her late husband’s share and interest in the farming partnership and pursuing a claim at court for the payment of her share

Representing a farming family in a claim for damages in nuisance against a statutory water undertaker in damage to their private water supply as a result of street works