Overview
I am a Partner in Michelmores’ Agriculture team. I come from a farming background in South Wales and have had the privilege of working as an agricultural solicitor since qualifying in 2010. I joined Michelmores in 2012, on the opening of the Bristol office.
I act for a broad range of landowners and occupiers, as well as agricultural businesses and local authorities.
My practice is predominantly non-contentious; I am experienced in drafting a wide variety of deeds and agreements relating to the letting of land and farming business structures, with a particular specialism in farming partnerships, succession planning and complex tenancy re-structures.
I am passionate about the environment and the role the agriculture sector can play in addressing the climate and biodiversity crises. I have a growing practice in Natural Capital and the long-term management of land for biodiversity and environmental gains, with a developing specialism in conservation covenants.
I also have a busy advisory practice, assisting clients in relation to specialist landlord and tenant matters (both agricultural and rural residential), with a particular interest in Agricultural Holdings Act succession rights.
I lecture regularly to the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers and am a joint editor of the RICS e-learning portal (ISurv) for rural landlord and tenant matters.
Recent experience
Advising clients on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) agreements and the legal documentation required to create and maintain habitat sites, including conservation covenants
Advising on structuring catchment and landscape scale recovery schemes. Josie has worked on multiple, ambitious projects involving tenanted and common land and SSSI designated land
Working with the Forestry Commission and other landowners in relation to the establishment and sale of nutrient and phosphate credits and the long-term maintenance and protection of mitigation sites
Providing strategic advice to a landed estate on an ambitious tree planting proposal involving tenanted agricultural land
Advising in relation to the formation of a new trading partnership focused on a regenerative farming operation which will hold key assets for tax planning purposes
Acting in respect of succession applications and succession planning under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986
Supporting a large, rural estate on complex repair and regulatory issues arising in relation to multiple agricultural and residential tenancies
