Agriculture and Estates

In a period of unprecedented change for the rural sector, our pragmatic, commercial and strategic support gives you everything you need to protect, preserve and maximise the value of rural assets and estates.

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Key contact

Rory Hutchings

I act as a trusted advisor to agricultural professionals and businesses, providing pragmatic, jargon-free advice and making myself available as suits the farming day. My specialisms include agricultural contract issues, public and private rights of way, land disputes, common land, partnership disputes and joint venture agreements. My clients include livestock, arable and dairy farms, agricultural cooperatives, certification organisations, agricultural shows and tourist enterprises.

Agriculture and estates expertise

We have one of the largest agriculture and estate teams in the country and our experience means we can handle everything from day-to-day matters to large strategic projects.

As you would expect, property-related matters are a key area of expertise. We also offer specialised advice on agricultural tenancies; agricultural contracts; natural capital and agricultural support schemes; green energy; environmental and regulatory matters; public and private access and rights of ways; partnerships, joint ventures and other agricultural business structures; development agreements and overages; common land; mineral rights and manorial rights; sporting and fishing rights and shotgun licensing and judicial review of decisions of statutory authorities.

A team you can trust

Because we understand the rural sector, we understand the importance of getting to know you and your business to ensure our advice reflects the realities of your particular situation.

As a result, we’re trusted by a wide variety of rural stakeholders, including owner-occupier farmers, farming partnerships, farming companies, landed estates, institutional investors, conservation charities, agricultural co-operatives, agricultural show and societies, tourist enterprises and people who hold rural land.

As well as our specific agricultural and estates expertise, we can also call on the expertise of our colleagues in other specialisms across the business when required. It means we’re able to be a ‘one stop legal shop’ that provides a complete legal solution.

We can also provide specialist private client advice including will draftingsetting up trusts, tax liability advice, administration of estates, and succession and estate planning.

Listen to the fourth episode of our Talk Farm podcast

Talk Farm episode 4: Your 2025 agriculture forecast

This month, Partners James Frankland and Rory Hutchings sit down with Denise Wilkinson, Head of Agriculture and Estates at HCR Law. The three discuss their perspective on the legislation and trends set to dominate the industry in 2025.

Their discussion includes upcoming changes to Agricultural and Business Property Relief, Sustainable Farming Incentives and ELMS, and the effect the budget might have on land values and diversification and development amongst much more.

Listen now

Hear what our clients say about us

Stephanie is exceptional. She is remarkably straightforward, efficient and explains exceptionally well, so you have all the facts at your fingertips.

Client testimonial Chambers and Partners 2025

Gareth Williams has the client’s interests at heart and argues robustly for that without upsetting the other side.

Client testimonial Chambers and Partners 2025

Gareth has good all-round knowledge of agriculture and rural affairs. He is well versed in development, biodiversity net gain, capital tax and residential property regulation.

Client testimonial Chambers and Partners 2025

I know we have said it before, but you were nothing short of wonderful in helping us to get a good outcome.

Client testimonial Right-of-way over land

Matthew Hayes is one of the best legal people I have worked with over my career – pragmatic, responsive and knowledgeable. The sale and transfer ran to time and with minimal stress! Thank you Matt.

Client testimonial Sale and Transfer

‘Property partner James Frankland has notable expertise in farm business and Agricultural Holdings Act tenancies.’

Legal 500 2025 Agriculture

Up-and-coming partner Emily Pumfrey is ‘very client-focused but with the ability to be pragmatic‘, particularly in renewable energy projects.

Legal 500 2025 Agriculture

HCR Law has ‘true experts in their field and holds a vast breadth of experience‘.

Legal 500 2025 Agriculture

Denise Wilkinson oversees the practice from Cambridge, while in Northampton, Gareth Williams is a key port of call for agricultural businesses and landed estates and is knowledgeable of high-value family re-organisations.

The Legal 500 2025 Agriculture and Estates

With ‘a good breadth of skillsets’, HCR Law often acts for farmers and rural landowners on transactional work.

The Legal 500 2025 Agriculture and Estates

I cannot thank Bryn Thomas enough for his professionalism and perseverance in a very difficult, drawn-out and challenging situation in the finalisation of my mother’s estate dispute.

Carrie Davies Estates dispute client

Many thanks, once again for both your hard work in this matter. I consider myself very lucky to have both of you acting for myself and family, I do not take this for granted what you both have done and continue to do.

Farming and Development Client Testimonial

Recognition of our work

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