
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.
Key contact

Rory Hutchings
Partner, Head of Agriculture and Estates Team
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 drafting, setting up trusts, tax liability advice, administration of estates, and succession and estate planning.

Talk Farm episode 6: Beyond our shores with the RASC
In the latest episode of Talk Farm, HCR is delighted to collaborate with the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth to hear perspectives on farming from beyond our shores.
Chris Riddle, Trustee of the RASC, is joined by Jessica and Ella Underberg – a mother-daughter duo on a mission to improve awareness of the importance of agriculture through education and community-building.
Tune in wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify and Apple.
Services from our Agriculture and Estates team
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