Freeths LLP

Agricultural and rural affairs.

Iain specialises in agricultural and rural work, acting for farmers, landowners and landed estates. He is the head of the property department as well as the agricultural and land team. Iain’s work ranges from the acquisition, development and disposal of landed estates, farms and bare agricultural land, to advice on agricultural tenancies, farm business tenancies, and environmental matters. He specialises in the drafting and negotiation of strategic land option and promotion agreements. Recent/significant transactions include: option agreement for over 195 acres of farmland to a national house builder; promotion agreement over 215 acres of farm land on the edge of Thame; hybrid agreement for an Oxford College for over 400 dwellings; option agreements for 85 and 69 acres in relation to a proposed urban extension to a major settlement; sale of greenfield site with the benefit of a residential planning permission for £5.5m; the acquisition of the Kiddington Estate for a sum in excess of £23m; acquisition of a complex and diverse 480 acre unregistered landed estate in Wales, contracts were exchanged within one month of instructions being received; sale of land in Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for development of a Centre Parcs style holiday village; purchase of brownfield site for development of a 27 unit commercial business park; sale of greenfield site for development by major landed estate client with complex uplift provisions, the sale was by way of contract race with exchange of contracts taking place within 24 hours of issue of papers; grants of options and leases of wind farm and solar parks.

Trained Henmans, qualified 1997. Partner 2001.

Agricultural Law Association; Charity Law Association.

University College School, Hampstead; Bristol University (1990 BA); London University (1991 MA).